Coaching at any level is a highly self-fulfilling career which requires professional qualifications. In Malta, these qualifications are solely issued by the MFA Technical Centre. For this purpose the centre organises a number of coaching courses annually. With the UEFA convention on coaching qualifications, the MFA upgraded its qualifications to UEFA standards in each of the ‘C’, ‘B’ and ‘A’ licences.
Coaching Young Footballers is the first course that allows the interested candidate to get initiated into the realms of coaching. During this course participants are introduced to the basic principles of football coaching and to an understanding of the responsibility of the coach towards the different stakeholders. The candidate can aspire to coach young footballers after completion of the course. This course has a duration of 18 hours and is held over the course of a weekend.
National C Diploma (Part 1 of UEFA B) delves more in depth in youth coaching considering important elements such as football philosophy, coaching methodology, basic psychology and planning. The course is assessed through a professional portfolio, practical and theoretical exams. Successful candidates need to coach for a minimum of 1 year before they can sit for the UEFA B. This course has a duration of 85 hours and is held over 6 modules. Each module has a duration of 16 hours and is held over the course of a weekend.
UEFA ‘B’ exposes the candidates to the characteristics of the modern game. It considers each of match analysis, physical training and preparation, coaching methodology, psychology and the moments of the game in the separate modules. Candidates are required to build a professional portfolio during the course to supplement the learning that happens during the course. The candidate is assessed further through practical and theoretical exams. Successful candidates need to coach for a minimum of 1 year before they can sit for the UEFA A. This course has a duration of 122 hours and is held over 8 modules. Each module has a duration of 16 hours and is held over the course of a weekend.
UEFA ‘A' is the highest coaching qualification offered by the MFA Technical Centre, which renders the coach a fully-qualified professional. It scaffolds on previous courses and prepares the candidate to coach at the highest level of Maltese football. It considers each of the technical-tactical, physical and psychological elements in the greatest detail. Candidates are required to build a professional portfolio during the course to supplement the learning that happens during the course. The candidate is assessed further through practical and theoretical exams. Successful candidates need to coach for a minimum of 1 year before they can sit for the UEFA A. This course has a duration of 150 hours and is held over 9 modules. Each module has a duration of 16 hours and is held over the course of a weekend. For this course, foreign tutors are invited to provide their expertise in selected fields.
Physical Trainer Course is open to graduate PE teachers and physiotherapists. This course deals with all the aspects of physical preparation. It prepares candidates to have the required knowledge to prepare the players optimally in this field from youth to top level. This course has a duration of 72 hours plus 50 hours of practical work with Premier, First Division and Youth teams and is held over 6 modules. No previous coaching qualification is required for this course. For this course, foreign tutors are invited to provide their expertise in selected fields.
Head Coach Licence is intended for those who are willing to dedicate their services to guiding technically a group of coaches at youth level. The course deals with technical-tactical, physical, mental and managerial components. The candidate wishing to attend this course needs to be in possession of a minimum of UEFA ‘B’. This course has a duration of 48 hours and is held over 3 modules. Each module has a duration of 16 hours and is held over the course of a weekend.
Goalkeepers Course Level 1 is intended to prepare the candidates to be able to coach this delicate role in football. The candidate wishing to attend this course needs to be in possession of a minimum of UEFA ‘C’. This course has a duration of 30 hours and is held over 3 modules.
Every year the MFA, the coaching licensing committee issues coaching licences to all those coaches with the UEFA qualifications on condition that they attend the required number of instructional meetings and Seminars organised by the MFA Technical Centre and others by the Malta Football Coaches Association. The MFA Technical Centre is committed to be an open learning centre and to keep upgrading its coaches to give a better service to Maltese football.
