How to Get a Football Coaching License？
2024-09-19 16:14:36
The United States Soccer Federation offers coaching education courses at all levels for soccer coaches in the United States. A 2018 reform changed the scope of coaching licenses to grassroots and professional. This replaced the old National Youth and E license courses with several grassroots courses available online. It also requires online registration for US Soccer's Learning Center.
US Soccer's Learning Center is the place to go for complete coaching license information, course schedules and registration, and questions you may have about obtaining a coaching license and the path to a coaching license.
US Soccer coaching courses include:
Background screening.
SafeSport training.
Introduction to "Safe and Healthy Playing Environments".
Read and accept US Soccer's Code of Conduct.
Supplemental education is also available, including Academy Director, Goalkeeper, Educator, Coaching Director,
Community Coach and Talent Scout courses.
Grassroots Pathway
Grassroots courses now start online with a free 20-minute online introduction to grassroots coaching. This leads to small fields: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11. These two-hour courses are offered both online and in-person, with two of the Grassroots courses required to be attended in person. For coaches who already hold the old F license, it is now required to take the online introduction to Grassroots coaching as well as the two small-scale courses attended in-person to advance to the next step of the license. For holders of the old E license, only the online introduction to Grassroots coaching is required. The cost for each small-scale course is $25 (fees are subject to change - please check US Soccer's Learning Center to confirm current fees).
D License
To take the D course, you need at least two Grassroots in-person courses and one online license. Candidates take four in-person courses over a nine-week period, as well as what US Soccer calls "homework and coaching," virtual meetings, individual meetings with coach educators, and surveys/research. These courses may or may not require travel, depending on where you are located. The focus is on training sessions for small and full-size drills, specifically for the under-6 to under-12 age groups, and what US Soccer says are the six tasks of a coach:
Coaching games
Coach training sessions
Leading teams
Leading players
Managing a performance environment
Communicating with players and families
The D license costs between $300 and $550.
C License Course
After the D, you need six months of experience to take the C course. This four-month course consists of four days of in-person classes and requires the holder to have held a D license for at least six months, be 18 years of age or older, and be currently in coach training. It includes weekly learning opportunities, including independent study using online modules, live virtual sessions, and in-person sessions led by a licensed US Soccer educator. The C license teaches what US Soccer says are the core concepts of coaching, with a focus on the U-13 to U-17 age groups. US Soccer has an exemption process for qualified coaches holding foreign licenses and former top-level professional players processed through an organization that hosts the C license course. If you do not already have a D license and meet the other conditions, contact the host of the C license course you are interested in to see if you qualify for an exemption. The cost of a C license is between $1,500 and $2,000.
B License Courses
After the C level, entry into the professional pathway requires application for each course and more rigorous prerequisites. The six-month B course emphasizes player and team development in a "performance environment" with a youth (U-13+) or senior team. It includes two in-person sessions, virtual sessions, independent learning and development periods, one-on-one meetings with instructors, and individual and group assignments. Candidates should commit to 2 to 3 hours of virtual learning per week. Candidates need to have held a C license for one year, have three or more years of coaching experience, are currently in 11v11 training, and have a signed confirmation letter from club leadership confirming position, role and responsibilities. The B license exemption process requires the equivalent of a UEFA B license, five or more years of playing experience at the U.S. senior national team or professional level. Active or former players who attend youth camps can receive credit for required coaching hours. The cost of a B license ranges from $1,300 to $3,000.
A – Youth License Program
US Soccer divides the A license into youth soccer and senior soccer. The A-Youth license focuses on developing future professional soccer players. It is a 10-month commitment that includes three in-person sessions, virtual sessions, independent study, one-on-one sessions with instructors, guest speakers, exit interviews, collaborative projects, and a final evaluation session. Candidates need to have held a B license for one year, have four years of coaching experience, are currently coaching, and have access to a team in a U-13 to U19 youth environment. The cost of an A-Youth license ranges from $2,000 to $3,500.
A – Senior License Program
The A-Senior license focuses on coaching a team at a high level, "either in a high-performing senior team environment in the U.S. game or in a collegiate setting." This is a 10-month program that includes three in-person sessions (4 days/3 nights), an average of two virtual sessions per week, one virtual session per week (4 days @ 4-5 hours), independent study and research, individual/group workshops with coach educators, expert workshops on specific area topics, and a final evaluation session. The difference is access to college soccer or minor league clubs and an application submitted through US Soccer's coaching portal. The A-Senior license costs $3,500.
Pro License Program
Following the lead of UEFI, US Soccer adopted the Pro License for top coaches. It is now a requirement for MLS head coaches who do not qualify for an exemption. US Soccer requires UEFA Pro License holders to also obtain a USSF Pro License. To qualify for the program, coaches must have held a US Soccer A License for at least one year and have been actively coaching for at least one year in MLS, NWSL, USL, MLS Next Pro, NISA or on the US National Team staff. The course lasts 12 months and includes 3 face-to-face meetings of 5 days each, two virtual meetings per month, two 6-day site visits to coach clubs by USSF coaches, one international visit when possible, two development periods, and a final presentation and interview. The cost of a Pro license is $10,000.
