CONCACAF B-DIPLOMA
The Canada Soccer B-Diploma is designed for coaches aiming to deepen their understanding of player, team, and staff development at both the youth and amateur senior levels.
Holders of this diploma are expected to grasp the intricacies of a club’s development and coaching philosophy, fostering personal development for both coaches and players. It emphasizes the importance of transformational coaching behaviors, cultural sensitivity, and the necessity of contributing positively to mental health literacy within the sporting context.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In terms of player and team development, the B Diploma necessitates a keen awareness of talent identification and respect for participant rights. Coaches are encouraged to support individual player development plans, particularly as players undergo physical changes, and to promote parental involvement in the process. Additionally, maintaining a safe training environment is crucial, along with reflecting on the ongoing development of players and teams to ensure their progress.
The diploma also focuses on effective training environments, requiring coaches to design training cycles, sessions, and activities that are suited to player needs. Employing a player-centered coaching approach, coaches must understand how to plan and evaluate training sessions aligned with their club’s philosophy. Furthermore, analyzing match performance, developing match plans, and collaborating with staff to enhance player development are key components of the curriculum, ultimately helping coaches to create a positive impact on their teams in line with the club’s overarching playing philosophy.
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. Upon successful completion, coaches will receive a three-year coaching license, renewable through the Canada Soccer Maintenance and Renewal Process.
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE FEES 2026
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 cleats and running shoes). 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.
ENROLLMENT PREREQUISITES
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.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The B-Diploma integrates in-person and online sessions, requiring coaches to attend 100% of the program to earn their license.
- 8 days, in-person (classroom & on-field).
- Independent Online Learning (asynchronous).
- Collaborative Online Learning (synchronous).
- Assessment of Competency.
- Guided Mentorship.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application window opens every year in the spring. 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 be considered for the program, please apply directly with Canada Soccer by clicking here by February 28th, 2026.
If you aspire to achieve CONCACAF B-Diploma certification and elevate your coaching credentials, we encourage you to express your interest promptly.
The CONCACAF B-Diploma content involves theoretical and practical components focusing on holistic, effective coaching. The workshop covers content including:
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.