ZIFA Coach EducationZIFA CoachEducation

Zimbabwe Football Association

CAF Coaching Education Pathway

The CAF Coaching Pathway is designed to develop coaches progressively, from grassroots to elite professional level.

5CAF licences
4Refresher courses
1y+Before upgrade

Highest to entry — Pro, A, B, C, then D at grassroots.

Upgrade requirements

To move to the next level, a coach must meet all of the following:

  1. Hold the current certificate for at least 1 year +
  2. Active practice: proof of actively coaching for that 1 year + period
  3. Completed the prerequisite course and passed assessments
  4. Recommendation from Club / Region / ZIFA Technical Department

Example: to go from CAF B to CAF A, you must have held CAF B for 1 year + and coached actively during that time.

Validity and refresher

  1. All CAF licences are valid indefinitely, but technical knowledge must be kept current.
  2. If a coach holds CAF C or higher and the certificate is older than 3 years, and they have not upgraded, they must attend a refresher course of the highest certificate they own before enrolling for the next upgrade.

Example: a coach with a CAF B from 2021 who wants to do CAF A in 2026 must first complete a CAF B Refresher.

Notes

  1. Coaches must be in good standing with ZIFA.
  2. Attendance of 100% in both modules is mandatory for certification.
  3. ZIFA reserves the right to verify coaching practice records.
  • 01

    CAF Pro Licence

    Highest level. For coaches in CAF inter-club competitions and senior national teams.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01Highest level. For coaches in CAF inter-club competitions and senior national teams.
    2. 02To upgrade to this licence you must meet all of the following: Hold the current certificate for at least 1 year +; Active practice: proof of actively coaching for that 1 year + period; Completed the prerequisite course and passed assessments; Recommendation from Club / Region / ZIFA Technical Department.
    Apply for course
  • 02

    CAF Pro Refresher

    For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.
    2. 02If a coach holds CAF C or higher and the certificate is older than 3 years, and they have not upgraded, they must attend a refresher course of the highest certificate they own before enrolling for the next upgrade.
    3. 03Example: a coach with a CAF B from 2021 who wants to do CAF A in 2026 must first complete a CAF B Refresher.
    Apply for course
  • 03

    CAF A Licence

    For coaches in CAF Confederation Cup, National 1st Division, and Academy Technical Directors.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches in CAF Confederation Cup, National 1st Division, and Academy Technical Directors.
    2. 02To upgrade to this licence you must meet all of the following: Hold the current certificate for at least 1 year +; Active practice: proof of actively coaching for that 1 year + period; Completed the prerequisite course and passed assessments; Recommendation from Club / Region / ZIFA Technical Department.
    Apply for course
  • 04

    CAF A Refresher

    For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.
    2. 02If a coach holds CAF C or higher and the certificate is older than 3 years, and they have not upgraded, they must attend a refresher course of the highest certificate they own before enrolling for the next upgrade.
    3. 03Example: a coach with a CAF B from 2021 who wants to do CAF A in 2026 must first complete a CAF B Refresher.
    Apply for course
  • 05

    CAF B Licence

    For coaches in Division 1, Youth National Teams U17/U20, and Academy Head Coaches.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches in Division 1, Youth National Teams U17/U20, and Academy Head Coaches.
    2. 02To upgrade to this licence you must meet all of the following: Hold the current certificate for at least 1 year +; Active practice: proof of actively coaching for that 1 year + period; Completed the prerequisite course and passed assessments; Recommendation from Club / Region / ZIFA Technical Department.
    Apply for course
  • 06

    CAF B Refresher

    For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.
    2. 02If a coach holds CAF C or higher and the certificate is older than 3 years, and they have not upgraded, they must attend a refresher course of the highest certificate they own before enrolling for the next upgrade.
    3. 03Example: a coach with a CAF B from 2021 who wants to do CAF A in 2026 must first complete a CAF B Refresher.
    Apply for course
  • 07

    CAF C Licence

    For coaches in Division 2/3, Youth Clubs U13–U17, and Schools Football.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches in Division 2/3, Youth Clubs U13–U17, and Schools Football.
    2. 02To upgrade to this licence you must meet all of the following: Hold the current certificate for at least 1 year +; Active practice: proof of actively coaching for that 1 year + period; Completed the prerequisite course and passed assessments; Recommendation from Club / Region / ZIFA Technical Department.
    Apply for course
  • 08

    CAF C Refresher

    For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01For coaches who hold CAF C or higher, whose certificate is older than 3 years, and who have not upgraded. Complete the refresher of your highest licence before enrolling for the next upgrade. CAF licences remain valid indefinitely; this course keeps technical knowledge current.
    2. 02If a coach holds CAF C or higher and the certificate is older than 3 years, and they have not upgraded, they must attend a refresher course of the highest certificate they own before enrolling for the next upgrade.
    3. 03Example: a coach with a CAF B from 2021 who wants to do CAF A in 2026 must first complete a CAF B Refresher.
    Apply for course
  • 09

    CAF D Licence

    Entry level. For grassroots coaches, community coaches, and beginner coaches.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01Entry level. For grassroots coaches, community coaches, and beginner coaches.
    Apply for course
  • 10

    ZIFA Level 1

    ZIFA Level 1 coaching qualification.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01ZIFA Level 1 coaching qualification.
    Apply for course
  • 11

    ZIFA Level 2

    ZIFA Level 2 coaching qualification.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01ZIFA Level 2 coaching qualification.
    Apply for course
  • 12

    ZIFA Level 3

    ZIFA Level 3 coaching qualification.

    1. Apply now
    2. See course dates
    1. 01ZIFA Level 3 coaching qualification.
    Apply for course