If you’re looking to learn more about a soccer coaching license make sure you know the many options. Some coaches have multiple certificates. Example: You can get a national coaching license in the US, UK, AUS, GER, ARG or many other countries. Below you’ll learn the different levels in the U.S. plus options in others parts of the world.
US soccer coaching license and education
There are different tiers when it comes to coaching in the U.S.
From grassroots all the way up to pro.
Playing at the pro level will allow you to be waived… It used to be you could be waived to the “B”. Rules change, therefore it will depend on the current situation.
“Nobody knows everything, we should always have the desire to learn.”
Pro Course
To be a head coach in the national team or pro level.
Cost: $10,000
Learning environment:
The candidate will discuss, collaborate, and develop knowledge and skills in the following areas as part of the course learning environment:
- Learning is designed around the candidate being part of a club or program where they are expected to:
- Leadership structure: Board of Directors + Technical Director + departments (professional environment)
- Coaching staff and support staff (technical and high-performance department (medical / para-medical / analytics) are professional
- Learning is designed around this player profile:
- Senior players (professional or semi-professional players)
- Youth National Team U17 and above (professional or semi-professional players)
- Learning is designed around teams in this competition profile:
- National / international
- Tournament / league games / playoffs / championship
- Duration of season: 10 months
A – Senior Course
For high performance, team environment.
Cost: $4,000
Eligibility
- Holds a U.S. Soccer B license for at least one (1) year OR hold a Confederation A License or higher
- Coaching in a high-performance senior team environment in a U.S. based competition OR coaching in a college environment
Learning environment
- Learning is around this club or college context:
- Coaching staff and support staff
- Style of play and game model
- Training methodology
- Player development plan
- Individual development plan for players
- Standards for training
- Min. of four (4) training sessions per week
- Assistant coach(es) and support staff
- Full field
- Supporting technology (including, but not limited to: video, GPS)
- Learning is designed around this player profile:
- Age: 19+
- Skillset: Elite (professional pathway trajectory)
- Motivation: highly self-motivated / focused on achievement of goals and results
- Learning is designed around teams in this competition profile:
- Regional / national competition
- Championship / Playoff / Tournament
- Duration of the season: 6 to 10 months
A – Junior Course
Supporting coaches in developing the competencies essential to lead programs for players and team development and performance (U13- U19)
Must have held a B License for at least 1 year.
Cost: $4,000
Learning objectives
Leadership and Managing the Performance Environment
- Implementing a coaching philosophy through a professional development plan
- Creating, implementing and analyzing a plan to develop a culture of collaboration toward enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
Coaching – Game
- Creating, implementing, monitoring and analyzing a game model aligned with the club style of play.
- Preparing appropriate game plans via strategies and tactics aligned to the game model, training week objectives and taking the opponent’s team into account.
- Preparing the team according to the game plan, coaching players and analyzing performance during the game with the staff
- Analyzing, interpreting, and reporting team and individual performance in the game relative to the game model, the game plan and opponent team performance
Coaching – Training
- Apply a “Coaching Process” related to training – planning cycles in a 10-month season with 4 training sessions/week
- Methodology – the integration of all influencers in the training session design
Leading the Player
- Enabling players to take responsibility for their individual development
- Creating a developmentally impactful learning environment through intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies
- Creating a coach-player relationship to influence player learning and development
Leading the Team
- Creating a developmentally impactful team environment
- Giving direction and enabling players to take responsibility for team development through professional, intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies
National B License
To develop coaches to lead programs and team development.
40+ course hours. You will have to have the ability to play in small sided games, so it’s more than just being “book smart”.
Cost: Set by the host member. [$2,200 – $2,700] Some youth clubs will pay for their soccer coaching license.
Must hold a U.S. Soccer C license for at least 1 year.
Learning objectives
- Create a positive and safe environment that encourages respect, inclusivity and belonging
- Create and apply individual player development plan to enhance development and performance
- Plan and design three training sessions within a week
- Implement and optimize designed training sessions and facilitate player learning
- Analyze implemented sessions and player and team responses to coaching
- Prepare an age-appropriate game plan aligned to the game model and the training week objectives
- Implement the game plan and monitor coaching behaviors
- Analyze and report team performance
National C License
To be eligible for the U.S. Soccer C Course, applicants must meet the following prerequisites:
80+ course hours (virtual and in-person)
Cost: Set by host member. [$1,400 – $1,750]
- Is at least 18 years of age
- Holds a U.S. Soccer D license for at least six (6) months
- A waiver of the U.S. Soccer C License may be considered based on previous professional or national team playing experience or foreign licensure at the hosting member’s discretion. Please reach out to the hosting member for a waiver application.
and
- Student Coaches must have access to a team playing 11v11 (U13+) for the duration of the course
Learning environment
The candidate will discuss, collaborate, and develop knowledge and skills in the following areas as part of the course learning environment:
- Learning is designed around the candidate being part of a club or program where they are expected to:
- 2-3 training sessions per week
- Learning is designed around this player profile:
- Age: U11–U19
- Skillset: Beginner to Intermediate
- Motivation: Loves to train and play / self-motivated
- Learning is designed around teams in this competition profile:
- Local – State
- Variance in duration of the season
Learning objectives
- Create a positive and safe environment that encourages respect, inclusivity and belonging
- Plan and design two training sessions within a one-week cycle
- Implement activities and facilitate player learning
- Prepare an age-appropriate game plan aligned to the training week objectives
- Observe and describe player and team behavior during the game
National D License
The D course is more for the experienced grassroots coach working with ages 6-11. Although, it still takes time [32 hours in-person and 16-20 virtually over a 2 weekend span]. It’s a big deal for youth coaches.
Cost: $450 – $550 no refunds
There are probably less than 20% of youth club coaches [U8-U15] who have their D license. Some clubs require you to have the D.
Many of the bigger youth clubs help coaches pay for the courses because it benefits their brand.
Learn more about US Soccer Coaching
UEFA Coaching Licenses
The most respected of course! For instance, coaches from other continents desire a UEFA license over anything else. Therefore, they travel and spend thousands to up their CV.
- Pro – The highest coaching certification available in Europe and generally follows the completion of the ‘B’ and ‘A’ licenses. Required for anyone who wishes to manage a football club in the top tier of any European nation’s league system on a permanent basis, i.e. more than 12 weeks (the amount of time an unqualified caretaker manager is allowed to take control). Such a license is also required to manage in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
- A – Allows holders to be head coaches of youth teams up to age 18, reserve teams (also known as ‘B’ teams) for top-flight clubs, and men’s professional second-tier clubs.
- B – Allows holders to be head coaches of men’s amateur clubs, youth teams up to age 16, and assistant coaches for professional clubs.
AFC Professional Coaching Diploma
The highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
There is good opportunity to coach in several Asian countries…
Top National teams
- Japan
- Iran
- South Korea
- Australia
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
Top Clubs
- Saudi Arabia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Qatar
- Iran
- United Arab Emirates
Although, I know of a guy (Blake) who has coached in Thailand, Vietnam and other small counties. He didn’t get rich, but he made a living, gained tons of experience, saw beautiful places and met new friends.
Not everything should be about the money. Relationships are more valuable.
African
The best opportunity coaching here would be for national teams vs clubs.
In regards to a football / soccer coaching license, it’s not easy to find information. Many coaches seek the European football education because it is great for the resume/cv. Therefore, allowing them to coach anywhere.
Like most countries, the best players go abroad to play club football. The better Africans play pro in Europe, especially France.
Top football nations in Africa
- Nigeria
- Egypt
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Senegal
- Morocco
South American
Argentina and Brazil are by far the top 2 countries in the CONMEBOL
Colombia, Uruguay usually come in 3rd and 4th. Ecuador, Peru and Chile also do well.
Some of the best coaching methodologies come from Argentina…
One thing they [Argentina] have done with the youth is group them by skill vs size and not by age… For instance, they will have age 7-9, while ages 10-12 train together. The smaller more technical kids are in a group, while the bigger more athletic, yet less skilled are together.
In conclusion, if you want a soccer coaching license there are many different avenues to go.
Good luck to you all!
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