Job Description

ACADEMY PERFORMANCE COACH

San Diego FC ( San Diego FC ) is the newest member of the MLS family. As part of the unique Right to Dream model and the Sycuan Tribe’s deep roots, we are proud to be building a San Diego-centric soccer organization that honors our history and celebrates emerging excellence.

We value community, diversity, and acting with purpose. Our Club and Academy are built on the premise that you can discover, understand, and re-define excellence by nurturing talent and creating opportunity anywhere – and specifically though soccer.

Globally, Right to Dream partners with talented young people to give them a nurturing environment to flourish and thrive. They do this through a holistic model of athletic development, where young people grow as human beings and great footballers.

Position Summary:

Long-term athletic development is the guiding principle behind our programming year-to-year and age group-to-age group. Long-term athletic development follows a structured, progressive approach to emphasize age-appropriate training, skill progression, and overall well being. This emphasis intends to maximize long-term success and reduce the risk of adverse events (injury, burnout, etc.). The academy performance coach will be accountable for collaborating with all academy departments to enhance long-term athletic development.

Responsibilities:

Planning and Delivery

• Develop and lead the long-term athletic development program for Academy players (group and individual). Ability to train individual skills and to develop fundamental skills in a holistic manner/coaching style.
• Deliver age appropriate on field and off field strength and conditioning, and sports science support, for all players in accordance with the SDFC Academy and RTD athletic development curriculum.
• In collaboration with technical coaching staff, optimize all training opportunities to enhance athletic development.
• In collaboration with medical support, aid in the rehabilitation of injured players providing both on field and off field support.
• In collaboration with technical coaches, support the planning of macrocycle, mesocycles & microcycles for each group/player relevant to their individual demands.
• In collaboration with medical support, complete injury prevention programs for all Academy players.
• Lead all on-field and gym-based athletic development sessions.
• Work with the Data Scientist to ensure data collection, analysis, and feedback of player monitoring; readiness to train, conditioning, training and match loads for Youth team and Academy players (age appropriate).
• Work with the wider sports science and medical team as well as coaching staff to provide an integrated approach to performance enhancement.

Assessment

• Ensure that each Academy Player undergoes anthropometric assessments and physiological/fitness testing at regular times throughout the season to construct profiles and log adaptation to training stimulus.
• Record data expeditiously in relevant data bases and analyse data using RTD dashboards to create a player needs analysis.
• Provide feedback to MDT on player status and progress, and based on data, plan and deliver appropriate individual intervention where necessary, relating to growth and maturation, as well as physical performance targets.
• To monitor the on-field load of Academy Players using where appropriate GPS and provide appropriate information to inform training and educate coaches.

Education

• Provide education and support to technical coaches relating to growth and maturation, loading and performance in relation to technical and tactical aspects of sessions. Coach education to include internal and associated partner clubs with positive community links.
• Work with the club nutritionist to provide nutritional support to all academy players.
• Work with the Head of Mental Performance to provide mental performance skill development in an integrated and unified manner.
• Manage and mentor Academy Sports Science / Strength and Conditioning Interns
• Design, implement and participate in scientific research appropriate to the goals and work of Right to Dream as well as developing internal practice.
• Keep abreast of current research and the latest developments in long term athletic development; Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning practice and educate the medical team, Academy management team, Academy players and parents accordingly

Qualifications

• Degree in Sports Science (or other relevant discipline) from a recognized university (Essential)
• Postgraduate study in Sports Science (or other relevant discipline) from a recognized university (Desirable)
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist award (NSCA) (Essential)
• Certified Performance and Sports Scientist award (NSCA) (Desirable)
• Spanish a plus

Experience & Skills

• Previous experience (3 years+ full time) in providing Athletic development support to improve performance in soccer
• Knowledge and ability to coach and integrate football skills and techniques into athletic development sessions where deemed appropriate
• Alignment to Right to Dream philosophy and culture.
• A deep insight and desire of working with children (Pedagogical skill) with a focus on long term athletic development. This role is for someone who is passionate about working with this population of student athletes.
• An ability to connect with student athletes on a personal level and embrace the holistic approach of Right to Dream

We encourage all individuals who share our commitment to community and soccer to apply. SDFC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary Starting at: $80,000

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