Job Description

Head Coach Ayrshire Tigers Powerchair Football Club

Contract:

Part-time (minimum 4 hrs per week)

Rate of Pay:

12.50 Per hour

Closing Date:

29th of April 2025

Introduction

Applications are invited for the position of Head Coach at Ayrshire Tigers Powerchair Football Club. The club are seeking a passionate and dedicated coach to lead the team through the season and support them with their aspirations to get promotion and win some silverware. This role is vital in fostering an inclusive environment where all players can thrive,develop their skills, and enjoy the benefits of sport.

Ayrshire Tigers Powerchair Football Club is a charity launched in 2015 in response to a lack of activities for children and adults, male and female, in the Ayrshire area who are wheelchair users. The Club runs its own powerchair football training session on Tuesday evenings between 6pm and 9pm at Kyle Academy. The club's team is currently playing in the Scottish Powerchair Football League and Cup competitions.

Our mission is, "to help improve the lives of all disabled powerchair users, by reducing social isolation and engaging the whole community through the sport of Powerchair Football. We believe that all people regardless of ability should be able to engage in sport. Powerchair Football can be used as a vehicle to take sport out to the people in the Ayrshire community that are excluded from mainstream sport.

Ayrshire Tigers is all about inclusivity to all, allowing our players to play on a level playing field despite their impairments, meaning they forget about their challenges in everyday life when playing. The sport of Powerchair Football should be used as a way to increase self-esteem and confidence, while developing social skills and helping players to reach their full potential."

Powerchair football is an unique competitive team sport for people with disabilities who use power wheelchairs. Powerchair Football is the most popular sport for power wheelchair users around the world and was created in France during the late 1970s. With steady growth, the sport is now played in over 25 countries, with more joining every year. Powerchair football is a disability team sport played by 2 opposing teams on a basketball sized court with four players per team, a goalkeeper and three attackers/defenders. Equipped with a metal or sturdy plastic foot guard attached to the front of the chair, players manoeuvre their chairs and use the foot guard to pass and shoot the ball.

It is the only active team participation sport for people who use power wheelchairs. The game is for anyone who uses a powered wheelchair or those who have limited movement in a manual wheelchair. The sport is fast-paced, dynamic and very enjoyable to watch. The unique nature of powerchair football allows all ages, disabilities and both genders to compete together.

The club is run by players and volunteers. We promote the sport of Powerchair Football and make it as accessible as possible to all wheelchair users who wish to try it. We also support those who wish to progress in the sport and show their talent and natural ability at national and international level.

We are currently looking for a Head Coach to run our weekly training sessions and prepare the first team to compete at league and cup match days which take place at various leisure centres across Scotland (approximately 6 to 8 Sundays each year)

The Coach is required to lead, manage and deliver coaching sessions for the club at training sessions and on match days. Our team competes in the Scottish Powerchair Football league and cup competitions run by the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA).

The successful candidate will create a positive, responsive and productive relationship with the club and support the development of the team in training and matches.

The successful candidate will also be expected to be registered/register as Self Employed with HMRC and hold their own coaching insurance policy. This is the responsibility of the coach and not the club's.

Powerchair football is an adaptation of football and no previous football coaching experience is required; only a knowledge and experience of coaching and an enthusiastic approach with a commitment and willingness to learn. There will also be opportunities to gain coaching qualifications, through the Club's affiliation with the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA) and Scottish Para-Football, as part of the individual's continued professional development.

The Club is committed to increasing opportunities available to participants with a disability and therefore would support inspiring coaches to learn more about Powerchair Football. You will be supported to develop your 'personal' coaching skills (communication, organisation, adaptability, and compassion) and your 'how to' coaching skills (instruction, demonstration, observation, analysis, feedback and questioning).

We are interested in speaking with people that have a background as a/or worked for:

Sports Coaching

Football Coaching

PE Teachers and Teachers with a love for Sport

Experience of working with disabled children/adults

The club expects to see the development of players and team tactics to be used in league and cup competitions.

We'd like you to work closely with the Coaching Development Officer, Team Captain, Player Representative, and Club Committee for reciprocal feedback and assistance.

You will be required to commit to:

One 3 hour training session per week on a Tuesday evening at Kyle Academy in Ayr

1 hour per week planning training sessions

6 to 8 competitive match days per year on Sundays in leisure centres across Scotland

- Undertaking any necessary & relevant training (Paid for)

We will provide you with:

Kit

Equipment

Coach education and training courses paid for

The opportunity to grow and develop as a coach

The opportunity to observe other premiership and championship powerchair matches at match days.

The opportunity to work with experienced powerchair football coaches and a Coaching Development Officer

Coach observation and feedback for your own/team development.

The opportunity to mentor other coaches/volunteers.

The opportunity to gain coaching and refereeing qualifications.

The opportunity to lead the Ayrshire Tigers from the touchline at SPFA league and cup match days.

The opportunity to attend any meetings with fellow coaches, players, parents and children where appropriate.

The chance to develop your own skills by attending SFA coach education courses and any training that is organised by the club.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Laying out equipment ahead of the session.

Equip players as required e.g. attaching 'Strikers' to powerchairs.

Dynamic risk assessment of powerchairs and equipment before and after sessions.

Lead coaching at training sessions on Tuesdays

Organise players with consideration to ability and individual needs.

Consult with other coaches about the aims of the sessions.

Plan, deliver, evaluate and progress the coaching sessions.

Brief all players on the aims of the session and the purpose of each activity.

Prioritise improving players key skills including chair movement, ball control, dribbling, ball striking, and positional understanding.

In charge of selection of first-team squad and a development team

Lead coaching on match days

Track progress of players outside of the First Team to help player pathway to the First Team

Create individual player development plans, supporting player ambitions e.g. selecting players to trial for the Scottish International Team

Maintain regular communication with the Club Committee and the SPFA

Make sure all sessions comply with Health & Safety standards and maintain high standards with regards to Equality & Diversity

Follow and promote the club's code of conduct and safeguarding policies

Develop a good understanding of powerchair football coaching methods and tactics

Coach different tactical approaches and team playing styles based on a solid understanding of the sport and its rules

Commitment to maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment for players with disabilities

Ensure compliance with SPFA policies and regulations

Empower other coaches and volunteers to support you and the players

Contribute to the long-term development plan of the club

Undertake organisational jobs e.g. player register, equipment checks, delegate to parents and carers.

Ensure that you are well briefed about any special needs of the participant involved i.e. medical condition/disabilities etc

Give constructive feedback to all players.

Requirements to be a Head Coach at Ayrshire Tigers

Essential:

Minimum of the SFA Level 1 youth/adult Coaching Certificate or an equivalent coaching qualification

Minimum of 1 year experience as a Coach of a competitive sports team preferably a mainstream football or powerchair football team

You must be reliable, honest and trustworthy.

You must be a people person and enjoy interacting with others

Motivate players and coaches/volunteers

Have a flexible working approach and be willing to go the extra mile.

Have a willingness to develop personally and learn new skills.

Develop an appropriate level of technical knowledge.

Observe and analyse players' skills and make improvements.

Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team

Be organised & have good time management skills

Be able to adapt to different and changing situations

Ability to liaise with the committee and players professionally.

Have excellent communication skills

Commitment to the club

Capable of managing both young and more experienced players

Make things FUN

An ability to work well as part of a team

Desirable:

A clean driving licence

First aid qualification

An understanding of powerchair football

Rate of Pay and hours of work

The successful applicant will be:

Paid 12.50 Per hour and 50 on match days (Travel expenses will also be paid to match venues).

We do not offer a set number of contracted hours due to the varying schedule of the powerchair football calendar. However, the successful applicant can expect to claim hours for:

One training session per week on a Tuesday evening between January and December.

6 to 8 match days per year normally on a Sunday.

Also possibility of additional match days/training sessions throughout the year

Recruitment Process:

1. CV and cover letter submitted by deadline

2. Interview with committee member

3. References and PVG Check

4. A voluntary session at the training venue

5. 8 week probationary period

6. Probation Review - 30 minute appraisal with Coaching Development Officer

Application deadline: 29/4/2025

If you wish to apply for the position of Head Coach, then please submit a CV and Cover Letter by email to info@ayrshiretigers.co.uk before the deadline outlining the following:

Coaching experience

Why you are interested in this role

Confirmation of availability to coach on Tuesdays and on Sundays when needed

Information on relevant qualifications or training

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 12.50 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 4 per week

Benefits:

Free parking On-site parking
Education:

GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:

Sports coaching: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 29/04/2025
Reference ID: Head coach
Expected start date: 13/05/2025