Fulham FC
u18 Head Coach
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Under 18 Head Coach
We are seeking an experienced and passionate coach to play a key role in delivering and enhancing our Academy Performance Plan. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, delivering, and reviewing high-quality coaching activities that support the individual development needs of Academy players. Working across the player pathway, they will help ensure smooth and effective transitions from the U16 age group into the Professional Development Phase and from the U18s into the U21 programme, maintaining consistency in player development. The role will also contribute to the ongoing development of the Academy Performance Plan and Technical Plan, helping to drive continuous improvement and maximise player potential.
The Under 18 Head Coach (’U18 HC’) is employed to prepare, deliver, and review coaching activities in line with the Academy’s Performance Plan.
There is a specific requirement for the U18 HC to support individuals as they move into and through the Professional Development Phase by delivering on the agreed commitments within each player's Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and leading the process of continual review and refinement supporting the programme to be suitably responsive to each individual’s dynamic needs.
This essentially makes the U18 HC responsible for the following, non-exhaustive list:
Preparing
- Lead the creation and ongoing development of both Individual Learning Plans and the Age Group Plan for the U18s.
- Play an active role in the transition of players from the U16 age group into the PDP, working closely with U16 coaching staff to ensure continuity of style, expectations, and individual development priorities.
- Lead and sustain frequent, consistent, and supportive communication with all players and their families to support transitions into Professional Football.
- Lead the Multi-Disciplinary Team to create seasonal, weekly, and daily, team and individual training plans.
- Lead the preparations of meaningful content for individual player (and parent) reviews.
- Support the preparation of content for team and individual Performance Education, Physical Development, and Psychology delivery, ensuring integration where possible.
- Align video to team and individual commitments, supporting team and individual player development over time.
Delivering
- Lead the delivery of team training sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan) specifically integrating team and individual outcomes into practice.
- Lead the delivery of individual training sessions (both inside and outside of team training sessions) in line with ILP commitments.
- Lead teams and individuals through fixtures, both home and away, as part of the age group games programme, ensuring we are appropriately competitive.
- Lead teams and individuals through tours, tournaments, and competitions aligning the environment design and coaching behaviours to the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan.
- Lead the delivery of performance education sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan).
- Support the delivery of the U16 and U21 programmes, as needed.
- Attend first team games and youth international football events as required.
- Oversee the implementation of the Academy Values and Behaviours towards staff and players.
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Reviewing
- Lead the effective review of team training sessions in line with ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan).
- Lead the effective review of individual training sessions and their impact on player-coach relationships and player performance over time.
- Review all team and individual match performances in all games programme, tours, and tournament fixtures.
- Coordinate the ongoing ‘rolling’ review of each player’s ILP, ensuring the creation of clear action plans, involving colleagues from different disciplinary backgrounds, through weekly MDT meetings.
- Lead all player and parent review meetings, ensuring player and parent feedback is recorded and agreed actions are shared and followed up.
- Ensure each player’s Performance Clock is up to date and accurate.
- Ensure all players are provided with regular access to their personal performance data, highlighting key metrics in line with the Academy Technical Plan.
- Support the feedback process for all trialists.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Be an active role model for all Academy coaches across the pathway and wider Club environment.
- Offer guidance and support to less experienced coaching colleagues, taking a specific and regular interest in the upper part of the YDP.
- Act as a key point of connection between the U16 age group and the PDP, and support alignment between the U18 and U21 programmes.
- Consistently demonstrate, and hold others to, the highest levels of professionalism.
- Support the delivery of coach development events across the year, as required.
- Be part of the Academy Technical Group, shaping the Technical Strategy for the long term.
- In collaboration with the Head of Talent ID & Recruitment, support the retention and recruitment of Academy players, including feedback for trialists and identification of players ready to progress from the U16 age group.
- In collaboration with the Head of Performance, coordinate the effective review of the physical development programme and performance of the age group fitness coach.
- In collaboration with the Head of Insights, coordinate the effective review of the performance education programme and performance of the age group analyst.
Requirements
The U18 Head Coach must hold or have:
- Experience of coaching adolescents in a Category 1 and/or Premier League Academy setting.
- Experience of supporting parents/carers of adolescents within similar settings.
- Experience of delivering individual player development programmes (ILPs/IDPs) within a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Hold appropriate and up-to-date qualifications to conform to Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) and Premier League Youth Development Rules (PLYDR) requirements.
- UEFA A Licence (FA Level 4 qualification), and remain up to date with associated CPD requirements.
- FA Advanced Youth Award (FA Level 4 qualification).
- Valid FA Introduction to First Aid in Football certificate.
- Valid FA Safeguarding Children certificate.
- Broad awareness of the football industry’s governing policies and youth football protocols, in particular the Premier League’s Youth Development Rules.
- Knowledge of regulations, research, and expected practices in relation to working with adolescents, with particular reference to safeguarding, well-being, social development, and safety.
- Be player/person-centred (individualised) in approach to development.
- Have high-level interpersonal skills, including being an effective and adaptable communicator.
- Demonstrate resilience towards the everyday rigours of high-performance environments.
- Be diligent, hard-working, detail-driven, and intrinsically motivated by the Academy’s mission.
- Hold a forward-thinking, positive, and optimistic mindset.
- Be willing to hold honest and supportive conversations with parents, guardians, or carers of Academy players.
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Ideally, the Under 18 Head Coach will hold or have:
- A minimum of 2 years’ coaching experience within the Professional Development Phase (U16–U21) at a Category 1 Academy.
- Experience of leading or supporting the development of less experienced coaching staff.
- Experience within the England Youth International pathway or equivalent representative football.
- The FA Talent Identification Level 1 qualification.
- A related higher education degree in coaching, analysis, or sports science (or similar qualification).
- Confidence, in the use of video/performance analysis platforms (e.g. HUDL or similar) to support individual player development.
- Awareness of First Team environments and the holistic demands placed on elite level athletes.
- Continuously demonstrates openness & inclusiveness.
- Action-orientated; solution-focused.
- Show pro-activeness and an ability to work around or overcome obstacles that others may find challenging.
- Understand the importance of being a confident custodian for an organisation with history and tradition.
We expect to close applications on Friday 2nd October, but if we receive a high level of interest, we may close the vacancy sooner. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
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