Position: Soccer For Life Performance Coach (Deadline: Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024)

REPORTS TO:                                  Technical Director 

LOCATION:                                     Guelph, ON

POSITION STATUS:                        Full-time, permanent

HIRING RANGE:                              $40,000 - $45,000

GUELPH SOCCER CLUB

Guelph Soccer operates as a non-profit soccer club in the City of Guelph. It offers year-round recreational and competitive programming for youth and adults. The Club promotes a culture of development and inclusivity and is a proud member of the Southwest Soccer Association, Ontario Soccer, and Canada Soccer.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

This position will be a key member of the Technical Team with a focus on the Soccer For Life portfolio. The role is designed to provide support for the Soccer For Life program (U13-U18) with an emphasis on developing the players and coaches both on and off the field.

The Guelph Soccer Club strives to maximize the use of its available resources, which has seen the evolution of a strength & conditioning program for the older age groups and an increase in fundamental movement training for the younger age groups. This position will be instrumental in providing our players with every opportunity to grow and develop not only as soccer players, but as people.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1)    Strength & Conditioning Program

·       Create and maintain a strength and conditioning periodization model for all Soccer For Life teams in collaboration with the Technical Director.

·       Facilitate a collaborative relationship among sport coaches, sports medicine, and the strength and conditioning staff.

·       Implement a strength and conditioning support framework through the use of hiring of staff or implementing internship positions for increased supports.

·       Develop systems for tracking athlete attendance and progress in the strength and conditioning program.

·       Conduct an annual needs analysis for each team among our team development framework.

·       Annually conduct and review a departmental risk management plan, facility audit, and program enhancement plan.

·       Complete an annual budgetary proposal for the strength and conditioning unit that includes routine maintenance, purchase of new equipment, and staffing needs.

·       Determine and reinforce expectations for athlete conduct that reflect Guelph Soccer’s expectations

·       Conduct an annual evaluation of departmental staff, including the design of professional development activities and opportunities for further program enhancements.

·       Create a program for all grassroots players among Guelph Soccer focused around fundamental movement skills and physical literacy and work alongside Guelph Soccer’s Grassroots Manager for implementation.

·       Host Strength and Conditioning workshops with coaches for greater coach education and interaction.

·       Work with the Team Head Coaches within each age group to ensure Game Day Protocols for pre-game, during-game and post-game are created appropriately to ensure athlete readiness and recovery.

·       Design and implement policies and procedures for the strength and conditioning program

2)    Player and Coach Development

·       Oversee the under 13 – under 18 Soccer For Life and Academy Program by supporting coaches in the development of training sessions for the indoor and outdoor season.

·       The Soccer For Life Performance Coach will be the first point of contact for all Soccer For Life coaches.

·       Periodically participate in training sessions to lead, support, and/or provide guidance for all Soccer For Life coaches. 

·       Work with the Team Head Coaches within each age group to ensure Game Day Rosters are created appropriately and ensure players are placed into the correct/appropriate game day environment to support player movement from district into regional levels of play.

·       Ensure that Technical Policies are being upheld by all groups among the Soccer For Life competitive framework.  

·       Manage player feedback forms within the Soccer For Life program.

·       Oversee player identification within the Recreational programs and further identify players to be promoted into the competitive environment.

·       Attend all coaching development sessions conducted by Guelph Soccer for coaches.

·       In tandem with the Technical Director, help recruit, develop and assess volunteer coaches.

3)    Administrative Responsibilities

·       In collaboration with the Technical Director create and maintain the Age and Stage appropriate curriculum for the Soccer For Life program.

·       Manage all aspects of Soccer For Life communications.

·       Oversee Soccer For Life player and team registration in accordance with the timelines and processes prescribed by our governing body.

·       Assist all volunteer coaches with licensing/registration information when requested.

·       Provide bi-weekly updates to the Technical Director on how the program is going and any issues within the program.

·       Develop all Soccer For Life U13-U18 Training field schedules in collaboration with Guelph Soccer’s Sr. Coordinator Competitive and Technical Director.

·       Ensure that a periodization model, game model, set piece organization, and development philosophy is created, understood and administered across all Soccer For Life teams per season.   

4)    Event Management

·       Lead, organize and manage Guelph Soccer events including, but not limited to: Ontario Cup, Soccer For Life Tryouts.

·       Support and liaise with all Guelph Soccer staff and volunteers on a variety of tasks, as needed.

Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s Degree in Strength & Conditioning, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, or a related field

·       Certified or Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach by the NSCA (CSCS) or CSCA (CSCP)

·       A minimum C Diploma from Canada Soccer’s Coach Education Certification Program

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE

·       Demonstrated coaching experience, including experience coaching youth athletes

·       Previous experience working with Strength & Conditioning technologies (e.g. Velocity Based Training) and software (e.g. Teambuildr, Bridge, etc.) is considered an asset

·       Ability to design and implement a training program, while mentoring support staff

·       Organization skills and the ability to effectively manage resources.

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills.

·       Maintain effective working relationships with volunteer coaches, technical staff, office staff, and external partners

·       Must clear a criminal record check and vulnerable sector search

·       Must be willing to work evenings and weekends when necessary

BENEFITS

·       Coverage under Guelph Soccer’s benefit plan

·       Vacation

·       Cell phone reimbursement

·       Professional development budget

Guelph Soccer is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in the workplace. We invite and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH INDEED.