Women's Goalkeeper Coach in Blackburn

Department: Blackburn Rovers Women’s Football Club

Based at: Blackburn Rovers Senior Training Centre / Academy

Reports to: Women’s Head Coach / Head of Women’s Football

Responsible for: N/A

Hours of work: 6 hours per week plus match days. This will predominantly include evening and weekend work.

Contractual status: Permanent

1. Job purpose: To support and develop all goalkeepers within the Women’s First Team and to attain the highest levels of performance possible in a safe, secure and supportive environment.

2. Duties and responsibilities:

• To be committed to ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of all staff and players, promoting their well-being whilst maintaining professional boundaries;
• To drive and nurture a positive culture within the training group and be a coach who makes the Women’s Club a place where goalkeepers learn and develop;
• Plan, prepare, deliver, and evaluate goalkeeping coaching sessions;
• Provide input to the development and ongoing improvement / adaptation of the coaching curriculum;
• Coach in a way that ensures players are encouraged to ask questions and seek feedback for improvement and clarity;
• Contribute to selection decisions;
• Work with individual goalkeepers to set appropriate development targets with a plan to work towards;
• Provide feedback to players;
• Monitor and evaluate player development and provide feedback to players and parents when appropriate on a regular basis;
• Liaise with and work closely with coaches, medics and performance staff regarding player development, and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries;
• Ensure players’ behaviour in the group reflects what is required;
• Store and maintain kit and equipment;
• Seek feedback from others, and reflect on personal behaviour and performance to identify areas for improvement;
• Create and maintain a personalised Development Action Plan, taking input and feedback from a variety of sources;
• Review personal competencies against job specification and identify areas for improvement;
• Attend CPD events and undertake CPD activities in line with identified development themes;
• Be aware of current research and insight to support programme and coaching development.

3. Skills required:

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal, placing high value on attention to detail;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Strong administration, organisational and planning skills in order to meet set deadlines;
• An ability to adapt quickly, be flexible in the face of change and solution orientated;
• Ability to remain calm under pressure;
• Ability to anticipate and prioritise a diverse workload, managing work, time and resources cost-effectively;
• Flexible approach, with the ability to work alone as well as part of internal and external teams;
• Driven, motivated, creative and innovative in creating a positive performance culture;
• Demonstrates curiosity to learn and develop with a desire to progress in the women’s game;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build rapport and positive relationships with all levels of an Organisation;
• To always maintain confidentiality and discretion.

4. Knowledge required:

• Experience of working with Goalkeepers in the Women’s Game;
• Experience of working in an elite football environment;
• Understanding of the needs of the modern player in terms of their physical and psychological development;
• An up to date understanding of Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures.

5. Qualifications required:

• UEFA C Goalkeeping Qualification (Essential - the club will use discretion if a candidate is working towards and has significant experience);
• Level 2 or UEFA C outfield qualification (Desirable);
• FA Safeguarding Children;
• FA Level 1 Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) or FA Emergency First Aid;
• DBS check required: Yes (enhanced).