Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS) - Season 2024/2025

1.    Background

 

Professional football must better reflect modern Britain. Leeds United in partnership with the Premier League, are seeking to improve the diversity of football coaches in the professional game to make this area more representative of society and the playing population.  As part of our commitment to improving diversity, we are proud to be able to support the Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme, Season 2024/2025, by providing a high-quality fixed-term employment opportunity to develop under-represented groups within the football industry. The scheme is open to coaches who are currently under-represented within English Professional Football – coaches from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. We believe that having greater diversity helps the whole club to perform better both on and off the pitch.

 

2.    What is the Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme?

 

CIDS provides a 23-month fixed-term employment opportunity and development programme for the successful candidate. The club will act as the ‘base’ of employment and the individual will work across a variety of football functions within the Club to broaden their learning experience.

 

The fixed-term employment opportunity will include coaching and observation across the Academy, and collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. Successful applicants will enter the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme which is accredited by Leeds Beckett University. Upon successful completion of the programme, coaches will receive a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching. The development programme includes mentoring, workshops, peer learning, projects, and need-led access to FA/UEFA coaching qualifications.

 

3.    Objectives of the Scheme

 

• To increase the number of coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, including women from all backgrounds in full-time coaching positions in English professional football
• To provide coaches on the scheme with a fixed-term employment contract and development opportunities within a Premier League or EFL Clubs
• To substantially improve long-term employment prospects for coaches who complete the scheme
• To provide each of the coaches with their own development programme to ensure that they are appropriately supported to become successful coaches and visible role models
• To assist in diversifying the workforce at Premier League or EFL Clubs, promoting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion
• The successful candidate will actively be involved in coaching and talent identification across the Leeds United Foundation Phase (U7-U12) in collaboration with our multi-disciplinary teams.
• You will have a passion to make a positive difference in children and young people’s lives, you will love football, and learning environments that help develop more creative footballers.
• You can demonstrate high-level interpersonal skills which will enable you to connect and make lasting relationships with players and families.
• You can demonstrate a high motivation, and track record for personal development, underpinned with excellent self-awareness.
• You will have high potential to be world-class football coach and visible role model.

4.    The Role & Development Opportunity

• The successful candidate will actively be involved in coaching and talent identification across the Leeds United Foundation Phase (U7-U12) in collaboration with our multi-disciplinary teams.
• You will have a passion to make a positive difference in children and young people’s lives, you will love football, and learning environments that help develop more creative footballers.
• You can demonstrate high-level interpersonal skills which will enable you to connect and make lasting relationships with players and families.
• You can demonstrate a high motivation, and track record for personal development, underpinned with excellent self-awareness.
• You will have high potential to be world-class football coach and visible role model.

 

5.    Main Duties

• Planning, delivery and critical review of coaching and player development activities for the Under 7 to Under 12 age groups in conjunction with Lead Coaches and Head Coach (U9-U14)
• Embedding the Leeds United Academy Playing and Coaching Philosophy in the phase
• Effective communication of phase activities with internal and external stakeholders
• Supporting agreed decision making, handover and transition processes for registered players and trialists
• Being an active member of the Coaching Department by helping to ensure strategic and operational objectives are delivered.
• Being an active member of the Foundation and Youth Development Phase multidisciplinary teams and Academy working groups to help drive player development & continuous improvement of process
• Championing all club and Academy policy through modelling best practice in areas such as safeguarding, health and safety and equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Living the values of the club and championing our culture to help deliver the Academy Performance Plan and the vision of the Academy and the Club

 

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

 

6.     Person Specification 

 

Background

This is a positive action scheme aimed at addressing some currently under-represented groups within the English professional game. CIDS is a development opportunity for coaches from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. Applications will only be accepted from individuals from those backgrounds

 

Experience

Essential

• Coaches must not have previous experience of holding a full-time coaching role in a Premier League or EFL Club
• Experience of delivering effective and engaging coaching and player development support to children and young people (e.g. in education, grassroots, community coaching, or part-time development centre or Academy setting).
• •Strong connections with the local community, supporting young people in and across the region of Yorkshire.

 

Desirable

• Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis
• Experience of holistic youth development activities within, or beyond sport.
• Experience of effective relationship building to establish trust and rapport with children and young people within inner city areas.
• Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities faced by young people living in inner city environments.

 

Qualifications

Essential

•            UEFA B Licence

•            Current FA Safeguarding Certificate (Prior to commencing role)

•            Enhanced DBS Clearance (Prior to commencing role)

•            Emergency First Aid Certificate (Prior to commencing role)

 

Desirable

• Teaching assistant qualification or teaching degree
• Sport coaching or sports science degree
• UEFA A Licence

 

Person

Specification

• Drive to become a football coach in English professional football and to help individual players, and teams, to successfully develop and perform.
• Passion to create developmentally appropriate learning environments for players.
• Commitment to fulfilling duty of care for children, young people, and adults in healthy, high performing environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and relationship building expertise.
• Resilience for the everyday rigours of high-performance football environments.
• High potential to be a world-class football coach and visible role model.

 

 7.    How To Apply

 

Applications are welcome from coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. To apply please click on the below link to compete the online application form:

 

https://forms.office.com/e/7BzngX7StE

 

Reasonable adjustments will be made for any applicant with a disability, and these should be requested directly to Lynsey Farnworth, nsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com">nsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com">lynsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com

 

Leeds United and Premier League believe in equal opportunities and all applications will be assessed on merit only. All personal data that the applicant shares on the equality monitoring form will be submitted separately and not form any part of the application process. This information is collected simply to see if our advert is reaching a wide and diverse range of applicants who are applying for this role. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit as measured against the person specification, set out above.

 

Please follow these guidelines to apply.

 

Leeds United will only consider applications from coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, including Women coaches from all backgrounds.

 

Please follow these guidelines to apply.

 

1. To apply for the vacancy please click the ‘apply’ button below.
2. Please demonstrate in the Supporting Information section of the online application form , that you meet each of the criteria for the CIDS.
   1. Background
   2. Experience
   3. Qualifications
   4. Person Specification

 

In addition, please include answers to the following questions in the Supporting Information section of the online application form .

 

1. Why you are attracted to the CIDS, Leeds United and this specific role?
2. How would your personal experiences and achievements positively impact upon the club, and the players we support?
3. What inspires you to connect with and develop young people in a football environment?

 

 

To apply for the vacancy please click the ‘apply’ button below.

 

 

8.    Deadline For Applications

 

Please submit your application by 5pm on the 21st May

 

Please email any queries to Lynsey Farnworth, nsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com">nsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com">lynsey.farnworth@leedsunited.com

 

Multi-stage assessment activities will take place across w/c 3rd June & w/c 10th June.

 

By submitting your application, you are agreeing to Leeds United and the Premier League processing your personal details for the purpose of administering and evaluating the Scheme in accordance with Leeds United and the Premier League’s privacy notices[1].