September 12, 2024

BC Soccer Updates Minimum Eligible Age For Coaching Courses And Workshop

BC Soccer has lowered the registration age for the Canada Soccer and BC Soccer Grassroots courses at the Active Start and Fundamentals course levels with two objectives:

Help clubs support younger players through coach training and involving them in their community-based programs at the youngest ages (i.e U6-U9 programs).
Contribute to helping retain youth aged players, particularly young girls, who might otherwise leave game by offering coach training opportunities and its benefits of positive social experiences through soccer.

Creating a conducive learning environment is key to help inspire coaches at any age. Therefore, with this flexibility, BC Soccer encourages member clubs to offer coach education experiences to young players and consider hosting youth-only coaching courses. This is a great way to build community in a social setting and help kids stay in the game. The aim is to inspire young players to learn about coaching and potentially become involved in club programming.

The Canada Soccer Grassroots Coach Education Program allows anyone over the age of 14 to register for the online theory. Young coaches can now also complete the on-field practical components for the Active Start and Fundamentals courses while they will need to wait until they turn 16 to complete the Learn to Train and Soccer for Life courses.

Grassroots Courses	Online Theory (part 1)	On-Field Practical (part 2)
Active Start	Minimum 14 years old	Minimum 14 years old
Fundamentals
Learn to Train		Minimum 16 years old
Soccer for Life

Please note that while BC Soccer tracks the coach training credits in our database, coaches will not see these credits in the NCCP database until they turn the age of 16 as per Coaches Association of Canada policies.

The Canada Soccer Advanced Coach Education Program requires a minimum registration age of 18 which includes BC Soccer’s other diploma workshop educational offers as follows:

C Diploma course
Technical Director Diploma workshop
Goalkeeping Diploma workshop
Accessibility Diploma workshop

Please visit our website for further information on coaching courses and other coach education workshops,

To contact a BC Soccer staff member regarding coaching development please contact Connor Smith, Soccer Development Coordinator at connorsmith@bcsoccer.net

12 Sep 2024

2024 News

BC Soccer Association

Established in 1904, BC Soccer is the largest provincial sports organization (PSO) in BC and the third largest soccer-specific PSO in Canada with over 150,000 participants, consisting of registered players, coaches, referees, administrators and soccer leaders. As a professional not-for-profit society and a member of Canada Soccer, BC Soccer is committed to providing the widest opportunities for existing and potential participants, as well as provide support in the most effective and appropriate way for current players, parents, volunteers, member clubs, leagues, and districts.

Safe Sport Statement

BC Soccer believes that everyone involved in soccer has the right to participate in safe and inclusive environments free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and to enjoy the sport at whatever level or capacity they participate in. The welfare of everyone involved in soccer is the foremost consideration and in particular, the protection of children in the sport is the responsibility of everyone involved.