Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach
Sportsmith - CO, United States
Work at Sportsmith
Overview
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Overview
Job Responsibilities
- Design and administer a soccer specific, developmentally driven, and biologically age-appropriate periodization model in coordination with the Player Health and Performance (PHP) Department and Academy Director, facilitating maximal individual player development within a team setting that supports the Colorado Rapids game model and tactical periodization strategy with the primary goal of preparing players to graduate into the Rapids 2 program with the long-term vision of signing a First Team Homegrown Contracts.
- Assist Academy Director with physical loading parameters of each 6-week training block of work for each team within the Academy (u17, u15, & u14), matching pre-activation plans, on-field activations, gym programming, and recovery strategies to expected movement/load demands presented by each week’s theme.
- Create and maintain a strong working partnership with the Academy Athletic Trainer, collaborating to create a unified performance/medical approach as modeled by the First Team and Rapids 2, facilitating a club first, player-centric environment.
- Serve as a resource to the Academy coaching staff by positively influencing internal and external player loads to optimize adaptation, fitness, and overall development using the PHP developmental framework.
- Track and manage player performance profiles for each Academy player, including quarterly maturation measurements to compare chronological and biological age gaps and athletic profile projections.
- Responsible for all performance programming and physical periodization through each phase of the year (i.e., off-season, pre-season, in-season, and post-season).
- Manage all performance technology for the Academy, using PHP department protocols to monitor internal and external training loads.
- Implement an Athlete Education Program including but not limited to mindset, recovery, nutrition/lifestyle, strength training, and injury prevention.
- Provide individualized Return to Play (RTP) Protocols that allow each athlete to progress safely back to full training.
- Work with First Team Player Development Coach and PHP Staff to monitor and manage training loads for High Potential Players.
- Provide at home training programs for those not traveling, injured, or during cancelled sessions.
- Required to generate and submit bi-annual physical profile report for all players in the MLS Pro-Pathway.
- Create and distribute required reports for national team call ups as required/requested.
- Serve as a resource for Colorado Rapids Alliance Clubs and work with Academy Scout to build out ideal performance profiles.
- Required to shadow First Team and/or Rapids 2 PHP Staff at minimum 3 hours a week.
- Required to present once a month to PHP staff and any technical or front office staff that would like to attend.
- Required to attend bi-monthly coaching education sessions to gain a full understanding of the Colorado Rapids game model.