Academy Physical Performance Coach with Specialism in Return to Play
Sheffield United Football Club
Job Type
Full-time, permanent; 40 hours per week
Location
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
Salary
Up to £35,000 per year, dependent on experience
Closing Date
18 October 2026
Classification
IQF Level 6
Job Summary
Plan and deliver return-to-play processes for academy players in the professional development phases at Sheffield United. Collaborate with medical, coaching and performance staff across rehabilitation and reintegration to training. Use GPS, VALD and two-dimensional kinematic analysis to profile and monitor players and translate findings into progression plans. Lead or support gym and pitch-based physical-development sessions and performance testing. Provide U18 match-day support and contribute to internal professional development.
IUSCA IQF Classification
Level 6. Plans and delivers return-to-play progression for academy professional-development-phase players, integrates GPS, VALD and movement analysis into decisions, and delivers gym and pitch physical preparation within a multidisciplinary academy team. This demonstrates autonomous scientific and applied judgement for a defined practice area, reporting to the Academy Head of Elite Performance. Employer requirements include MSc Sports Science/Strength and Conditioning, CASES accreditation or progress towards it, and UKSCA accreditation or progress towards it. The essential master's requirement exceeds the normal IUSCA Level 6 academic threshold.
Associated IUSCA IQF Certification
IUSCA IQF Level 6 Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP)
Salary and Role Alignment
Amber. The advertised salary of up to £35,000 appears somewhat modest relative to the role's autonomous return-to-play responsibility, specialist testing and monitoring, 40-hour full-time schedule and essential master's-level qualification expectation. Under the IUSCA IQF Role Classification & Salary Alignment methodology, this results in an Amber rating. The advertised upper limit is below an indicative £40,000 minimum for a Level 6 specialist academy practitioner; the actual offer may be lower.
IUSCA Alignment Statement
This role has been classified by IUSCA using publicly available information at the time of review and the published IQF Role Classification & Salary Alignment methodology. The IQF classification, salary alignment assessment and associated IUSCA IQF certification represent IUSCA's assessment of the advertised role. They do not alter or replace the employer's stated qualification, certification or eligibility requirements and do not imply employer endorsement, approval of, or affiliation with IUSCA. Vacancy information may change, and applicants should review and verify the original employer advert before applying.