How to become a football coach

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Want to take your football knowledge and skills to the next level? Find out the different paths you can take to become a football coach.

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What is a football coach?

A football coach works with football teams to improve performance. They'll plan training sessions and make tactical decisions. Training sessions could include drills, matches and one-to-one training.

You can coach football at different levels, which will require different qualifications and entail different responsibilities. If you coach a grassroots children’s football team, you may not need any qualifications. However, if you coach older children you will need formal training and qualifications. If you want to coach semi-professional or professional teams, you will need even more qualifications because the standards and expectations of coaching are much higher.

Football coaches work with teams to improve performance.
Football coaches work with teams to improve performance.

What does a football coach do?

Football coaches make tactical decisions about how you want the team to play. You’ll practice this at training sessions. You’ll also improve players’ knowledge and skills, to help them develop and progress.

What skills do you need?

A football coach has to be able to teach and inspire players. Therefore it's very important that you have communication and leadership skills. You will also need the physical fitness and football knowledge to do this.

What qualifications do you need to become a football coach?

There are several paths you can take to become a football coach, depending on the level you want to coach. The higher you want to coach, the more qualifications you will need. This is because coaching is a competitive field, so anything you can do to improve your skills and knowledge will help.

Where next?

We hope this has helped you understand how to become a football coach. There are lots of different pathways you can take depending on the level you want to coach at. With dedication and hard work, you can turn your love of football into a career. Check out our courses below.