Lead Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach

Colchester United; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Colchester United Football Club is seeking a dynamic Lead Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach to join our Academy Sports Science department. You will support the physical development of players from U9 to U21, delivering strength and conditioning, athletic development and monitoring as part of the Academy’s Sports Science and Medicine/Performance Support Programme.

Responsibilities include delivering age-appropriate programmes across FP, YDP and PDP; conducting fitness testing and data

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science or equivalent required.
• BASES/UK S&C accreditation or working towards.
• First Aid for Sport qualification and safeguarding training required.
• DBS check up-to-date and driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver age-appropriate strength and conditioning across FP, YDP and PDP.
• Provide athletic development sessions for U9–U16 and support U18 with sports science guidance.
• Plan fitness testing, data collection and maturational monitoring; use Kitman Labs for data.
• Offer CPD and safeguarding guidance to coaches, players and parents.

Skills

Athletic development

Strength & Conditioning knowledge

Communication with coaches

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science

BASES accreditation

First Aid for Sport qualification

UK Strength and Conditioning Association accreditation

FA Saf safeguarding Award

DBS check

Full UK driving licence

Tools

Kitman Labs

Job description

Colchester United Football Club is looking for a dynamic and driven Lead Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach to join our Academy Sports Science department.

The successful candidate will support the physical development of Academy players from U9 through to U21, delivering appropriate strength and conditioning, athletic development and monitoring as part of the Academy’s Sports Science and Medicine/Performance Support Programme.

Athletic Development & Strength and Conditioning

• Support the delivery of the Academy Athletic Development Plan across U9-U21.
• Deliver age-appropriate strength and conditioning programmes across the Foundation Phase (FP), Youth Development Phase (YDP) and Professional Development Phase (PDP).
• Deliver athletic development sessions to U9-U16 players.
• Provide sports science support to U18 players, including prehab, warm-ups and athletic development sessions.
• Ensure the department’s philosophy and objectives are consistently followed.

Testing, Monitoring & Data

• Plan and deliver fitness testing, gym testing, movement screening and maturational monitoring across FP, YDP and PDP age groups throughout the season.
• Implement data-monitoring systems for U16-U21 players to analyse training and match loads.
• Provide coaches with daily feedback relating to physical training objectives.
• Ensure all relevant data is accurately recorded using Kitman Labs.

Player & Staff Support

• Provide athletic development feedback as part of Academy six-weekly player reviews.
• Plan and support CPD for coaches, parents and players across key areas of sports science.
• Provide nutritional education to Academy players when required.

Safeguarding & Wider Responsibilities

• Maintain accountability and responsibility for safeguarding at all times.
• Undertake any reasonable duties required by the Club’s Senior Management Team.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, or another relevant discipline, from a recognised university.
• Hold, or be working towards, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accreditation.
• Hold a current Basic First Aid for Sport qualification, EFAiF or equivalent/higher qualification.
• Hold, or be working towards, UK Strength and Conditioning Association accreditation, or equivalent workshops run by an equivalent body.
• Hold an FA Safeguarding Award and an up-to-date DBS check.
• Hold a full UK driving licence.

SAFEGUARDING, EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

All staff are expected to understand and uphold the Club’s safeguarding, equality and diversity responsibilities, as well as all relevant Academy and Club policies, rules and regulations.

Colchester United Football Club is committed to creating a diverse and dynamic working environment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.