Academy Assistant/Sport Scientist Bursary (MSc Strength & Conditioning)

We are Wolves. Progressive, determined, bright, unified and humble. A pack that is hungry for success. Wolves is one of the fastest growing professional football clubs in the UK, and also boasts one of the richest histories in the beautiful game.

Formed in 1877, Wolves was a founder member of the Football League, and was one of the country’s most successful sides in the fifties and sixties. During a two decade spell the Black Country’s most decorated side won three First Division titles and one of its four FA Cups.

Fast forward 70 years and Wolves are back amongst football’s elite. In the past six years we have celebrated promotion to the Premier League, back-to-back 7^th placed finishes and a Europa League quarter-final campaign. Now, we will be competing in the Premier League for a sixth successive season.

But at Wolves it is all about what we will do, not what we have done. We don’t simply look to the future, we seize it.

We take seriously our commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and to ensuring that Wolves is free from discrimination and harassment.

Placement description

To aid in the delivering and monitoring (GPS/Heart rate) of on-field physical conditioning and gym- based Strength and Conditioning support services to youth players at Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. This placement is to support university study towards a postgraduate qualification in Strength and Conditioning working in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton.

Key responsibilities

• Delivery of pitch and gym based athletic development sessions
• Create session plans to be delivered across YDP and FDP alongside reviews with the staff
• Internal and External load monitoring using GPS & RPE
• Learn to interpret and collate GPS data using relevant software in order to provide objective reports to coaching staff and wider MDT
• Provide match day support that includes warm up and cool downs
• Assist in the formulation and delivery of injury prevention programmes
• Assist and lead in the physical testing in line with the Premier League as well as inhouse testing
• Conduct research to compliment the work being completed as part of placement and in support of study towards qualification.
• Attend regular internal CPD and complete a coaching competency framework to ensure development targets are met

General responsibilities

• Compliance with Club policies
• Compliance with the Club’s health and safety procedures
• Compliance with the Club’s safeguarding policies
• To promote the Club’s values
• To work consistently to embed equality & diversity into the Club
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected
• To maintain professional conduct at all times

Safeguarding

• This role carries a specific safeguarding responsibility. This means that the post-holder is required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable people.

Key relationships

• To report to and work closely with the Head of Academy Sports Science and the Academy Manager - Football
• To work closely alongside all other Academy staff in support of each players development, as a member of Sports Science Team.
• To ensure positive relationships with players.

Scope of placement

• This placement will involve approximately 24 hours per week and may include duties outside normal office hours including evenings, weekends and on public holidays.
• This placement description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in light of the changing needs of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. The Medical Department is amalgamated with both Senior and Academy Footballers and you may be asked to support either department at short notice.

General skills and attributes

Essential

• A personality that brings a positive impact to our elite environment.
• Ability to work using own initiative.
• Be proactive networking with other Strength and Conditioning coaches and fellow sports science practitioners sharing information and ideas of how to improve practice.
• Calm under pressure and able to adapt to changing situations.
• Show ability to negotiate effectively through competing and conflicting priorities, agendas and aims during the various stages of the season.
• Ability to communicate complex data in terms that are easily understood by a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills that can motivate behavioural change to have a positive impact on performance.
• The ability to establish professional relationships across the various disciplines within the medical and exercise science department at the football club.
• Be able to demonstrate that they are an evidence-based practitioner.
• An understanding of individual responsibility in complying with Health and Safety policies.
• Personal commitment to continued professional development
• Operate within the rules of professional confidentiality to liaise with athletes, medical staff, sports sciences staff, coaches and other support staff as appropriate.
• Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or adults at risk and uphold generally accepted practice when working with those participants.
• Promote, adhere to and implement the Club’s Equality Policy and to work consistently to embed equality and diversity within Club.

Desirable

• An understanding of clinical and professional issues related to working with athletes under 16 years.

Experience

Essential

• Experience delivering warm-up, cool-down, flexibility, core strength and stability, speed, agility, quickness training and coaching Olympic weightlifting to a high professional standard.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a sporting environment supporting athletes in a Strength and Conditioning Capacity.
• Experience of how to modify and develop conditioning programmes according to the results of specific needs analysis.
• Experience of actively engaging with players and technical coaches to create a culture which enhances attitudes towards Strength and Conditioning practices.
• Experience of analysing the Strength and Conditioning needs of youth football players using a range of screening tools.
• Experience of conducting laboratory and field testing and relaying information in an appropriate way for coaches and athletes to understand.
• Working with children and/or adults at risk.

Qualifications: the level of educational, professional and/or occupational training required

Essential

• An undergraduate degree in sport science specialising in the area of physical preparation of elite athletes.
• Acceptance on to the MSc Strength & Conditioning course at the University of Wolverhampton.
• Post-holder must hold or obtain at the earliest opportunity the relevant safeguarding training (i.e. FA Safeguarding Children Workshop).
• Post-holder will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level and cleared by the Wolves Safeguarding Manager.

Desirable

• UKSCA or NSCA CSCS Accreditation or ability to obtain with 6 months of being in post.
• FA Fitness Trainers Award.
• A current first aid or basic support qualifications from a recognised organisation.