How to Become a Football Coach in the UK: Courses and First Steps

How to become a football coach: join a club and get your checks done

You do not need a qualification to start helping at a club. You do need the club's agreement, and if you will work with under-18s, you need safeguarding checks. The person who arranges this is the Club Welfare Officer.

• FA Criminal Record Check (DBS). Required for everyone aged 16 or over in an unsupervised role with children, such as coach or manager. The Club Welfare Officer starts the application online. Checks are renewed every three years, or you can register with the DBS Update Service for lifetime renewal, which The FA lists with an annual £10 administration fee.
• Safeguarding Children Course. An online course from England Football Learning. County FA material lists the standard price as £30. It lasts two years, with a free recertification for a further two. Since 2023/24, managers, coaches and assistants of U18 teams must hold it for their teams to affiliate.
• Introduction to First Aid in Football, or another FA medical qualification such as Emergency Aid in Football. It is a prerequisite for the coaching courses.

FA coaching courses: the pathway in England

The FA's coaching courses are run through England Football Learning. The main pathway for grassroots coaches is below. Prices are those listed on England Football Learning at the time of writing and change from season to season, so check the course page before booking.

EE Playmaker is a free online introduction for anyone helping out, including parents and young volunteers. It does not replace Introduction to Coaching Football but is a sensible first look.

Introduction to Coaching Football is the course most grassroots coaches take first. It covers how to plan a session, help players learn basic skills and run a positive match day. You have up to 12 months to complete it. The course page has shown differing prices recently, so check the booking platform.

The UEFA C Diploma sits where the old FA Level 2 used to be, and the two are accepted as equivalent for entry to the UEFA B. It has three modules: understanding players and their game, helping players love and learn football through practice, and through match day. Coaches take part as players in practical sessions. The listed price is £650; the partially funded route reduces it to £95, a grassroots affiliated discount reduces it to £500, and a limited number of fully funded places are offered. Coaches can use only one funding programme per season.

What the courses do not teach you

Courses give you a framework. Most of the learning happens week to week with your own players. A few habits help new coaches more than any qualification:

1. Watch an experienced coach at your club for two or three sessions before running your own. Note how they organise groups and how much they talk.
2. Keep sessions simple. One topic, three practices, plenty of game time. See our football drills for 8 to 10 year olds for examples.
3. Plan with the age group in mind. From 2026/27 English formats run from 3v3 at U7 to 11v11 at U14; each format needs different practices.
4. Review one thing after each session. What worked, what you would change. Write it down.
5. Ask for feedback from your assistant or a mentor once a month.

Your first weeks at a club

Before you take a team, agree the basics with the club: which age group, who your assistant is, where and when you train, and who deals with fixtures and kit. Then plan the first month.

• Week 1: meet the players and parents. Explain how training works, how minutes are shared and how you will communicate.
• Weeks 1–4: run simple sessions built around games. Learn every player's name in the first session.
• First match: focus on everyone playing and enjoying it. Agree rotation before kick-off so you are not deciding under pressure.
• End of month: check in with the club's coach coordinator about how it is going.

Our guides to planning a youth football season and coach and parent communication cover these steps in more detail.

Going further: UEFA B and specialist courses

After at least 12 months coaching with the UEFA C, coaches working with players aged 12 or over can apply for the UEFA B. The FA also runs specialist courses in areas such as goalkeeping, futsal, disability football and talent identification, plus a free online Respect for Coaches module. The UEFA A and Pro licences sit above the B and are aimed at coaches in the professional and semi-professional game.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, coach education is run by the Scottish FA, FA Wales and the Irish FA respectively, with their own entry-level courses leading to the same UEFA licences. Check the national association where you live.

Frequently asked questions