February 25, 2024
VACANCY: New Coach for Womens 1s Squad
Due to work commitments our current Womens 1st team coach Paul Hamnett is stepping back from his role within the club. As a result the club is seeking a new coach to take us forward and carry on building and developing our existing cohort of players.
Leicester City Hockey Club is seeking a new Womens 1st team coach in preparation for the 2024-25 season. Our existing coach will be stepping down at the end of this season due to work commitments and we would like to spend the time now looking for a coach who will start a handover, ideally at the end of this season ready to move into pre-season August 2024.
Our club has a long history in hockey and National League and the team is in National League Division One North with high hopes to build the club infrastructure to enable us to get back into and stay in the Premier League. A new Olympic standard water-based pitch at our own venue in the heart of the city was opened in June 2023 and we have significant site developments planned over the next 5-10 years. The club has grown from 5 x womens teams to include 2 x men’s teams since 2017 and we have a rapidly growing junior academy, thanks in part to our schools delivery programme and relationships with schools in the city and county.
The person we are looking for may be looking at a full time or a part time role (with a focus on Womens 1s), they may be a former player or still play and they may be following a series of qualifications or have already attained them. National League experience will be a key attribute.
Our priorities are that this person can embrace the culture of our club, understand our aims and bring out the best in our players new and old so that we can build, recruit and strengthen all our teams (womens and mens) and help take our club forward to the next phases of our development.
Candidates must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 evenings a week for W1s training, and Saturdays for pre -season and league games throughout the league season with the occasional Sunday fixture (August to March). The team has an experienced manager willing to commit to next season, and several senior players in a leadership group, along with new recruits and young up and coming players.
The role also encompasses the indoor team which will play at National League Div 1 Level. Indoor is something we would like to develop more and widen delivery throughout the club in winter months and we have successfully run a set of indoor hockey sessions for participation and elite sections for the last few seasons.
For this post you will have:
- Proven experience playing or coaching at National League Level (or equivalent), NAG’s or National Representational Level
- Excellent technical and tactical knowledge of hockey and its skills as well as its application as a coach and the ability to inspire and develop players
- Suitable qualifications or a desire to complete these whilst with the club
- An innovative and creative approach to coaching, including the use of technology
- Excellent interpersonal skills to support the team and manage the wide range of players needs
- Ability to plan and deliver training sessions for squads and group of players with differing abilities and stages of their hockey careers
- Ability to work with the existing team manager and senior players to take the squad forwards
- A good understanding of ClubMark Policy and club procedures with regards to U18s and vulnerable people within the club
The First Team Womens Coach is expected to:
- Take responsibility for planning and delivering Womens 1st team training (twice a week), arranging cover with other coaches if they are not available to take the session
- Attend and coach all First Team Matches (mainly weekends)
- Support weekly selection meetings and follow the agreed criteria
- Work well with the manager ensuring we are getting the best from the players
- Support the other club coaches and players
- Advise and support Player Recruitment
- Feed into the whole club strategy
- Develop other/aspiring coaches within the club
- Lead preseason and post season planning/review sessions
This post offers:
- A 3 year agreement with reviews and break points
- A salary or hourly rate plus expenses towards travel, with various add-ons and options tailored for the right person.
- A first team manager to handle administration of the team and support your coaching
- Club application (teamo) to manage registration, availability and selection
- Home games are videoed locally and analysed by a professional remotely
- Strategic input into development and planning at the club
Applications are welcome from newly qualified coaches, players looking to further develop their coaching and established coaches with a proven track record. Applications will also be considered from player-coaches. The successful applicant will undergo a DBS check and be required to attend a safeguarding course and first aid course if they do not have a current one.
If you would like to apply for this position, please email a hockey CV/portfolio to the email address below which details your experience, profile and references with contact details. Please also include a covering letter/email explaining why you are applying and your suitability for the role.
If you have any questions, please also email sarah.treanor@leicesterhc.co.uk and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. You must already have the right to live and work in the UK, via a British, Irish or Settled Person Status/Right to remain or other suitable valid existing Visa. We cannot support new visa applications at this time.