Coaching & Education

AIFF D-Licence Course:

The AIFF D-Licence Course forms an introductory step to Professional Football Coaching in India. The Course deals with teaching the bare basics of Football Coaching to rookie Coaches. The Course duration is 6 days.

Criteria based on which a candidate can apply to participate in the Course are:

  1. Participants should have playing experience and knowledge of the game at any level.
  2. All Participants must be examined by an MBBS Doctor before the Course starts and declared healthy and fit to perform the practical lessons during the Course. A Fitness Certificate stating that the candidate is physically fit to participate for the practical sessions in the Course has to be produced for the same.
  3. Participants should have the knowledge of English (read and write) since the medium of instruction and Course materials are in English.
  4. Active Referees participation: Active Referees can also participate up to AFC ‘C’ Certificate Coaching Course.
  5. Participants should be committed to Coaching and be willing to actively continue in Coaching.
  6. It is compulsory for all the participants to attend all the sessions.
  7. Participants will bear all costs involved in the participation of the Course including study material, playing kit etc.
  8. A D-Licence holder will be able to Coach in Grassroots football, college and school teams, District and Inter-city Championships etc.

AFC C-Licence Course:

The AFC ‘C’ Coaching Certificate Course aims at training Coaches and developing their basic techniques and skills in football. It is designed to teach the Coaches to organise, direct and conduct basic Coaching practices targeting especially young players.

The Course lasts 13 days and requires a minimum of 85 hours of study time for both the practical and theoretical sessions. In the final examination, students will be assessed on their practical Coaching abilities, knowledge of the laws of the game, in addition to learning and understanding of the theory contents of football.

Criteria which allow a Candidate to apply for the Course:

  1. Participants should possess an AIFF D-Certificate and have an experience of 3 months after successful completion of the same.
  2. All Participants must be examined by an MBBS Doctor before the Course starts and declared healthy and fit to perform the practical lessons during the Course. A Fitness certificate stating that the candidate is physically fit to participate for the practical sessions in the Course have to be produced for the same.
  3. Participants should have the knowledge of English (read and write) as the medium of instruction and Course materials are in English.
  4. Active Referees participation: Active Referees can also participate up to AFC ‘C’ Certificate Coaching Course.
  5. Participants should be committed to Coaching and be willing to actively continue in Coaching.
  6. It is compulsory for all the participants to attend all the sessions.
  7. Participants will bear all costs involved in the participation of the Course including study material, playing kit etc.

AFC B-Licence Course:

The AFC ‘B’ Coaching Certificate is for Coaches who already possess the ‘C’ Certificate. The Course is designed to educate Coaches in the advanced techniques and skills of the game, and to help them develop a better understanding of individual or groups of players, tactics and the mental requirements of the game.

The duration of the Course is 20 days, containing more than 107 hours of theoretical and practical contents. The examination focuses on the Coaches’ practical Coaching abilities, knowledge and understanding of the theoretical contents of the game, in addition to a brief presentation of a dissertation to the class.

Criteria for the AFC ‘B’ Coaching Certificate Course:

  1. AFC ‘C’ Coaching Certificate
  2. Coaching experience (minimum 2 years)
  3. Log book (minimum 60 Coaching hours)
  4. Valid Licence

AFC A-Licence Course:

The AFC ‘A’ Coaching Certificate Course is for Coaches who hold both the ‘C’ and ‘B’ Coaching Certificates. Selection of participants is based only on the recommendation of the Instructors. The duration of the Course is 27 days, with a minimum of 148 hours. The Course is designed to educate Coaches in tactical and advanced technical requirements of teams and team management. Teachings of the physiological and psychological needs of the players are part of the module, and are important to enhance the Coaches’ understanding of the game at this level. Students are examined on the practical and theoretical aspects of the game, and are required to submit and present a dissertation.

Criteria for the AFC ‘A’ Coaching Certificate Course:

  1. AFC ‘B’ Coaching Certificate
  2. Coaching experience (minimum 1 year)
  3. Log book (minimum 80 Coaching hours)
  4. Valid Licence

AFC Pro-Licence Course:

The AFC Professional Coaching Diploma Course is for Coaches who hold the ‘A’ Coaching Certificate as a minimum requirement. It is designed to teach the highest standards for club and national team levels. The Course aims at producing Coaches at the highest level and identifying future instructors. It is a complex Course that consists of 4 modules, with a total duration of at least 380 hours. It covers practical and theoretical sessions, and requires club attachments abroad and/or a club/team attachment usually at the country of origin of each student with log book entries of training sessions, results, match analyses and comments. Further requirements include the submission of a dissertation of a minimum of 5000 words on a given topic, final examination on the theoretical and practical aspects of football, and an oral examination.

For countries participating in the Asian Champions League, AFC offers a special Professional Diploma Course (compact Course) that requires a minimum of 220 hours.

Criteria for the AFC Professional Coaching Diploma Course:

  1. AFC ‘A’ Coaching Certificate.
  2. Coaching a professional/elite club or attached to the National Team.
  3. Physically and medically fit.
  4. Must be able to participate in both the Practical and Theoretical sessions.
  5. Literacy (reading and writing).
  6. English language (compulsory for Continental Courses; compulsory when required for Regional Courses).
  7. Log book (minimum 100 Coaching hours).