How to Get a Soccer Coaching License

1. Go to your state soccer site. Under the United States Soccer Federation, every state has a youth soccer association. Go to the USSF website if you can't find it online (see Resources). Once you get to your state's site, click on the link that says “Coaching education.” It will have a list of upcoming courses and the requirements for each.

2. Try to learn about the game. Passing coaching courses under USSF is not easy. Try to develop a deeper understanding of the principals you will be learning before the course. It's not just about being prepared, but you're going to have to learn so much, the more you know going in, the easier your test will be.

3. Learn terminology. Big soccer fans and people deeply involved in the sport speak a whole different language altogether. Learn what coaches mean when they say swing, switch, first defender, zone, in touch, have a go, whip it or back post run. Learning this lingo will help you communicate with your players once you get your licence.

4. Come ready to play. Most coaching license courses involve a good deal of playing. Make sure you're in shape for your course. Coaching education involved a great deal of visual and demonstrative learning and the better prepared you are to handle any physical strain of the course, the more you'll learn from it.