Casual Athletic Development Coach

Chelsea Football Club; Cobham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

Chelsea FC is seeking an ambitious Athletic Development Coach to join the Academy and support the physical development of U12–U16 players at Cobham Training Ground. The role focuses on load management for U14 players within the YDP and long-term athlete development across the academy.

You will deliver high-quality athletic development sessions, implement the curriculum, and work with YDP coaches to ensure age-appropriate training demands while monitoring growth, maturation, and performance data.

Qualifications

• Experience with youth athletes in performance/athletic development
• Understanding of growth and maturation principles for youth development
• Enhanced DBS check or willingness to obtain one
• Embodies the club values: BLUE (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge)
• Adheres to safeguarding, confidentiality and GDPR policies

Responsibilities

• Deliver athletic development sessions aligned with academy methodology
• Implement athletic development curriculum for U12–U16
• Collaborate with YDP coaches to tailor on-field training demands
• Lead load management for U14 players (full-time and part-time)
• Use data and athlete insights to inform training interventions
• Contribute to player reviews with development feedback
• Support growth and maturation plans for individuals
• Assist with physical testing and performance monitoring
• Collect height/weight data for growth tracking
• Provide home-based training programmes when needed

Skills

Athletic development

Youth athlete development

Growth & maturation

DBS check

Education

BSc in Sport Science/Strength & Conditioning/PE

Job description

Job Title: Casual Athletic Development Coach

Location: Cobham Training Ground

Contract Type: Casual

We are looking for an ambitious and passionate Athletic Development Coach to join our Academy team and play a key role in supporting the physical development of our U12-U16 players.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about youth athletic development and enjoys working in a high-performance environment. You will help deliver our Sport Science and Athletic Development programme across the Youth Development Phase (YDP), leading on the load management of our U14 Full Time players while supporting the long-term development of all academy athletes.

What You'll Be Doing

As an Athletic Development Coach, you will:

• Deliver engaging, high-quality athletic development sessions aligned with our academy methodology.
• Support the implementation of the athletic development curriculum across the U12-U16 age groups.
• Work collaboratively with YDP coaches to ensure on-field training demands are appropriate for each individual player.
• Lead the monitoring and management of training loads for U14 players, supporting both full-time and part-time programmes.
• Use technology, performance data, and athlete insights to inform training interventions and track player progression.
• Contribute to player reviews by providing meaningful athletic development feedback and recommendations.
• Support players through key stages of growth and maturation, ensuring development programmes are tailored to individual needs.
• Assist with physical testing and performance monitoring across the YDP programme.
• Collect and analyse anthropometric data, including height and weight measurements, to support growth and maturation tracking.
• Develop and provide individual home-based training programmes where required.

What We're Looking For

• BSc Degree in Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, Physical Education, or a related field.
• Experience working with young athletes in a sport performance or athletic development setting.
• Strong understanding of growth and maturation principles and their implications for youth athlete development.
• Enhanced DBS Check (or willingness to obtain one).
• To embody the club’s BLUE behaviours (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge) in the approach to work and interaction with others
• To adhere to the club’s policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Financial Authorisation, Confidentiality and GDPR.
• To act as an ambassador for diversity, equality, and inclusion, and demonstrate a positive commitment by treating others fairly in line with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy and reporting any acts of discrimination through appropriate channels
• To create a safe environment and act to protect all young people and vulnerable adults that are either in your care or attending club premises, and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead
• To report any misconduct or suspected misconduct to the HR Department

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.