Academy Goalkeeper Coach

Portland Timbers•Portland, OR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Portland Timbers Academy Goalkeeper coach is responsible for coaching and managing the Academy Goalkeepers within a coaching framework established by the Academy and the Timbers professional GK staff. In coordination with the Academy coaching staff, the Academy GK Coach will contribute to the design of training sessions for the entire team while focusing on the development and individual needs of the goalkeepers, along with other team duties as assigned. Match preparation is a key component of the Academy GK Coach’s role. The Academy GK Coach will handle opposition scouting as it relates to attacking and defensive set pieces. Additional duties include but are not limited to scouting college prospects and participating in off-season player development programs. The management of communication channels is important within any organization. The Academy GK Coach must manage communication channels between the goalkeepers, trainers, coaches and other decision makers. This includes keeping the Academy Head Coaches up to date on matters involving the goalkeepers which allows the Head Coaches to make informed decisions. The Academy GK Coach must also be closely involved in communication with necessary stakeholders regarding Goalkeeper movement amongst the Academy teams for training and games as necessary. All of the above should be done with the best interests and values of the Club and its Goalkeepers in mind.

Requirements

Obtain proper coaching qualifications, certifications, experience, etc.
Be innovative and creative – help create the future by being self-motivated with the ability to think independently and with flexibility.
Be an active part in developing a common language and culture that all coaches in the team use consistently to reinforce methods and aid players understanding of team principles.
Keep up with the latest technology in performance analysis.
Develop recruiting skills to help grow the competitiveness of the team.
Be active in your support of decisions and philosophies.
Maintain unquestionable trustworthiness.
Have an outstanding knowledge of the sport, the Goalkeeping position and opponents and be prepared to share that knowledge.
Strive to learn more about Goalkeeper coaching and the evolution of the role.

Nice To Haves

Match preparation is a key component of the Academy GK Coach’s role.
The Academy GK Coach will handle opposition scouting as it relates to attacking and defensive set pieces.
Additional duties include but are not limited to scouting college prospects and participating in off-season player development programs.
The management of communication channels is important within any organization.
The Academy GK Coach must manage communication channels between the goalkeepers, trainers, coaches and other decision makers.
This includes keeping the Academy Head Coaches up to date on matters involving the goalkeepers which allows the Head Coaches to make informed decisions.
The Academy GK Coach must also be closely involved in communication with necessary stakeholders regarding Goalkeeper movement amongst the Academy teams for training and games as necessary.
All of the above should be done with the best interests and values of the Club and its Goalkeepers in mind.
Other duties and services as may reasonably be assigned by the club that are consistent with employment as GK coach of an MLS Academy
Be innovative and creative
Identify areas for individual development and work with goalkeepers on improvement
Be active in support of coaching decisions and philosophies
Maintain unquestionable trustworthiness
Be in tune with Club’s ideological approach
Keep up with latest technology in computing, communications, sports science and sports analysis
Have an outstanding knowledge of the sport, goalkeeping in particular
Don’t be afraid to be in conflict with the Academy head coaches (in the appropriate forum) if the issue you believe in can help grow the program and/or improve performance
Publicly share the same philosophy as the head coaches and together develop, enhance and grow that philosophy
Recognize the times when the coaches are under pressure and look to take some of their workload
Meet with the head coaches regularly to make sure you are always on the same page
Be a set of eyes and ears for the head coaches and alert him to potential issues before they develop

Responsibilities

Oversee off-season player development programs with the Academy Head Coaches and MLS Next Pro GK Coach
Work closely, constructively and collaboratively with the team’s coaching staff, trainer and support staff
Create optimal conditions for team performance
Create and maintain a winning culture and high-performance environment
Enforce team rules and league rules applicable to the team’s players and or coaching staff
Coach goalkeepers in all Academy exhibition, regular season, playoff, tournament, international and other games.
Design individual training regimens for the goalkeepers within the training framework of the team.
Scout next opponent and accordingly debrief and prepare goalkeepers
Assist with the delivery of team attacking and defensive set piece strategy and design.
Set up, plan and delivery of training sessions for the Academy teams and Discovery Program.
Collaborate with the Timbers GK Coach and MLS Next Pro GK coach on specific projects and on-field coverage if needed
Specify off-season player development programs for Academy Goalkeepers
Enforce team rules and league rules
Live the team values. Set an example for the players
Maintain good working relations and lines of communication with all staff
Resolve any conflicts quickly and appropriately
Work with MLS Next Pro GK coach on potential player prospects for Academy and MLS Next Pro team
Consult and advise with respect to the team’s roster and player evaluation in regards to goalkeepers
Assist in the scouting and recruitment of potential goalkeepers for the Academy
Monitor Discovery program GK pipeline early to better understand and prepare players for full Academy invites