Applications Wanted: USA Revolution Assistant Coach

The USA Revolution is the men’s national Australian Football representative team with American players selected from the United States Australian Football League (USAFL). The Revolution participate in the AFL International Cup (IC) held in Australia every 3 years and play Canada in the 49th Parallel Cup in the years leading up to the IC. The team is looking to improve on its 4th place finish, out of 18 nations, achieved at the 2011 IC.

The coaching and support staff currently involved in managing the Revolution program include:

Head Coach: Matt Bishop - Sacramento, CA
Assistant Coach: Denis Ryan (midfield line) - Fort Walton Beach, FL
Assistant Coach: Jason Becker (forward line) - Minneapolis, MN
Assistant Coach: vacant (back line)
Team Manager: Greg Borchardt - Lorena, TX
Team Trainer: Steve Budrick - Boston, MA

Assistant Coach - Back Line

The team is looking for a suitable individual (residing within the US) with an affinity for coaching and a passion to develop elite American football talent. Specifically an Assistant Coach is responsible for supporting the Head Coach in the following:

Performance: the Coaches are responsible for the performance of the Revolution, on- and off-field. 

Game plan: the Coaches develop and communicate a suitable game plan to the players and assist them to implement it to the best of their ability. The Back Line Coach will be particularly responsible for this portion of the game plan.

Squad selection: the Coaches manage the selection process through a three year cycle, from IC to IC, to ensure the best possible squad is available and prepared to play at the 49th Parallel Cup and IC to the best of their ability.

Player development: the Coaches are required to manage player expectations and assist in their quest to be elite international players.

Event management: an annual training camp is held to introduce new players to the program and to monitor the progress of the current squad. The Coaches are charged with the task of preparing a challenging program for the squad.

Requirements

Volunteer role: while some travel costs may be reimbursed the Assistant Coach role is a volunteer role.

Attendance: Coaches are required to attend the annual training camp (March/April typically, April 4-6 in 2014), 49th Parallel Cup (First Saturday of August in non-IC years, this event may become a home and away event each year in the future ) and the AFL International Cup (August, every 3 years from 2014).  

Coaching experience: Coaches are required to be a current USAFL Coach, and with at least an AFL Level 1 Coaching Certification, or the willingness to obtain the certification as soon as possible.

Game analysis: an understanding of modern playing strategies is required, along with a knowledge of how team performance can be measured.

Feedback: player feedback is a very important element of the Revolution program and all Coaches are required to provide feedback to players as often as possible, but especially after the training camp and matches.

Communication: given the geographic spread of the players the Revolution Coaches must be able to communicate by phone, email and video conferencing. Facebook and Google Hangouts are the two media predominantly used. Coaches are also required to address players in formal situations (training camp etc) and informal situations (game day etc).

Technology: Coaches are required explore innovative ways to communicate with players to instruct them on the game plan, analyze performance and to provide feedback.

Application

Any interested applicants must contact Matt Bishop by Sunday, January 12, 2014 and provide a brief outline of your coaching experience and how it applies to the role of Assistant Coach - Back Line. Contact Matt also If you have any questions or need further clarification.