Who the C licence is for
For coaches who manage a team in children's, youth, or senior football on a permanent basis. In grassroots football, it is usually not mandatory, but it forms the foundation for everything that follows: without a C licence, no B licence; without a B licence, nothing above it.
It is worth it as soon as two things are certain: you are staying for more than one season, and you want to understand why you do what you do.
Requirements
The regional associations regulate the details, but the basic framework is similar everywhere:
- Minimum age, usually 16 or 18.
- Affiliation with a club, usually confirmed via their registration.
- Enhanced background check when working with minors.
- Frequently a first aid certificate.
- Sometimes a preparatory short course or basic module.
Playing experience of your own is not required.
What is taught
The content varies depending on the profile and association, but essentially covers the same core areas:
Coaching theory and planning. Structuring a session, load and recovery, basic principles of annual planning. In-depth details in the guide on structuring a training session.
Methodology. From simple to complex, game-based situations instead of isolated drills, organising large groups, coaching on the pitch.
Technique and tactics. Fundamental techniques, group tactics, introduction to team tactics. Fundamentals on playing principles.
Children's and youth coaching. Age-appropriate content, developmental stages, dealing with parents.
Athleticism and prevention. Warm-up, coordination, fundamentals of injury prevention.
Legal matters, duty of care, and role. Duty of supervision, safeguarding, dealing with conflict situations.
Profiles: Grassroots and competitive football
Many regional associations offer the C licence with different pathways, such as focusing on grassroots football or competitive football, sometimes even with a dedicated children's football pathway. The choice changes the weighting of the topics, not the qualification itself.
Check your regional association to see which profiles are currently offered. The designations change more often than the content.
Course structure and assessment
The course runs in blocks, spread over several weekends or as an intensive full-time week. A significant part takes place practically on the pitch.
The assessment usually consists of three parts:
- Practical coaching assessment — running your own training sequence with a real group.
- Theory — written or oral, covering coaching theory, methodology, and legal aspects.
- Course participation — attendance and active involvement throughout the course.
If you do not pass the practical assessment, you can usually retake it.
Costs, dates, and renewal
There is only one reliable source here: your regional association.
Fees are set individually by the 21 regional associations and vary considerably. Many clubs cover them in full or in part — ask before registering.
Dates are usually published six months in advance. Popular courses fill up quickly.
Validity. The licence must be renewed regularly through continuous professional development (CPD). Deadlines and approved formats are determined by the association; many now also offer online CPD courses.
Is the C licence worth it?
For the ambitious volunteer: yes, but not because of the piece of paper. The value lies in three things:
- A shared language. You understand what other coaches mean and make yourself understood.
- Structure. You plan differently afterwards — not just with better intentions, but built better.
- Networking. The people on the course are facing the exact same challenges as you.
What it does not replace: practice. Running your own team for two years beats any course. The best approach is doing both alongside each other — read more in becoming a football coach.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the C licence
Summary
- The C licence is the first full coaching licence and the foundation for all subsequent stages.
- Content: coaching theory, methodology, technique and tactics, children's and youth coaching, athleticism, legal aspects.
- The assessment usually consists of a practical coaching session, theory, and course participation.
- Fees, dates, profiles, and renewal deadlines are determined by the regional associations — check directly with them, not in online forums.
- The true value lies in the shared language and structure, not the certificate itself.
Coach OS picks up right where the licence leaves off: day-to-day session planning. Coach OS suggests. The coach decides. Always.