Overview
Job Title: First Team Performance Coach
Date Prepared: Sept 2025
Reports to: Head of Performance
Hours of Work: Full time; flexible to include weekends, evenings, and bank holidays.
Direct reports: Placement Students
Location: Vale Training Ground, Cardiff City Stadium; Away Match Travel
Role
Contribute towards Cardiff City's Performance and Medical Departments vision of optimising player availability and physical performance through elite, integrated, evidence-based physical performance support, specifically working with First Team players.
Key Responsibilities
* Ensure the day-to-day implementation of individual physical performance support to First Team players; ensure that each player?s individual physical priorities are targeted, driven by objective profiling.
* Lead the monitoring and analysis of training and match physical performance data, ensuring this data is used to optimise on-field training practices through comprehensive training and match reports.
* Ensure the implementation of player monitoring and testing systems (performance, development, workload, and response), generating insights used to inform multidisciplinary decision making and player management, with comprehensive physical performance reports.
* Plan, design & deliver individual-specific pre-training preparation and strength programmes to enhance physical performance and robustness of all First Team players.
* Assist with the performance delivery of the First Team squad (including pre-training preparation, warm-ups, regeneration and recovery, rehabilitation, individual conditioning) as well as non-squad players\'? additional loading on matchdays to maintain fitness of all First Team players.
* Support the planning and delivery of individual and team performance testing, player readiness protocols/screening, and be an integral part of the multidisciplinary approach in prescribing interventions to improve physical performance.
* Liaise closely with other performance and medical staff regarding the prevention and rehabilitation of all injuries; be an integral part of the multidisciplinary return-to-play process.
* Work collaboratively to support the practical implementation of performance nutrition strategies required to facilitate adaptation and enhance physical performance.
* Ensure data collection is maintained to the highest standard and utilised in an objective manner, in line with physical performance benchmarks.
* Mentor and supervise the work of First Team sports science placement students.
* Keep abreast of advancing knowledge and applications in sports science and use this information to develop new evidence-based physical performance practices.
* Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and healthcare governance procedures, including the security and protection of confidential information.
* Contribute to the development of resources and educational aids.
* Contribute to a programme of in-house continued professional development.
* Any other reasonable duties and responsibilities the Head of Performance or any other senior manager at the Club asks you to perform.
Club Responsibilities
* Health and Safety
To take responsibility for your own health, safety and welfare, ensuring compliance with Cardiff City Football Club's Health and Safety Policy, procedures and safe systems of work.
* Data Protection
To take responsibility for the protection of personal data and confidential information, ensuring compliance with General Data Protection Regulations and Cardiff City Football Club\'s Data Protection Policy.
* Training & Development
To undertake all reasonable training, learning and development activity designed to support you in your role.
* Diversity and Equality
To be responsible for your own behaviour and act in a manner that avoids and discourages any form of discrimination or harassment; to comply with Cardiff City Football Club\'s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Qualifications
* Undergraduate qualification in Sports Science or related discipline.
* Significant experience of delivering physical performance support within a professional sporting environment.
* Detailed understanding of physical performance principles in football, including strength and conditioning, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and physical performance analysis.
* Excellent knowledge of training load technology (including GPS and heart rate systems) and physical performance testing systems (e.g. VALD).
* Advanced IT Skills.
Desirable
* Postgraduate qualification in Sports Science or related discipline.
* Recognised certification (or in progress) in S&C related competence (e.g., UKSCA, CSCS).
* Football coaching qualification (e.g. FA/FAW B Licence).
* Experience of using data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
* Track record of working within multidisciplinary coaching and support teams in elite sport.
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