Canada Soccer B-Diploma

Unlock the next level of coaching excellence with the Canada Soccer National B-Diploma, a comprehensive program designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of aspiring coaches in youth and senior soccer development environments. This course is tailored for individuals actively coaching in Youth Standard Based Leagues, College, University, or Youth Academy settings. It will give them the tools and insights to excel in their coaching journey.

Prerequisites for Enrollment:

To qualify for the B-Diploma, candidates must hold a valid Canadian C-Licence / C-Diploma or an approved International Equivalent, with a minimum of 12 months of coaching experience. Additionally, participants must be currently coaching a youth or senior team and possess a valid Criminal Record Check.

Course Overview:

The B-Diploma integrates in-person and online sessions, requiring coaches to attend 100% of the program to earn their license. Upon successful completion, coaches will receive a three-year coaching license, renewable through the Canada Soccer Maintenance and Renewal Process.

Application Process:

The application window will be announced once the course for 2024 will be finalized. Once officially announced, applications must be submitted before the announced deadline, as no applications received after this time will be considered. The review process usually takes place in April and May, with responses provided to all applicants by May 31 at the latest. Selected candidates have 30 days to accept their place and fully submit the course fee.

To apply for this Diploma, please click here.

Course Fees:

The course fee of $3,125 (as per Canada Soccer) covers a range of benefits, including mentor support throughout the program, access to all course content, in-person classroom and field rentals, tools for in-person and online sessions, and Canada Soccer-branded Nike equipment (excluding boots and trainers). Coaches are responsible for additional fees related to travel, accommodations, meals during in-person sessions, and any costs associated with video recording of practical coaching sessions.

Take advantage of this opportunity to invest in your coaching journey and unlock the next stage. Elevate your skills, gain valuable insights, and join a community of dedicated coaches committed to advancing soccer development. Enroll in the Canada Soccer National B-Diploma Coaching Course and take the next step towards coaching excellence. Apply now for a chance to secure your spot in this transformative program!

Please contact the Alberta Soccer Technical Department if you have any questions by sending an email to coaches@albertasoccer.com.

If you aspire to achieve Canada Soccer National B-Diploma certification and elevate your coaching credentials, we encourage you to express your interest promptly. To be considered for the program, please apply directly with Canada Soccer by clicking here by February 28th, 2024. This is a crucial step in the application process, and it ensures that you are on our radar for the upcoming B-Diploma Coaching Course. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your coaching skills and join a community of dedicated professionals. Act now and take the first step towards unlocking new possibilities in your coaching career!

Canada Soccer B-Diploma holders will have a clear understanding of player, team and staff development at the youth and amateur senior level and must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

Development Coach

  • Developing or applying a club’s development and coaching philosophy
  • Understanding the personal development process and creating a personal development plan
  • Demonstrating transformational coaching behaviours in a coaching environment
  • Working with players and staff from different cultural backgrounds, of different ages and experience, in a unified and consistent manner
  • Understands and assess the amateur soccer environment across Canada
  • Contributing in a positive way to building mental health literacy
  • Reflects on individual performance

Players and Team

  • Understands the sensitivity toward talent identification/development
  • Ensures participant’s rights are respected throughout participation
  • Supporting personal development plans for individual players
  • Supporting players through their individual physical developmental changes
  • Encouraging the involvement of and interaction with parents
  • Understands how to create and maintain a safe environment for players and team.
  • Reflects on the player and team development process

Training Environment

  • Plans and designs the training cycle, week, session, and activities.
  • Conducts training sessions objectives and learning outcomes appropriate to the needs and ages of the players
  • Working on the individuals and the team by having a clear understanding of training session design and how it can affect performance
  • Uses a player-centred approach to coaching and player development
  • Understands how to plan, deliver and review training sessions in accordance with the coaches and club’s playing and coaching philosophy

Match Performance

  • Analyzes performance in a match
  • Understands and executes a playing philosophy aligned to age, growth and maturity
  • Develops a match plan to consider the experience as a tool for evaluation and learning
  • Prepares the team for performance by leading a warm-up and pre-match talk
  • Delivering in-match changes to positively impact the development and experience of all players, in accordance with the club’s playing philosophy
  • Working with staff to analyze matches to support the development of players, in accordance with the club’s playing philosophy

Coaches who successfully complete the training requirements are eligible to progress to the evaluation process if they choose. Coaches must have completed the following to be eligible to register for the B-Diploma Evaluation:

Coaches who complete all training requirements and pass the evaluation achieve Canada Soccer C-Licence / C-Diploma Certified. Evaluation is based upon:

  1. Practice Session via video submission
  2. Laws of the Game Exam (if not already completed within the workshop)

Candidates receive their results electronically. Unsuccessful candidates may apply for re-evaluation twice and full evaluation fees will apply on their second re-evaluation (if necessary).

Evaluation procedure 

  1. Once a candidate registers for evaluation and contacts their Coach Evaluator, the full evaluation process must be executed within 2 weeks (14 days). The candidate must be able to submit a session plan, carry out a pre-brief with an evaluator, record their session, sync the audio and video, submit the session and schedule a de-brief. If the candidate is not confident they can carry this out within the timeframe, they are asked to register only when they can.
  2. On the first day of the evaluation block, (or within 3 business days of registration) the candidate will receive an email from the Alberta Soccer Coach Education Department introducing them to their Alberta Soccer Coach Evaluator. This email also details the topic for the evaluation as well as the video submission guidelines/process.
  3. The candidate must send their full session plan (Whole – Part – Whole) and EAP directly to their coach evaluator by email.
  4. Once the evaluator has received the session plan, the evaluator will contact the candidate and arrange a ‘pre-brief’ with the candidate. The pre-brief will be carried out either via a video call or phone call at an agreed time between the candidate and evaluator. Once the pre-brief has taken place, the candidate will be given the go-ahead to record their session. Coaches must ensure they are given written consent to videotape players for the purpose of their evaluation.
  5. Once the candidates have recorded their session and checked it for audio and video quality, the candidate will email their video, final session plan & EAP directly to their assigned coach developer.
  6. On receiving the email, the evaluator will acknowledge receipt of the required material and will schedule a de-brief with the candidate. Again, this can be done via video phone or phone call. During the debrief, the candidate will learn of their next steps and discuss their action plan.
  7. The evaluator will email the completed observation of competency forms and action plan to the candidate and Alberta Soccer.
  8. If successful, Canada Soccer will do all the necessary checks and update the CAC Locker (B-Diploma only). The candidate will then receive their Certificate directly from Canada Soccer.

Re-Testing Canada Soccer National B-Diploma Components

After the initial evaluation, coaches who require it may re-test twice. Candidates re-test only individual evaluation components they did not pass. If, after two re-testing attempts, a passing score has not been achieved, candidates must re-enter the program and repeat the Canada Soccer National B-Diploma course before attempting the evaluation process again. Full program fees will apply on the second set of re-tests should they be necessary.

Results

Candidates receive their results electronically.

Fall 2024

If you aspire to achieve Canada Soccer National B-Diploma certification and elevate your coaching credentials, we encourage you to express your interest promptly. To be considered for the program, please apply directly with Canada Soccer by clicking here by February 28th, 2024. This is a crucial step in the application process, and it ensures that you are on our radar for the upcoming B-Diploma Coaching Course. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your coaching skills and join a community of dedicated professionals. Act now and take the first step towards unlocking new possibilities in your coaching career!

Please find the B-Diploma syllabus here.