What training is needed to become a soccer coach in 2026?

If you are wondering how to become a soccer coach, then you will surely need to understand what coaching courses are available and supervised by the FFF. Today, to be a coach, it is necessary to meet many criteria and obtain diplomas depending on the level and category in which you wish to coach. These diplomas can also influence the salary you can expect as a soccer coach. Here is an overview of the soccer coaching diplomas in 2024.

What are the soccer coaching courses?

There are 5 main levels when it comes to coaching diplomas offered by the French Football Federation (FFF):

1. The soccer instructor certificate (BMF)
2. The soccer coach certificate (BEF)
3. The higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS)
4. The soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF)
5. The professional soccer coach certificate (BEPF)

FFF coaching diplomas in 2024

Table of soccer coaching courses and diplomas

As we have seen, each diploma, whether it is the BEF, BMF, or BEPF, all have different characteristics and allow coaching at certain levels. They also all have different UEFA equivalences. Here is a summary table:

1. The soccer instructor certificate (BMF)

The soccer instructor certificate (BMF) is the very first diploma that will allow you to coach a team for remuneration. It is therefore necessary if you wish to be paid to coach!

A coach holding a soccer instructor certificate (BMF) can coach:

• A youth team at the regional level.
• A Senior R3 team.

Here is what a coach holding the BMF can do as part of their duties:

• Coach a team at the departmental level
• Manage the reception of members of a club and its organization
• Help with the animation and management of the club's project (educational, sports, and associative)
• Be involved in the organization of the club's communication

Following certification of the soccer instructor certificate, you will obtain a Regional Technical license as well as a UEFA equivalence of UEFA B license. If you are wondering how to obtain your soccer instructor certificate (BMF), here is the content of the training and its cost.

What does the soccer instructor certificate (BMF) training consist of?

The soccer instructor certificate training consists of 4 main modules and 2 additional modules for a total of 179 hours of training.

Each of the 4 main modules lasts 32 hours and they are broken down as follows:

1. Module 1: being able to create and coach a soccer animation session for young people from U6 to U11.
2. Module 2: being able to create and coach a pre-training session in soccer for young people from U12 to the U15 category.
3. Module 3: being able to create and coach a soccer training session for young people from U16 to the Seniors category.
4. Module 4: development of a club project and/or a sports structure. This module is followed by a 20-minute interview with a jury.

The 2 additional modules are:

1. Health and Safety Module: managing the safety of participants and the environment around them (35h).
2. Refereeing Module: knowing the basic concepts of refereeing and the coach-referee relationship (16h).

If you wish to enroll in the BMF training, you can visit the BMF registration link for the 2024/2025 season, with registration opening at the end of February 2024.

What is the cost of the soccer instructor certificate?

The price of the soccer instructor certificate is 1,894€ for a total of 179 hours of training.

The cost of the BMF is broken down as follows:

• An hourly rate of 6€ for 179 hours
• Registration fees of 220€
• Accompaniment fees related to the professional situation of 600€.

Note: if you are called for the selection tests, regardless of the results of these tests, you will still have to pay the sum of 50€ as registration fees. Yes, it's better to pass your tests :)

2. The soccer coach certificate (BEF)

The prerequisite to be able to take the soccer coach certificate (BEF) is to be holder of the soccer instructor certificate (BMF).

A coach holding a BEF (soccer coach certificate) can coach:

• A youth team at the regional level.
• A youth team at the national level (only if the club does not have an accredited Training Center).
• A Senior team at R2 or R1 level.
• A women's team playing in D2.

A coach holding the BEF will be able to perform the following functions after obtaining their diploma:

• Create and manage the sports project of a club at the regional level (minimum)
• Coach a team at the regional level minimum (U15 to the Seniors category)

Following certification of the soccer coach certificate (BEF), you will then obtain a Regional Technical license as well as a UEFA equivalence of UEFA A license.

What does the soccer coach certificate (BEF) training consist of?

The soccer coach certificate (BEF) training consists of 3 main modules for a total of 218 hours of training.

Here is how the 3 main modules of the BEF training are broken down:

1. Module 1: create and manage the sports project of a club (or sports structure) at the regional level minimum and ranging from U15 to Seniors (49.5h).
2. Module 2: coach a team at the regional level minimum and ranging from U15 to Seniors (137h)
3. Module 3: be able to lead a team at the minimum regional level and always from U15 to Seniors (31.5h)

To register for the BEF training, visit the official BEF application link for the 2024/2024 season. Registrations will be open before February 29, 2024.

What is the cost of the soccer coach certificate?

The total price of the soccer coach certificate (BEF) training is 3,054€ for a total of 218 hours of training conducted in the center.

The cost of the BEF is broken down as follows:

• Hourly rate of 13€ for the 218 hours of training.
• Registration and certification fees of 220€.

In the case of repeating and not conducting the training in the center, the fees are broken down as follows:

• Professional situation accompaniment of 600€
• Registration and certification fees of 220€

Note: once again, if you are called for the test (and even if the results are negative) you will have to pay 50€ in registration fees. Keep this in mind!

3. The higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS)

To be able to take the higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS), you must first obtain your soccer coach certificate (BEF).

When you hold the DESJEPS, you will have the opportunity to:

• Coach a team playing at the national level (if the club has an accredited Training Center).
• Coach a Senior team at N3 or N2 level.
• Prepare a strategic performance project in soccer
• Lead a real sports project within a club

You will obtain a National Technical License following the acquisition of the higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS).

What does the higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS) training consist of?

The higher state diploma in soccer training spans the entire season and mainly consists of 2 main modules totaling 84 hours of training.

1. Module 1 (50h): being able to build the strategy of a soccer sector structure. This is where you will learn to prepare the different stages of decision-making, to develop the project of a club, or to mobilize the elected governing bodies.
2. Module 2 (34h): being able to manage the human capital and financial resources of a soccer club. In this module, you will learn to manage human resources as well as the financial aspect of a club, and also to develop reports to detail changes.

What is the cost of the higher state diploma in soccer?

The total educational cost of the DESJEPS training is 3,496 € for training that spans the entire season.

The training takes place at the National Soccer Center (CNF) in Clairefontaine (78120) as well as in the Regional Soccer Training Institutes (IR2F) for the regional leagues.

4. The soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF)

If you wish to obtain the soccer trainer coach certificate, you will first need to obtain your higher state diploma in soccer (DESJEPS).

When you graduate with the soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF), you can then:

• Coach an accredited training center of a professional soccer club
• Coach a Federal Hope Center

And that's not all, the BEFF also opens many doors, such as:

• The organization and management of a high-level Training Center.
• The development of high-level player potential.
• The preparation of young players for high-level competitions.

Following the soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF), you will obtain a National Technical License as well as a UEFA equivalence of UEFA Youth League license.

What is the content of the soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF) training?

The soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF) training consists of 3 main modules for a total duration of 320 hours of training.

1. Module 1: being able to lead a training project within a high-level soccer club (or sports structure). The class :)
2. Module 2: being able to coach a training project allowing the formation of a soccer player.
3. Module 3: learning to manage human relations within a high-level soccer club.

What is the price of the BEFF training?

The cost of the soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF) training is 16,860€ for a total of 320 hours of training.

The total price of the BEFF training is broken down as follows:

• An hourly rate of 52€ per hour of training.
• Registration and certification fees of 220€.

Note: be careful, if you are called for the selection tests, you will be liable for the sum of 50€ regardless of the results of the tests. Good to know.

The soccer trainer coach certificate (BEFF) training takes place at the following locations: National Soccer Center (CNF), Professional Clubs (to be defined).

5. The professional soccer coach certificate (BEPF)

To aspire to the highest level in terms of