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Coaching Courses

Football Australia has recently moved learning platforms to etrainu. If this is your first time accessing the platform, you will need to complete a couple of steps.

1. Head to the Play Football website and to register as a coach with your local club.

2. If you do not have a club to register for yet in 2024, Register for the Learner NSW club instead.

2. After completing Steps 1-2, you will need to wait 3-4 hours before being able to use the etrainu link here below to access the new learning platform. Please ensure you log in as a ‘Learner’.

3. Visit the Find a Course page HERE to view all our upcoming coaching courses.

MiniRoos is aimed at volunteer parents and coaches working with novice players or players aged approximately up to ten (10) years old. The session is entirely practical and encourages the coach to create games based on enjoyment. The focus is on learning by playing football. The secret to encouraging players to develop a love for the game without coaching is to organise enjoyable football activities. The coaches’ exposure to fundamental game rules and guidance on creating an enjoyable and safe football environment.

This course primarily targets coaches of children aged 5 to 11 years, however, it is also tailored to beginners and novices, making it suitable for adult teams with limited experience.

The Foundation of Football is a standalone course and not merely a module. The central focus of the course is to empower coaches to establish a safe and enjoyable environment for young players. It offers guidance on conducting engaging training sessions and provides pre-designed training plans for an entire season, alleviating coaches from the task of creating them themselves.

The practical component of the course encompasses various aspects of the game, such as playing formats and fundamental skills like dribbling, passing, receiving, and finishing. However, the primary emphasis is on coaching methods that foster an appropriate learning environment.

The main focus of the required coaching competency on the C Diploma is on the technical aspects of the game, which includes teaching the techniques of passing, receiving, striking the ball and running with the ball, along with defending techniques to regain possession. The required technical knowledge will be supported with an understanding of The Principles of Play and the fundamentals of coaching.

The minimum age to join the ‘C’ Diploma is 18 years old. The ‘C’ Diploma is a minimum of 60 hours in duration and is delivered in face to face contact over a period of several weeks or months.

Aimed at coaches working with players who are able to play football at a standard where they can confidently pass and receive the ball and scan for information, aged approximately twelve (12) years of age and above. The focus of the course is on teaching players how to use techniques and combine with each other to apply the principles of attack when the team is in possession and the principles of defence when the team is out of possession. Coaches are assessed while coaching players in opposed practices and small sided games up to 8 vs 8.

To register for the B Diploma, a coach must be:

  • In possession of a valid Football Australia/AFC C Diploma (or international equivalent) and have held the C Diploma for a minimum twelve (12) months.
  • Minimum eighteen (18) years of age.

Aimed at coaches working with highly competent to expert players aged sixteen (16) and above. The focus of the ‘A’ Diploma is to analyse the different ways teams apply the principles of attack and defence. Reference is made to research data to provide coaches with information that will challenge assumptions and influence strategic thinking when preparing teams to play. Coaches are assessed on their competency to coach players ‘in the game’ involving 9 v 9 to 11 v 11 practices.

To register for the A Diploma, a coach must be:

  • In possession of a valid Football Australia/AFC B Diploma (or international equivalent) and have held the B Diploma for a minimum twelve (12) months.
  • Minimum eighteen (18) years of age.

Aimed at coaches working with highly competent professional players. An intensive course with distance learning and post-course assignments. Four key themes— leading oneself, leading others, leading culture, and the business of football—are central to the course. Leadership, both on and off the field, and managing the demands of being a professional coach are heavily emphasised throughout the course to better equip students to handle the intricacies of the role.

To register for the Pro Diploma, a coach must be:

  • In possession of a valid Football Australia/AFC A Diploma (or international equivalent) and have held the A Diploma for a minimum twelve (12) months.
  • Minimum eighteen (18) years of age.

The Foundation of Goalkeeping course is designed as the first accreditation step for coaches, parents or volunteers who work with goalkeepers of any standard across the country.

The training is designed with the player in mind and is based on how goalkeeper sessions should be delivered: safely and effectively and with a sense of fun.

The Foundation of Goalkeeping replaces the former community accreditation – Community Goalkeeper Coaching Certificate.

The Foundation of Goalkeeping course replaces the AFC/FA Level 1 GK course and is the minimum requirement for Football NSW competitions for 2024.