UEFA C Diploma

Please note: Only candidates based in Northern Ireland are eligible for the UEFA C Diploma REGIONAL Courses.

International candidates (i.e. a candidate from outside of Northern Ireland) are only eligible to apply for the course held at the Crowne Plaza / Queens. This course provides catering and Adidas/IFA Branded Kit, which is why it is more expensive than the Regional UEFA C Diploma Course. THESE COURSES ARE FULLY BOOKED.

The course content is the same for both International and Regional courses.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Candidates must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the course

• Successful completion of Irish FA’s National Coaching Certificate or Irish FA Level One within the previous six years (only applicable for candidates from Northern Ireland)

• Any coach from outside of Northern Ireland must have a valid coaching qualification equivalent or higher than the Irish FA NCC

• The Irish FA advise that candidates are actively coaching at a football club, as the focus of the course is based on player development

• The course will be delivered in English, therefore candidates are required to have a good command of written and spoken English

The Irish FA reserves the right to use the following criteria should there be higher demand for places than we can accommodate:

- The candidate is based or was born in Northern Ireland;

- The candidate is actively coaching;

- We may ask for candidates to submit a CV.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The UEFA C Diploma is the highest participation award in the Irish FA coaching pathway. It provides candidates with the skills to create a positive developmental experience that enhances players enjoyment, knowledge and skill, regardless of age, ability, gender or background.

Candidates will also learn how to plan, deliver and reflect on coaching sessions for grassroots players. There is a specific emphasis on developing coaches’ knowledge of the Principles of Play with players aged 10+.

The Irish FA UEFA C Diploma will cover theoretical and practical content around four key pillars:

1. Coach 

2. Environment 

3. Player 

4. Game 

COURSE OUTLINE

The UEFA C Diploma will consist of both online lectures and practical days.

Candidates will be required to:

• Attend all three online workshops on the Laws of the Game, Psychology and Nutrition (Block One). These will be held either before or after the practical weeks and will include post-workshop tasks to be completed and submitted online;

• Complete and submit a Self-Evaluation Task;

• Complete online Safeguarding Modules;

• Attend ALL practical days, which are timetabled from 09:00 to 17:00 (Block Two);

• Candidate coaches are expected to participate in practical pitch sessions as part of tutor led demonstrations and peer coaching sessions. However, exceptions can be made due to illness or injury;

• Attend Fitness for Football practical module;

• Submit 10 hours of practical coaching sessions;

• Submit personal reflection forms based on Formative and Summative feedback from course tutor as part of the group “Communities of Practice” (Block Three).

• Full attendance of the course is required, this includes all practical days and online workshops. Only in exceptional circumstances will candidates be permitted time off from the course. (This time must be made up at a later date).

• All tasks are to be completed and submitted via the Irish FA’s Online Education Platform at www.irishfacoaching.com.

Formative feedback will be provided to candidates throughout the practical week, based on their delivery of the Principles of Play within a combination of skills practices, conditioned small-sided games and/or various match formats (5v5, 7v7, 9v9).

After the conclusion of the practical week there will then be a minimum of two club-based visits (one formative and one summative) as part of a ‘Community of Practice’. If the candidate fails to meet the required standard in these Communities of Practice they will be permitted to have a maximum of two further assessments. Any reassessments will be at an additional cost to the candidate.

What is a ‘Community of Practice’?

‘A group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better through regular engagement and interaction’.

Candidates working at similar levels will be put into small working groups, to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences. This will be supported by an Irish FA staff member who will oversee and mentor each Community of Practice.

COURSE COMPLETION

Candidates have three months from the final practical day of the course to successfully complete all practical work and all coursework (exceptions to this may be made for courses that conclude in the off-season).

All candidates who successfully complete the course will receive the UEFA C Diploma.

There must then be a minimum of six months from when you receive your UEFA C Diploma before you can attend a UEFA B Diploma. You can apply before completing, but your application will depend on the successful completion of the UEFA C Diploma Course within the specified timeframe.

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

The UEFA C Diploma is valid for three years, during which period the coach must accumulate a minimum of 15 CPD Credits to re-validate the Diploma for a further three-year period. However, the above is not required if the coach enrols on the UEFA B Diploma within this period.