Applications are now open for the second edition of the UEFA Football Fitness B Licence, after the Scottish FA became the first association to run the course earlier this year. 

Working closely with UEFA, the Scottish FA Coach Education Department helped develop the award and were selected as one of only five UEFA associations who would pilot the course. 

11 candidates completed the inaugural award between January and June this year.

The new award, introduced to accommodate the growth and increased professionalisation of the fitness coach role, examines the evolving importance of health and fitness in the modern men’s and women’s games, as well as the increase in physical demands on elite players.

The course is open to those who have completed the UEFA C Licence and have a bachelor level of knowledge in sports or exercise science. However, the Scottish FA would be keen to hear from all interested applicants, even if they do not yet hold a UEFA C Licence.

The key focus will be on the application of theory to practice on the pitch. Candidates will complete 120 hours of learning through a variety of means including online, pitch based practical and assessments completed within their current club environment.

Due to this applied nature, the course is not aimed solely at those who currently work as fitness coaches and sport scientists, but also at those that are looking to gain further knowledge or have an interest in this area - such as coaches or recently graduated students.

Anyone wishing to apply should email coachedfitness@scottishfa.co.uk with the following information and supporting documents:
 
• Full Name
• Nationality
• Date of Birth
• Current Club
• Coaching Qualifications e.g. UEFA C Licence
• Academic Qualifications e.g. BSc Sports Science
• Professional Playing Career (if applicable)
 
Applications will not be considered unless supporting documents are received.

The application deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, 31st July.

Testimonials

Among those to complete the course were Scotland's Lee Gibson, former Iceland international and Gunnhildur Jonsdottir and Ian Coll, Former Head of Sports Science, Celtic FC, and they gave us their thoughts below.

Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson: “It was a really big pull for me to get on a course like this, with Scotland being one of the first countries to pilot it. A lot of focus still has to go on me playing football at the moment but this has always been something I’ve been very interested in, with me studying it at university and working with youth national teams in the past. It’s something I want to continue when I finish playing.

“The course was great. The candidates who are on it are from all over the world and they have coached at top levels. I’m a newcomer compared to lots of them and it’s massive for me to learn off everyone else on the course.

“The learnings are relatively fresh as well and you can see how it links with the coaching badges that the Scottish FA hold. The fact these coaches are linked completely to football as well, you understand the tactical side of the game and you can now learn the physical elements that are so important to sport science.

“The course leaders have been really flexible with me as well which has been fantastic for someone who is juggling playing commitments as well."

Ian Coll, former Head of Sports Science, Celtic FC: “ I’ve been a professional for 18 years and I’m trained up to the A-Licence. I chose the course to upskill myself in line with UEFA requirements and the Scottish FA are my home federation and, with it being the pilot course, we are proud as a nation to run this for the first time.

“Even for someone like me who has been a practitioner for 18 years, it’s rewarding when someone of the younger practitioners give you different ideas or challenge your own knowledge. The interaction between the candidates has been great.”

Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, 102 caps for the Iceland Women's National Team: "I'm now the Fitness Coach for the Iceland Women's National Team so I wanted to come to this course to learn and learn from all the different coaches here.

"We've had online sessions since January and we had in-person learning in March in Scotland and I was then back in Edinburgh again for the practical sessions at the end of April. I would highly recommend the course.

"It's a big learning experience and you get to know a number of people who are working in the same field as you. It's fantastic."