Full Time: NC Courage Academy Staff Coach

Our Company: North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth) is a non-profit youth soccer organization home to more than 16,000 players (ages 2.5-19) and their families each year. Through full-service programming, NCFC Youth offers youth soccer for all levels of play – from Recreation and outreach programs up to the highest levels of elite competition. In addition, NCFC Youth hosts tournaments, camps, and other events to ensure the best player development opportunities. 

NCFC Youth’s on and off field operations are supported by more than 1,700 personnel including full-time staff, seasonal coaches, and volunteer coaches. In collaboration with the professional North Carolina Football Club, home to NC Courage (NWSL) and North Carolina FC (USL Championship), NCFC Youth is the largest youth-to-professional club in the country and offers a pipeline of player development including U-23s, amateur & academy contracts, and professional contracts in addition to coaching development opportunities.

Since 1974, we have been living our mission of providing positive, high quality soccer opportunities at all levels of play for youth and their families and serving as a valuable community partner. NCFC Youth takes strides to accomplish this through living out our core values of fun, excellence, community, innovation, and passion.

The Position:  The NC Courage Academy Staff Coach is a FT position in one of the top academy programs in the country.  They are responsible for team coaching (2 team minimum) and program directives, as determined by the NC Courage Academy Director.

Essential Functions:

On Field

• Create and deliver a fun, challenging and competitive learning environment for all players in every training session and match day.
• Ensure all training sessions are planned on the Academy platform.
• Devise and execute training sessions in line with the NCFC Academy Philosophy and yearly periodization outlined by the Academy Director.
• Handle all components of match preparation, including team selection, opponent analysis, video breakdown, set pieces etc. within academy league games, friendlies, and other events.
• Work with Physical and Medical staff to monitor and improve player wellbeing.
• Work closely with GK coaches to ensure positive GK integration into the team environment in line with the weekly topics.
• Plan and attend all team training sessions (4x/week/team).
• Scout/Identify players within NCFCY (ECNL, Classic Elite/Premier).
• Scout/Identify players outside of NCFCY.
• Run Open ID Sessions (4x per year).
• Run and manage tryouts (3 sessions in April/May).

Off Field

• Meet with players and parents at start and end of the season.
• Have good contact with team manager on all logistical related topics.
• Help find two community based programs that the team can be involved in.
• Create an individual development plan for each individual player and provide feedback on the progress made over the course of the season.
• Track all relevant player data for trainings and matches in club database system.
• Review and upload weekend game footage to club platform.
• Provide video clips to individuals and the team on weekly topics to help develop the players understanding.
• Have a strong working knowledge of ALL Academy players U11 through U19.
• Have a working knowledge of players in the same age group playing in ECNL, Classic Elite and Classic for club wide scouting.
• Provide Academy Director with video clips from games and training that display the clubs style of play.
• Provide two technical reports per season (mid season and end of season) on individual player and team progress to Academy Director.
• Be enterprising and forward thinking using the latest research and technology to further enhance yourself, the club and the players.
• Conduct Player Evaluation Meetings with player and their family (3-4x per year).
• Communicate in both a timely and effective manner with families (email, phone calls, text (within 24 hours)).

Overall Academy Program

• Attend academy meetings at various times and locations to discuss specific topics as outlined by the Academy Director.
• Be active in sourcing continuing education opportunities to further develop your individual skillset.
• Be proactive to deliver coach education topics or experiences that are unique to your skill set and that help all staff improve.
• Look for ways to improve and develop the academy.
• Help run Flex Schooling sessions (1-2x /week).
• Help with team travel/planning when needed.
• Assist with the registration of players for specific leagues, including ECNL, USL, and USLW.
• Cover other Academy teams’ training sessions & games when needed.
• Communicate/Organize training space usage with club field scheduler.

Overall NCFC Youth Club

• Promote and portray NCFC in a positive light at all time.
• Represent NCFC at any meeting, courses, seminars, study visits with professionalism.
• Assist NCFC in various capacities at any events, including tournament set-up.
• Mandatory reporter of abuse. Must report all suspected abuse within 24 hours using the Abuse Prevention Report.
• Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.

Qualifications/Competencies:

• Mandatory USSF “B” License
• Preferred USSF “A”, “A-Senior”, or “A-Youth License”
• English speaking is required, Spanish speaking would be an plus.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to interact positively with youth soccer players, parents, other staff.
• Communicate effectively in person, via email / phone with professional timeliness.

Job Type Requirements:

• Full-time; salaried position.
• Typically this person should expect to have Monday-Thursday office hours of 16 hours (4 hrs / daily). As assigned by Director.
• Typical on field hours include 2-3 hours per weeknight as well as 3 hours per weekend day. Weekend hours dependent on varying schedule (games, travel, events, etc.)

Work Environment/Travel/Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• This person’s job is conducted in the office as well as outdoors. It will require this employee to attend outdoor youth sporting events during all seasons, including extreme temperatures and inclement weather, to fulfill job responsibilities and event support.
• Physical demands: bending, sitting, lifting, and event set-up.

Background Requirements

• Requires a background check upon offer, along with continued annual background checks.

Affirmative Action Plan/Equal Employer Opportunity:

• NCFC Youth provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
• This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.