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UEFA A mobile
Course

UEFA A Diploma

This course builds on your skills to help you support player development in the 11v11 environment.
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Course Overview

Introduction to Coaching Football

Course type:

Face-to-face

£4,000

Duration:

12 months

Minimum Age:

18

Price:

£4,000

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About the course

The UEFA A Diploma is the highest practical coaching award available and builds on the technical and tactical content covered within UEFA B Diploma. Creating better developers of individual players within units and for 11v11 football by improving your understanding of modern trends in the game, strategies and tactics, systems of play in todays game and the England DNA principles.

In addition, this course will focus extensively on the principles of play in the 11v11 game to create technically and tactically proficient coaches who are able to develop players that can perform effectively in the modern game.

Reasonable adjustments

To request a reasonable adjustment on this course, please follow this link.

Download a copy of our Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Course prerequisites

This course is for coaches working within or aspiring to work within the professional game in senior (21+) and/or youth development environments.

If that’s you and you’re thinking of applying, then take a look at some further prerequisites you’ll need in place before submitting your application.

Applicants will need to:

  • Have completed the UEFA B Diploma and have it showing on your FAN.
  • Under the UEFA Coaching Convention 2020, coaches must have held the UEFA B Diploma qualification for at least one year prior to the course starting in January 2025.
  • If you are currently enrolled onto another FA Level 4 (Advanced Youth Award, UEFA Goalkeeping A Diploma, Leadership of Talent Identification or Development in Football) qualification then your application will not be considered. This includes if you are currently in the assessment phase of the qualification.

For coaches working in the male game, priority will be given to:

  1. Coaches who are currently working and living in England.
  2. Those currently coaching within the senior Professional Game in England as part of the Premier League & English Football League.
  3. Those who need the qualification in order to meet Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) regulations with those coaching with 11v11 given priority.
  4. Full-time staff to be considered before part-time staff working in EPPP. 
  5. Full-time coaches working in The National League and outside of the professional game from steps one to four will also be considered.

For coaches working in the female game, priority will be given to:

  1. Those currently coaching within the senior Women’s Professional Game in England as part of a Barclays Women’s Super League or Women’s Championship team.
  2. Those that currently work within one of the Barclays WSL or WC professional game academies (PGA’s) and require the qualification as Academy Manager and/or Head of Coaching.
  3. Those that currently work within one of the Barclays WSL or WC professional game academies (PGA’s) at U21 level.
  4. Those currently coaching within the Women’s National League North and South (Tier 3) and outside of the women’s professional game.
  5. Those that currently work within one of the Barclays WSL or WC professional game academies (PGA’s) at U16 level.

As well as this, where possible coaches who have been identified in terms of future development will also be considered.

How is the UEFA A Diploma structured?

Leading on from the UEFA B Diploma, you’ll explore the trends in the game, strategies and tactics, systems of play and the England DNA principles.

 

So, if you’re a coach who wants to develop players that can perform effectively in the 11v11 game, then we encourage you to read on!

 

Taking place over 12 days within a one-year period, the course is divided into six residential modules held at The FA's national football centre, St. George's Park. The course fee includes:

  • Full Board Accommodation
  • Tuition
  • Assessment and Certification
  • Resources

In the lead up each of the residential modules there will also be an online programme which learners must attend.


Each block lasts for two days with in-situ support from an FA coach developer provided in-between the blocks, whose role it is to support and challenge the thinking and learning you apply within your coaching.

The course will focus on in and out of possession principles related to strategies and tactics, the trends of the game, and specific specific coaching. These content areas are also viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective through the integration of physical, psychological and performance analysis support.

The course will cover:

  • Strategies and tactics
  • Trends in the game
  • Position specific coaching

It will also take into consideration:

  • In possession phases
  • Out of possession phases
  • Transitional phases
  • England DNA principles

Full attendance to all in-person and online components of the course is mandatory. Any missed blocks will be required to be attended on another course before you can complete the award. Any accommodation needed when catching up on blocks would be at the learner's expense.

During the course, coaches must be actively coaching a group of players who regularly undertake training and play in organised or competitive fixtures in the 11v11 game with the criteria set above. This is crucial, so you can be assessed on the key elements of the course and be eligible to complete the qualification.

Learners have three years to meet the required standard to complete the qualification from the first block of the course.


Course outcomes

By the end of the course, you’ll have built on your understanding of:

  • The technical and tactical components of the 11v11 game
  • The trends of the game as appropriate to the coach’s context
  • Positional requirements within different systems of play

and:

  • To develop adaptable expertise in context
  • You’ll also have an improved understanding of reflective study and leave a more creative and curious coach

What you'll be able to do on completion of this course

Holding this qualification can lead to roles working within the professional game in senior (21+) or youth development environments.

And, if you have aspirations of coaching senior teams in the top flights and/or at international level, this course puts you in a good position to apply for the UEFA Pro Diploma - our highest coaching course and the mandatory qualification for first team managers in the Premier League.

Find out more about how the UEFA A Diploma is delivered

Frequently Asked Questions