In England, grassroots coaches start with the free online EE Playmaker course, then Introduction to Coaching Football (with safeguarding and first aid), then the UEFA C Diploma. In Scotland, start with the Scottish FA Introduction to Coaching, then choose the Children's or Youth/Adult pathway.
England: the FA coaching pathway
- EE Playmaker by England Football: free, online, a few hours. A gentle introduction for parents and new volunteers, and the first step on the pathway.
- Introduction to Coaching Football: the first formal course, a mix of online learning and practical work. It's usually bundled with the Safeguarding Children course and Introduction to First Aid in Football.
- UEFA C Diploma: for coaches actively working with a team, combining face-to-face and online learning. It lists at £650; coaches at affiliated grassroots clubs can get a discount, and the FA runs partly and fully funded places.
- UEFA B and above: for coaches going deeper, usually after a good few seasons of coaching.
Prices and funding change each season, so check England Football Learning before booking.
Scotland: the Scottish FA pathway
- Introduction to Coaching: the first step for every new coach. It covers communication, a games-based approach and common coaching problems.
- Children's pathway: the Children's Coaching Award and beyond, for coaches of primary-school-age players.
- Youth/Adult pathway: the Youth/Adult Coaching Certificate and Award, for coaches working in the 11-a-side game, leading to the UEFA C Licence.
- Alongside these: child wellbeing and first aid e-learning, and a PVG check through your club.
Which course should I do first?
If you're brand new, do the free entry course this week (EE Playmaker or Introduction to Coaching). It takes an evening and gives you a framework for your first sessions.
Book the next course once you've coached for a few weeks. You'll get far more from it with real players and real problems in mind.
Put it into practice straight away
Every course says the same thing: plan around games, maximise touches, keep everyone involved. Our session planner builds sessions that way, using your real numbers, and our drills library has diagrams for every practice.