The US Soccer Federation offers coaching education classes at every level for soccer coaches in the United States. A 2018 revamp changed the scope of coaching licenses, dividing between grassroots and professional. This replaces the old National Youth and E license courses, with several of the grassroots courses offered online. It also requires signing up online for US Soccer’s Learning Center.
US Soccer’s learning center is the place to go for full coaching license information, schedules of courses and sign-ups, and for questions you may have about getting a coaching license and the coaching license pathway.
US Soccer coaching courses include:
- Background screening.
- SafeSport training.
- An “introduction to safe and healthy playing environments.”
- Reading and acceptance of US Soccer’s Code of Conduct.
- Supplemental education is also offered, including Academy Director, Goalkeeping, Educator, Director of Coaching,
- Coach For Community, and Talent Scout courses.
Grassroots Pathway
The grassroots courses now start online with a free, 20-minute online introduction to grassroots coaching. That leads into small-sided courses: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11. Those two-hour courses are offered online and in-person, and two of the grassroots courses must be taken in person. For coaches already holding the old F license, it’s now a requirement to take the online introduction to grassroots coaching along with two of the small-sided courses taken in-person to advance to the next step in licenses. For holders of the old E license, only the online introduction to grassroots coaching is necessary. Each small-sided course costs $25 (costs are subject to change – please check US Soccer’s Learning Center to confirm current costs).
D License
To take the D course, you need at least two grassroots in-person courses and an online license. Candidates take four in-person courses over nine weeks along with what US Soccer calls “assignments and mentoring,” virtual meetings, individual meetings with a Coach Educator, and investigation/research. These classes may or may not require travel, depending on your location. The focus is on training sessions for small-sided and full-sized drills, specifically the Under-6 to Under-12 age groups, and what US Soccer calls the Six Tasks of a Coach:
- Coaching games
- Coaching training sessions
- Leading the team
- Leading the players
- Managing the performance environment
- Communicating with players and families
The D License costs between $300 – $550.
C License Course
After the D, you’ll need six months of experience to take the C course. This four-month course with four in-person days requires the holder to have had a D License for a minimum of 6 months, be at least 18 years of age, and be currently coaching. It consists of weekly learning opportunities with a mixture of independent learning using online modules, live virtual meetings, and in-person meetings led by a licensed US Soccer Educator. The C License teaches what US Soccer calls the core concepts of coaching, with a focus on the U-13 to U-17 age groups. US Soccer has a waiver process for qualified coaches holding foreign licenses and former top-flight professional players handled through the organization hosting the C License course. If you don’t already have the D License and meet the other criteria, contact the host of the C License course you’re interested in to see if you qualify for a waiver. The C License costs between $1,500 – $2,000.
B License Course
Beyond C, entry to the pro pathway requires an application to each course and more robust prerequisites. The six-month B course stresses player and team development with youth (U-13+) or senior teams in a “performance environment.” It consists of two in-person meetings, virtual meetings, independent learning and development periods, one-on-one meetings with instructors, and individual and group assignments. Candidates are expected to commit to two to three hours of virtual learning per week. Candidates need to have had the C License for a year, have three or more years coaching experience, be currently coaching with access to 11v11 training, and a signed letter from club leadership to confirm position, roles, and responsibilities. The waiver procedure for the B License requires the equivalent of a UEFA B License, five or more years of playing experience with a senior US National Team or at the pro level. Current or retired players who participate in youth training camps can earn credit towards required coaching hours. The B License costs between $1,300 – $3,000.
A – Youth License Course
US Soccer divides the A License between youth and senior soccer. The A-Youth license focuses on developing the future professional soccer player. It’s a 10-month commitment with three in-person meetings, virtual meetings, independent learning, one-on-one meetings with instructors, guest speakers, an exit interview, a collaborative project, and a final assessment meeting. Candidates need to have had the B License for one year, have four years of coaching experience, be currently coaching, and have access to a team in a U-13 to U19 youth environment. The A-Youth License costs $2,000 – $3,500.
A – Senior License Course
The A-Senior License focuses on coaching a team at a high level, “in a high-performance senior team environment in a US based competition or coaching in a college environment.” It’s a 10-month course with three in-person meetings (4 days/3 nights), an average of two virtual meetings per week, one virtual meeting week (4 days @ 4-5 hours), independent learning and research, individual/small group workshops with coach educators, expert seminars on domain-specific topics, and a final assessment meeting. The differences are access to a college soccer or minor league club and an application submitted through US Soccer’s coaching portal. The A-Senior License costs $3,500.
Pro License Course
Following the lead of UEFA, US Soccer adopted a Pro License for the top-level coaches. It’s now a requirement for MLS head coaches that don’t qualify for a waiver. US Soccer requires holders of the UEFA Pro License to take the USSF Pro License as well. To qualify to take the course, a coach must hold a US Soccer A License for at least one year and be actively coaching in MLS, NWSL, USL, MLS Next Pro, NISA, or on a US National Team staff for at least one year. The course takes 12 months with three in-person meetings of 5 days each, two virtual meetings per month, two six-day onsite visits to the coach’s club by a USSF instructor, an international visit where possible, two developmental periods, and a final presentation and interview. The Pro License costs $10,000.
