Training & Certification

Coach Education Program Overview
 
Manitoba Soccer is committed to the growth and development of all coaches in Manitoba through the Canada Soccer Coach Education Program. As the governing body for soccer in Canada, Canada Soccer is responsible for training coaches from grassroots to national team level and they have developed the Canada Soccer Pathway (LTPD) and tailored the Coach Education Program to this model. As a result, a two-streamed education program has been developed in conjunction with the NCCP and the provincial/territorial partners, including Manitoba Soccer, that will meet the needs of both developing coaches and the sport itself.
 
The Programs through which a coach may enter and/or advance through are:
 

• Canada Soccer Grassroots Coach Education Program
• Canada Soccer Advanced Coach Education Program

 
Each of these Programs include several workshops designed to prepare coaches for working with players in a specific stage of development as outlined in the LTPD Model and Coach Pathway. All course registration is done online. The course schedule and registration links can be found HERE.
 
The Canada Soccer Coach Education Program
 
The Canada Soccer Grassroots Coach Education Program has four workshops based on Stages 1, 2, 3, and 7 of the Long Term Player Development Model. The first three workshops, Active Start, FUNdamentals and Learn to Train, deal with soccer training and the importance of physical literacy for players up to 12 years of age. The fourth workshop is called Soccer for Life and focuses attention on working with players between the ages of 13 through to “masters soccer” which includes a wide array of participants who play for fun and fitness, those who enjoy recreational soccer, as well as those who prefer to play competitively but not at the high performance level.
 
Coaches wishing to gain training through the Grassroots Coach Education Program would do so in the following manner:
 

• Active Start Workshop: Completion of a workshop totaling 1-2 hours online & 2 hours on-field. (Active Start Stage of Development - players U4 - U6). No pre-requisites required.

• FUNdamentals Workshop: Completion of the workshop totaling 1-2 hours online & 3 hours on-field. (Fundamentals Stage of Development - Players U6 - U8). No pre-requisites required.

• Learn to Train Workshop: Completion of the workshop totaling 1-2 hours online & 4 hours on-field (Learning to Train Stage of Development - Players U9 - U12). No pre-requisites required.

• Soccer for Life Workshop: Completion of a workshop totaling 1-2 hours online & 4 hours on-field (Soccer for Life Stage of Development - Players U13 & older). No pre-requisites required.

 
Note: coaches do not undergo an official evaluation process in the Grassroots Coach Education Program, therefore they are not designated on their NCCP transcript as a Certified Coach. These workshops provide training only in developmental stage specific areas of coaching. Coaches taking part in these workshops will receive the status of Trained Coach (or will be considered In Training if they have still to complete a module of the particular workshop they have taken).
 
The Canada Soccer Advanced Coach Education Program
 
The Canada Soccer Advanced Coach Education Program is aimed at those who are more serious about their coaching development and requires that coaches reach a minimum standard of competence in a practical coaching environment. Each coach is, therefore, formally evaluated and graded by Staff Evaluators at each stage of the process. This process begins with the C License, which involves a total of 32 hours of facilitated learning plus time allocated for formal assessments (12-18 months of work). From there, coaches may enter the B License Program, which includes 12-18 months of work. It is aimed at coaches working with players in an environment where performance is a critical factor in successful coaching. The A License Program also includes 12-18 months of work, and caters to those wishing to make a career of coaching at the highest level. The Children's License and the Youth License (including the Youth GK License) are also available streams depending on the focus of the coach. All Advanced Coach Education streams following the C License are run and administered by Canada Soccer.
 
Coaches wishing to gain training and certification in the Advanced Coach Education Program would do so in the following manner:
 

• C License Workshop: The C License workshop is the entry level course for the Advanced Coach Education Program pathway and prepares the coach to progress to the Development Stream (Children), Development Stream (Youth) or Performance Stream (Senior). The C License involves the facilitation of learning opportunities for the coach to develop an understanding of the coaching process.

• Children’s License Workshop: The Children's License has been built as an A License equivalent for coaches working with children between the ages of 5-12. The License aims to provide coaches with the tools they need to create the best development environments for as many players as possible at their club/academy. The Children's License content involves theoretical and practical components focusing on children's development in soccer. This course is delivered by Canada Soccer.

• Youth License Workshop: The Youth License workshop is the Development Stream pathway for coaches working with players between the ages of 13-18. The Youth License content involves theoretical and practical components focusing on holistic, effective coaching of youth players in the Development Stream. This course is delivered by Canada Soccer.

• B License Workshop: The B License workshop is the first step on the Performance Stream pathway and prepares the coach to progress to the Canada Soccer A License. The B License continues the facilitation of learning opportunities so that the coach may work effectively with senior players in the Performance Stream. This course is delivered by Canada Soccer.

• A License Workshop: The A License workshop is the second step on the Performance Stream pathway and prepares the coach to progress to the Canada Soccer Pro License. This course is delivered by Canada Soccer.

• Youth License - GOALKEEPING: The Youth License - Goalkeeping workshop is the first step on the Goalkeeping Pathway (having obtained a C License and a Provincial Level Goalkeeping Course (if applicable)). The Youth License - Goalkeeping workshop provides you an opportunity to develop an understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of coaching Goalkeepers while focusing on the holistic and effective coaching in the Development Stream. This course is delivered by Canada Soccer.

 
Note: All licenses in the Advanced Coach Education Program are valid for a period of three (3) years. At the end of the 3-year validity period, the License may be renewed by following the Canada Soccer Maintenance and Renewal process.
 
More information on the workshops following the C License can be found at canadasoccer.com.

To register for an upcoming Coach Workshop in either the Grassroots or Advanced Coach Education Programs, please visit our Registration page.