ASA partners in education with the U.S. Soccer Federation. We conduct coaching education courses from at various times throughout the year. Because the US Soccer Federation is the National Governing Body, they are the only organization recognized by FIFA able to issue a soccer coaching "license." Therefore, these licenses carry more weight than other certifications and acceptance into a US Soccer Coaching License Course requires the candidate to meet specific criteria. For more information on your eligibility for a course, check out each course's eligibility requirements on our Coaching Course Schedule page.

ASA accepts coaching education certifications from US Soccer, USYS and USC to coach in the ASL (Alabama State Leagues).

Whether a coach is teaching kids in a recreational league or guiding professionals at the highest levels of the game, U.S. Soccer's Coaching Department offers licenses that are educational opportunities tailor-made for coaches to further the development of players in the United States. Each course utilizes the three pillars of U.S. Soccer's Coaching Education Philosophy:

1. Reality Based - the game is what drives changes in behavior, reflection, and decision making for the player/the team and the coach
2. Holistic Approach - Input and consideration for all interconnected aspects of the game, the athlete, and the desired outcome
3. Experiential Learning - the evaluation, analysis, and reflection of experiences to develop competencies and improve behavior

The U.S. Soccer Coaching Pathway consists of two distinct routes: the Grassroots Pathway and the Professional Pathway. The Grassroots Pathway encompasses a series of licenses designed around the four game models put forth by US Soccer's Player Development Initiatives. The Licenses introduce each coach to the related tasks carried out in his or her own soccer environment. The tasks are:

1. Coaching Games
2. Coaching Training Sessions
3. Leading the player
4. Leading the Team
5. Managing a Performance Environment
6. Leadership

The road from grassroots to professional coach requires each coach to work their way through the Grassroots Pathway toward the beginning of the Professional Pathway - the C License. For a breakdown of each course in both pathways, see below:

~ GRASSROOTS PATHWAY ~

4V4 IN-PERSON COURSE is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer's Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 6-8. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

7V7 IN PERSON COURSE is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer's Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 9-10. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

9V9 IN-PERSON COURSE is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer's Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 11-12. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

11V11 IN-PERSON COURSE is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer's Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 13 and older. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

NATIONAL D LICENSE is a 40 to 45-hour course, held over two weekends, at minimum 4 weeks apart, designed for the grassroots coach who meets the prerequisites outlined below. The focus of this course is to facilitate the improvement of the candidates in the Six Tasks of a Coach across all four game models (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11) with a particular emphasis on Coaching Training Sessions. Candidates that register for this course are expected to attend both meetings.

Development Period: The Development Period is the time in between course meeting one and two. It is vital that candidates have access to a team during this period so that they can practically apply what they learned during the first course meeting and complete their assignments.

Eligibility Requirements:
A unique combination of three of the eight Grassroots Licenses now formally represent the prerequisite to progress to the U.S. Soccer D License. Specifically, candidates must have completed a minimum of three grassroots courses, in the form of two in-person courses and one online course:

• Two in-person courses (one of which must be the 11v11)
• One online course across any of the four levels (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11)

Coaching candidates who have earned the E or F License will have the following opportunities to use those certifications toward the D License prerequisites:

• U.S. Soccer E License + Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module
• U.S. Soccer F License + Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module + 11v11 in-person license + one other in-person license

PROFESSIONAL PATHWAY ~

NATIONAL C: An individual must have held the D License for 12 months to register for the C License. Designed to focus on core coaching competencies for those leading competitive youth soccer, the C course takes 130 or more hours and consists of two meetings separated by a development period, usually lasting two to three months. All licenses at the C level and above are administered and approved by U.S. Soccer Coaching Department instructors.

NATIONAL B: The U.S. Soccer B License requires a comprehensive application from all eligible candidates who are at least 18 years of age. Each applicant must have held the C License for at least 12 months and be working with an 11v11 youth team. To complete the course, candidates dedicate more than 150 hours with three meetings separated by two development periods over four to five months. The National B License is the minimum standard for coaches in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

NATIONAL A-YOUTH: The A-Youth License also requires a comprehensive application from all eligible candidates who must have held the B License for at least six months, and have access to a team of elite youth players in a high-performance environment. The course focuses on the development of the potential professional player. The course includes four meetings separated by three development periods and takes approximately five to six months to complete.

NATIONAL A-SENIOR: The A-Senior License requires a comprehensive application from all interested candidates who must have held the B License for at least six months, and have experiences and access to a team of senior players in a high-performance, result driven environment. Coaches in this course should be working with professional players or potential professional players. The course consists of four meetings separated by three development periods and takes approximately five to six months to complete.

PRO: The Pro License course is currently an invitation-based course and is the highest level license offered in North America recognized by FIFA. Thirteen professional coaches completed the first Pro License in December 2016. The course is designed for those individuals working at the highest levels of the game in our country.