Advanced Courses and Pathway

Football Australia, through the Coach Education system, provides opportunities for coaches to acquire knowledge, share experiences and gain accreditation in various coaching pathways. 

Please see below for more information on our coaching pathways and should you know which course you would like to undertake.

Football Coaching Courses

Football Australia Foundation of Football 

The Foundation of Football is aimed at volunteer parents and coaches working with advanced beginner to competent level players or players aged up to approximately fifteen (15) years old. This course is a prerequisite for the Football Australia/AFC C Diploma. Coaches will participate in practical sessions covering the basics of techniques as well as learning about basic playing principles of the game. The course is mostly practical and not graded, allowing the student to participate in the training sessions if they so choose. The course also promotes participating in group discussions with the goal of exchanging experiences.

Football Australia/AFC C Diploma

The Football Australia/AFC C Diploma is aimed at coaches working with advanced beginner to competent level players or players aged approximately twelve (12) years of age and above. The course is designed to provide a logical connection to the Foundation of Football Certificate covering in greater detail:

  1. The technical aspects of the game, including teaching the basics of passing, receiving, and dribbling with the ball, as well as defending strategies.
  2. The principles of coaching and comprehension of the principles of play; and
  3. The concept of teaching behaviour using various sorts of practise methods.

Football Australia/AFC B Diploma

The Football Australia/AFC B Diploma is 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.

AFC Coaching Convention requires a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) hours of learning. Delivered online and face-to-face over a period of twelve months.

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.

Football Australia/AFC A Diploma

The Football Australia/AFC A Diploma is 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.

AFC Coaching Convention requires a minimum of one hundred and eighty (180) hours of learning. Delivered online and face-to-face over a period of twelve months.

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.

Football Australia/AFC Professional Diploma

The Football Australia/AFC Pro Diploma is 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

AFC Coaching Convention requires a minimum of three hundred and sixty (360) hours of learning. Delivered online and face-to-face over a period of twelve months.

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.

Goalkeeping Coaching Courses

Football Australia Foundation of Goalkeeping

Formerly known as Goalkeeping C Diploma and Goalkeeping Level 1.

The Foundation of Goalkeeping course is designed as the first accreditation step for coaches, parents or volunteers who work with, or plan to 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. After completing the course, the student will be able to: Identify the training needs of goalkeepers, identify ways to make training inclusive for all participants, implement basic goalkeeper coaching principles, and create engaging goalkeeper sessions.

Football Australia/AFC Goalkeeping B Diploma

The Football Australia/AFC Goalkeeping B Diploma is 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 course is designed to provide a logical connection to the Foundation of Goalkeeping Certificate covering in greater detail: (1) the technical aspects of the game, including teaching the basics of passing, receiving, and running with the ball, as well as defending strategies; (2) the principles of coaching and comprehension of the principles of play; and (3) around to the concept of teaching behaviour using various sorts of practise methods.

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

  • In possession of a valid Football Australia Foundation of Football certificate and have held this diploma for a minimum of six (6) months.
  • In possession of a valid Football Australia/AFC C Diploma.
  • Minimum eighteen (18) years of age.

Football Australia/AFC Goalkeeping A Diploma
Aimed at coaches working with highly competent to expert players aged sixteen (16) and above. The last step in our pathway, is the comprehensive approach to the specialised goalkeeper coach. You will learn the ability to understand and nurture players to their highest potential, while working collaboratively as an integral member of the coaching team, facilitating a high-performance culture and environment. How to enhance the team's performance, by weaving together technical and tactical planning of Goalkeeping elements.

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

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

Futsal Coaching Courses

Football Australia Foundation of Futsal

The Foundation of Futsal is aimed at volunteer parents and coaches working with novice players or players aged up to approximately twelve (12) years old. You will participate in classes covering the basics of futsal as well as learning about basic playing formations during this course. The course is entirely practical and not graded, allowing the student to participate in real training sessions if they so choose. The course also promotes participating in group discussions with the goal of exchanging experiences.

Futsal Level One
The Futsal Level One course has a focus on the development of players individual technique and tactics, an introduction to dualities and transition.  The AFC coaching process and methodology are introduced, with both instructor and participant led practical sessions. Participants are required to successfully demonstrate an understanding of the coaching process and methodology in an on course practical, as well as a dissertation.