Guildford Talent Academy: LEAD Coach (Girls)

To lead the on-pitch coaching of the Guildford Talent Programme, and to lead the Talent Academy Squad in fixtures and training between September 1st 2025 and August 31st 2026. 
 
Contract Term: October 2025 to 31 July 2026 
Contract Status: Self Employed 
Fees:  
-Coaching Days £150-£215 
-Coaching Evenings £85 
-Travel expenses incorporated within contact fee. 
 
Talent Academy Programme 
Guildford Talent Academy is one of the 24 club-hosted Talent Academies operating nationwide for the highest potential players aged 15-18. Their responsibility is to: 
 
- Deliver outstanding environments that nurtures top-level players for international hockey 
- Offer consistent, high-quality coaching and competitive match day experiences  
- Supporting individual players through player profiling, individual development plans and regular coach feedback 
 
Lead Coach Role 
 
Key responsibilities:
Select the Talent Academy squad and provide feedback on selection decisions to schools and clubs, publish selection decisions on GHC website and share with County Hockey administrators and England hockey. 

Plan all training sessions and lead the coaching teams and ensure an excellent player experience throughout the process. 

Deliver pitch sessions cognisant of the Complete Player Qualities and the development of players’ Hockey IQ as outlined in the Talent System Framework. 

Plan and coordinate, working with Talent Programme Lead and Director of Hockey, the off-pitch education programme for the cycle 

Act as lead coach for all TA fixtures, co-ordinate selection, coach matches,  

Lead the coaching team for the Guildford Talent Academy team at the Talent Academy festival 
 
Feedback & Communication 
Provide timely feedback to all players, including video feedback using match footage. 

Implement and regularly review individual feedback plans for players during the April-August period. 

Communicate effectively with players and parents about selection, planning, and the squad in general.  
 
Other responsibilities 
Work with club and school coaches to manage player load. 

Work closely with England Hockey to ensure alignment between the Guildford Talent programme and the England

Hockey talent priorities. 

Attend England Hockey Talent Academy Inductions, workshops and conferences 
 
What we are looking for? 
 
Candidates must hold, as a minimum, EH (or equivalent) Coach qualification.  
 
We are looking for committed, enthusiastic, inspirational, and highly skilled individuals who demonstrates integrity, professionalism and have the desire and ambition to nurture and develop our talented young players. 
 
Our coaches must be self-starters, who can deliver exceptional development experiences in a talent development environment to our high potential young hockey players. 
 
Our coaches have evidence of coaching in competitive hockey environments and development of players with highly skilled actions. 
 
Our coaches are strong communicators, with ability to engage with empathy across a range of audiences (players, parents, coaches, Talent Lead, local clubs/schools etc) on a regular basis & disseminate information using a variety of methods. 
 
Our coaches understand the needs and safeguarding requirements for our young athletes and deliver a safe environment for their leaning at all times.  They should have awareness of mental wellbeing in young players in the talent environment and EH anti-doping direction.