Elite First-Team Player Development Coach

Barnsley Football Club; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnsley Football Club is seeking an experienced Senior Training Centre role focused on embedding a measurable player development approach. You will work with the first team and PDP players, delivering Individual Development Plans and ensuring progression through structured sessions.

You will tailor coaching to each player, collaborate with medical, data and sports science teams, and safeguard all staff and players while aligning with the club's philosophy. Evening/ weekend work will be required.

Qualifications

• Must hold UEFA A Licence and FA Youth Awards as listed.
• Experience developing elite players and overseeing IDPs.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and data protection policies.
• Strong background in player development within professional clubs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safeguarding and welfare of all staff and players.
• Assist in delivering IDPs for first team and PDP players, including loans.
• Tailor sessions addressing technique, tactics, conditioning and resilience.
• Understand each player's learning style and motivations; tailor coaching accordingly.
• Hold regular one-to-one meetings; review IDPs with each player.
• Coordinate with medical/sports science on injury returns.
• Provide exposure for high-potential academy players to first-team training.
• Collaborate with data teams to connect performance analysis with development.
• Track progress against benchmarks; maintain secure records.
• Create engaging individual and small-group sessions with innovative methods.
• Plan content with coaching and sports science to fit training load.
• Develop a library of session plans and videos by position.
• Remain at training centre on matchdays for non-selected players.
• Oversee session content and return-to-play protocols with medical staff.
• Review first-team and PDP matches to assess performance.
• Produce presentations for players and staff (PowerPoint/Keynote).
• Work with analysis to clip and annotate training and matches.
• Encourage self-analysis and personal clip libraries.

Skills

Organisation

Collaboration

Communication

Learning mindset

Discretion & integrity

Adaptability

PowerPoint/Keynote

Hudl/Sportscode/Wyscout

Education

UEFA A Licence

FA Advanced Youth Award

FA Youth Award Modules 1-3

Safeguarding qualifications (desirable)

Sports science/coaching degree (desirable)

Experience in EFL/PL or Category academy (desirable)

Player development track record (desirable)

Job description

Barnsley Football Club is seeking an experienced Senior Training Centre role focused on embedding a measurable player development approach. You will work with the first team and PDP players, delivering Individual Development Plans and ensuring progression through structured sessions.

You will tailor coaching to each player, collaborate with medical, data and sports science teams, and safeguard all staff and players while aligning with the club's philosophy. Evening/ weekend work will be required.