COACH EDUCATION
Better coaches | Better Players
Empowering Coaches
Whether you're starting your coaching journey or looking to increase your knowledge and ability, our courses and resources will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a real impact.
Ready to get started?
Our community coaching courses are made up of two parts - the online learning and the in-person practical.
Coaching 4-9 Year Olds
Coaching 9-13 Year olds
Coaching 13-19 Year Olds
Coaching Adults (20+)
Complete the theory part of many coaching courses online, in your own time, and then join a practical session to complete the qualification.
NOTE: You need to register for the online learning and the practical session separately.
This is for coaches working with 4-9 year old players.
The theory part of this award is done online through NZF Learn, and should take around 1 hour to complete.
Please select WaiBOP as your Football Federation. Ideally, you would complete the theory before the practical session.
The practical, in person, part of this course is offered throughout the year depending on demand.
You need to register for the Date and Location of the practical session you wish to attend.
Katikati
WHEN: Sunday May 25 2025
WHERE: Moore Park, Katikati.
TIME: 9am-10am.
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
Hamilton
WHEN: Tuesday July 22 2025
WHERE: Galloway Park
TIME: 6.30pm-8pm
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
Hamilton
WHEN: Monday July 29. 2025
WHERE: Western United, Bremworth Park
TIME: 7pm-8.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
The course covers the basics of coaching the 9 – 13 year old age group.
The theory part of this award is done online through NZF Learn, and should take around 2 hours to complete.
Please select WaiBOP as your Football Federation. Ideally, you would complete the theory before the practical session.
The practical, in person, part of this course is offered throughout the year depending on demand.
You need to register for the Date and Location of the practical session you wish to attend.
Tauranga
WHEN: Friday 6th June 2025
WHERE: Waipuna Park, Welcome Bay
TIME: 6.30pm-8.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
Te Puke
WHEN: Monday 16 June 2025
WHERE: Litt Park, Te Puke
TIME: 6.30-8.30pm
To register please click HERE.
Hamilton
WHEN: Tuesday July 22.2025
WHERE: Galloway Park
TIME: 6.30pm-8pm
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
Hamilton
WHEN: Monday July 29. 2025
WHERE: Western United, Bremworth Park
TIME: 7pm-8.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click HERE.
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
For coaches working with 9–13 year old players.
The theory part of this course is done online through NZF Learn, and should take around 2-3 hours to complete.
Please select WaiBOP as your Football Federation. Ideally, you would complete the theory before the practical session.
The practical, in person, part of this course is offered throughout the year depending on demand.
You need to register for the Date and Location of the practical session you wish to attend.
Tauranga
WHEN: Friday May 23, 2025
WHERE: Fergusson Park, Otumoetai.
TIME: 6.30pm-9.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click: HERE.
Hamilton
WHEN: Wednesday June 11., 2025
WHERE: Western United, Bremworth Park.
TIME: 6.30pm-9.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click: HERE.
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
This course is aimed at coaches looking to provide a comprehensive programme for Junior Footballers (grassroots through to talented players aged 9-12 years), allowing them to flourish both as young players and as young people. Focusing on skill acquisition, it will provide coaches with the knowledge, tools and ability to create a development programme that ensures that all players are involved in appropriate activities and the appropriate times.
From a club prospective, having NZF Junior Level 3 qualified coaches will allow you to better support the development of junior players within your community and also position your club to be able to participate and benefit from being involved in future WaiBOP and NZF junior player development programmes such as the Weir Rose Bowl.
Course Content
This course covers the basics of coaching the 13-19 year old age groups.
This course will help you provide safe and inclusive environments that provide the right conditions for the growth and enjoyment of the game.
The theory part of this award is done online through NZF Learn, and should take around 3 hours to complete. There is no cost. Please select WaiBOP as your Football Federation.
The practical, in person, part of this course is offered throughout the year depending on demand.
Ideally, you would complete the theory before the practical session.
Scheduled sessions for the practical sessions are listed below. You need to register for the Date and Location of the practical session you wish to attend, as well as for the theory.
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
The next step for coaches working with 13-19 year old players.
The course is aimed at coaches who want to develop a deeper understanding of how to meet the needs of their young players during this Team phase.
This is a FREE course with online theory that should take 2-3 hours to complete; followed by a 3 hour practical session. Because the practical sessions take place across the region, you must register for both parts of this course separately.
Tauranga
WHEN: Friday June 13., 2025
WHERE: Waipuna Park, Welcome Bay, Tauranga.
TIME: 6.30pm-9.30pm
COST: Free
To register please click: HERE.
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
The Senior Level One Coaching Award is for coaches working with Adult Players age 20+.
The theory part of this award is done online through NZF Learn, and should take around 2-3 hours to complete. There is no cost. Please select WaiBOP as your Football Federation.
Practical modules will be listed as they are scheduled.
No dates currently scheduled
To help our planning, when you register for the online course and there is no practical listed in your area, please drop us an email and let us know where in the Waikato / Bay of Plenty you are located so we know where to schedule future sessions. Email Us Here
Developing coaches working with players aged 13-19 years or senior players.
This is a 4 day, in person course.
This course provides coaches with the framework and methodology to become a professional, ‘expert’ coach. The focus of the course is on identifying football problems and designing realistic game situations to address those problems. It also concentrates on “how” to coach youth or senior players by creating appropriate game environments and guiding players with tasks to effectively engage them in a learning process.
Course Content incudes
In addition the Youth 3 component also covers:
The Senior Level One Coaching Award is for coaches working with Senior Players age 20+. The course is aimed at coaches who want to develop a deeper understanding of how to meet the needs of their senior players in this phase. The course takes the coach through a range of modules targeting specific knowledge and skills to develop a great environment for their players and culminates with a practical module that brings much of this knowledge together.
To gain your award, you must complete all of the modules in the online course, and complete the practical module.We recommend setting aside around 2-3 hours to complete the online work.
Register for the online module here
Practical modules will be listed as they are scheduled.
Cost: FREE.
The Futsal Level 1 Coaching Award presents coaches working with within Futsal with an informative guide to leading coaching sessions and taking a team on game days. The course is designed to provide Futsal coaches with the ability to design appropriate sessions as well as have an understanding of basic tactics and formations. The course aims to enable coaches to prepare and deliver a programme of coaching sessions with focus on developing particular techniques that are specific to Futsal.
It is also a prerequisite for the NZF Futsal Level 2 Coaching Award. The information covered on this course, alongside Futsal Level 1 Course content on Football Online, will provide a sound footing for coaches currently working with Futsal teams to build their coach education on.
Register: Coming Soon
The Introduction to Goalkeeping Coaching Course presents new or existing coaches with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with how to work with players in this important position. The course is designed to provide all attending with an introduction to the basics of coaching Goalkeepers, including the fundamental techniques to focus on.
Content covered:
Cost: Free.
Register: Coming Soon
This course provides a deeper understanding on the GK fundamental techniques, as well as introducing advanced additions such as dealing with crosses and dealing with 1v1s. This course aims to show how coaches can bring these key aspects alive in a variety of game realistic GK sessions.
Content covered:
Register: Coming Soon
The OFC/NZF Goalkeeping C Licence course is designed for coaches taking their first step on the advanced pathway for goalkeeping. The course will cover development from junior-youth-senior goalkeeping.
The objective of the course is to support coaches with exposing their coaching practice to methods, strategies and frameworks to best support their goalkeepers and working with other staff by:
This is a 5 day course and has a mix of theory, practical and E-learning modules.
Candidates will be challenged to critically analyse their coaching practice and seek ways to evolve their coaching practice within their current context.
On the completion of all course tasks, including a final assessment, the coach will be awarded the OFC/NZF Goalkeeping C Licence and gain 100 Continual Professional Development (CPD) accreditation points.
4-7 December 2025 in Wellington
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/community/coaching-1/advanced-coaching-courses
CoachMate is the free official app for community coaches working with junior + youth players.
Plan sessions in minutes with ready-made practices or create your own drills.
Quick videos demonstrate coaching games and drills.
You can stay connected with schedules, attendance tracking, and team chat, and sharpen your skills with coaching tips and insights.
McDonald's Coach of the Year
Do you know a football or futsal coach who goes above and beyond for their team?
Whether it’s a dedicated parent coaching the local junior side every weekend, or someone making a big impact in your region - this is your chance to celebrate them.
Nominate your community coach and they’ll go in the draw to win a once-in-a-lifetime prize! Plus, Macca’s will also give back to their club.
COACH EDUCATION - COACHING FOR TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE
The number of football coaches in New Zealand is growing. With the quality and number of coaches increasing, this is an exciting time for football coaching in New Zealand.
To help coaches get the best out of themselves and their players, NZF’s Coach Education framework offers a range of high-quality flexible options ranging from junior and youth football right through to courses for coaches working in the senior competitive arena.
The comprehensive Coach Education Pathway is available to assist with any coach’s development, regardless of age or experience. The content of the courses on offer will have a direct impact on the development of our players; whether that be with grassroots or high performance squads.
There are three age-related pathways so that coaches can choose relevant and applicable learning opportunities that are specific to their coaching needs.
COACH EDUCATION PRINCIPLES
The New Zealand Football and WaiBOP Football approach is founded on the following principles:
The new approach will provide a myriad of learning opportunities that allow coaches to identify and access personal development that corresponds with the players they are coaching and their specific developmental needs.
Grow as a coach, create positive experiences, and make a meaningful difference in your community, whether you're new to coaching, working with tamariki or rangatahi, or building confidence in your local club or school environment.
There is a course for all coaches at whatever level they choose to work at.
For coaches working in the Participation pillar of the Whole of Football Plan there is the Community Pathway, and for coaches working in the Talent pillar there is the Advanced Pathway.
The Community Pathway is aimed at coaches who prefer to coach primarily at grassroots level and are perhaps not ambitious about coaching at higher levels. These community courses are designed to teach how to prepare, deliver, organise, and conduct safe and enjoyable, age-related training sessions
The Advanced Pathway is for coaches who have aspirations to coach at a high level and who may eventually wish to coach at the professional level. These courses demand a significant investment of time and commitment.
Coaches can elect to start on the Community Pathway and gain experience, perhaps choosing to access the Advanced Pathway in time.
It is not a prerequisite to undertake the Community courses before progressing to the Advanced Pathway. The entry level for the advanced courses are the NZF Junior Level 3 and OFC/NZF C Licence Coaching Awards.
PREREQUISITES – COMMUNITY COURSES
All Courses: Prior to registration on any accredited courses, candidates are required to be at least 16 years of age (18 years of age for Senior courses). Applications for candidates below the recommended age of 16 years will be assessed on an individual basis by Football Development Officer (FDO) in conjunction with the Football Development Manager (FDM) at the relevant Federation.
Level 2 Courses: Have completed the age group appropriate Level 1 Football Coaching Award.
Accreditation: Achievement of these qualifications is based on full attendance at the workshops. Upon completion, a licensed New Zealand Football Coach Educator will register candidate completion of the award on COMET (NZF online database of registered coaches).
PREREQUISITES – ADVANCED COURSES
All Courses: These courses are administered and led by New Zealand Football with support from the relevant Federation. The NZF Junior Level 3 and OFC/NZF C Licence are the entry points to the advanced pathway. It is no longer a prerequisite to undertake the Community courses before progressing.
Accreditation: Achievement of these qualifications is based on full attendance at the workshops along with completing the video assessment procedure.
The accreditations for all courses are valid for 3 years from the date of completion. To remain accredited all coaches then must accrue 100 points during the 3 year cycle under the NZF Coach Points system. This is a system which keeps accreditations active on an ongoing basis while also ensuring all coaches are kept up to date with the evolution of the NZF Coach Development pathway.
Scott Parsonage
Federation Development Officer
Mobile: 021 915 459
Email: scott.p@waibop.co.nz
BAY OF PLENTY
Nico Girard
Federation Development Officer
Mobile: 021 063 9371
Email: nico.g@waibop.co.nz