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How to become a goalkeeper coach in Spanish football

Q: Can I coach goalkeepers without the outfield UEFA C?

Normally no. The Nacional C Goalkeeper Diploma usually requires an outfield UEFA C: read the call. UEFA Goalkeeper B needs an outfield UEFA B, and the A needs UEFA A or UEFA B with two seasons as a specialist. Private courses do not unlock a federation licence.

Q: What's the difference between Nacional C Goalkeeper and UEFA Goalkeeper B?

Nacional C is the first tier: regional federations teach it and UEFA C is the norm. UEFA Goalkeeper B is taught at Las Rozas, requires an outfield UEFA B plus the earlier goalkeeper diploma and, per the 2021/22 bases, covers Primera Federación, Segunda Federación and women's Primera División. It ran about 90 hours with 24 places.

Q: Where are UEFA Goalkeeper B and A courses taught?

At the RFEF facilities in Las Rozas (Madrid), run by the National Coaching School. The open bases set 24 places for UEFA Goalkeeper B (2021/22) and 16 for UEFA Goalkeeper A (2022/23), by points scale. No fixed calendar: in 2026/27 only UEFA Goalkeeper B is called, with pre-registration until 06/12/2026 and first session on 25/01/2027.

Q: Does the goalkeeper licence work for futsal as well?

Not directly, and no current offer was found. Futsal has its own coaching pathway (see the futsal Nacional C guide), but the 2026/27 RFEF Academy catalogue has no futsal goalkeeper specialist edition. If you are interested, ask your regional federation.

Last reviewed: 8 Nov 2026

Spain's goalkeeper-coach pathway is federation-based and has three tiers. Each one asks for an outfield licence that climbs alongside it.

Outfield requirement: UEFA C as the norm for Nacional C Goalkeeper; UEFA B for UEFA Goalkeeper B; UEFA A (or UEFA B plus two seasons as a specialist) for UEFA Goalkeeper A.
Nacional C Goalkeeper: taught by regional federations; in 2026/27 it costs €275 to €350 (€350 is the most common).
UEFA Goalkeeper B: Las Rozas, 24 places by points scale; 2026/27 edition with pre-registration until 06/12/2026.
UEFA Goalkeeper A: Las Rozas, 16 places.
Calls: no fixed calendar; check the current one.

Three tiers, each built on the previous one

Unlike outfield coaches, goalkeeper coaches have no academic track (Técnico Deportivo) of their own: the route is federation-based and advances in parallel to the outfield licence (UEFA C → UEFA B). The sequence is always the same:

Nacional C Goalkeeper Specialist Diploma, managed by the RFEF and taught by regional federations. Outfield requirement: active UEFA C.
UEFA Goalkeeper B, taught at Las Rozas: about 90 hours in the 2021/22 bases, 60 of them in person. Outfield requirement: active UEFA B, on top of Nacional C Goalkeeper (or the Basic Diploma in Goalkeeper Coaching Specialisation).
UEFA Goalkeeper A, also at Las Rozas, with fewer places per cohort. Outfield requirement, per the 2022/23 bases: an active UEFA Goalkeeper B licence and UEFA A; or an active UEFA B with a certificate of two full seasons as a goalkeeper specialist.

There is no shortcut from outside federation football: you do not start at UEFA Goalkeeper B without the earlier goalkeeper diploma or without an active UEFA B outfield licence. Nacional C normally asks for UEFA C; always read the call.

The outfield ladder runs in parallel: UEFA C to start, UEFA B to climb

The most common mistake when planning the pathway is assuming a UEFA C outfield licence covers the whole chain. It does not: the outfield ladder and the goalkeeper ladder progress in parallel. UEFA C unlocks the Nacional C Goalkeeper diploma; for UEFA Goalkeeper B you also need an active UEFA B outfield licence, and for UEFA Goalkeeper A, UEFA A or UEFA B with two seasons as a goalkeeper specialist.

If you already hold UEFA C, you can apply for Nacional C Goalkeeper when your federation opens a call. To progress to UEFA Goalkeeper B, however, you will need both Nacional C Goalkeeper and a completed UEFA B outfield licence. Starting from scratch, the logical order is: UEFA C → Nacional C Goalkeeper → UEFA B → UEFA Goalkeeper B → UEFA Goalkeeper A.

Private courses (academies, online schools) teach goalkeeping methodology without granting titles: they are valid for personal development, but they do not unlock a federation licence. Federation clubs require the official RFEF pathway.

What each tier lets you coach

These are the goalkeeper-coach categories per tier, based on the official RFEF bases of recent editions:

Tier	Outfield requirement	Categories you can coach (goalkeepers)
Nacional C Goalkeeper Diploma	Active UEFA C	Each federation sets it in its call
UEFA Goalkeeper B	Active UEFA B + Nacional C Goalkeeper (or Basic Diploma)	Primera Federación, Segunda Federación and women's Primera División (2021/22 bases)
UEFA Goalkeeper A	UEFA A, or UEFA B + 2 seasons as a specialist; + UEFA Goalkeeper B	Goalkeeper-coach licence in men's Primera and Segunda División (2022/23 bases)

For the outfield ceilings (not goalkeepers), see what each UEFA licence lets you coach. Always check your federation's current call.

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Where each tier is taught

The territorial split is clear and helps planning the pathway:

Nacional C Goalkeeper: taught at regional federations. 2026/27 examples in the RFEF Academy catalogue: Castilla-La Mancha (Alcázar de San Juan, starts in October), Baleares (Palma, February), La Rioja (Logroño, March), Extremadura (Mérida, March), Castilla y León (Arroyo de la Encomienda, April) and the Basque Country (Bilbao, December, Biscay federation). FFCV and Asturias do not appear this season. Pre-registration deadlines are in the site notices, not here.
UEFA Goalkeeper B: at the RFEF facilities in Las Rozas (Madrid), run by the National School. The 2021/22 bases set 24 places. The RFEF Academy has called the 2026/27 edition: 24 places, sessions from 25 January to 24 May 2027 (provisional calendar in the bases) in Las Rozas and pre-registration until 06/12/2026.
UEFA Goalkeeper A: also at Las Rozas, with 16 places in the open 2022/23 bases. For Goalkeeper A, the 2026/27 RFEF Academy catalogue has no in-person edition for now; check the RFEF.

There is no fixed calendar. UEFA Goalkeeper A has been called in several seasons (for example 2019/20 and 2022/23, per the open bases). Entry to UEFA Goalkeeper B and A is decided by a 100-point scale: experience as a coach and as a goalkeeper, teaching and diploma. The RFEF Academy also offers free virtual re-evaluations for GK B and GK A and an update certificate for the Federation Goalkeeper Coaching Specialist; check the frequency in each call.

Cost and time investment

Figures vary by cohort and federation; always check the open call. A reasonable reference range:

Nacional C Goalkeeper: in 2026/27 the RFEF Academy catalogue puts it between €275 and €350 by federation: Extremadura €275, Baleares €325 and €350 in the other visible editions (the most common figure). Length and calendar depend on the call.
UEFA Goalkeeper B: the 2021/22 bases set about 90 hours (60 in person) and €3,000 in three payments of €1,000; in 2019/20 it was 80 hours and €3,500. The 2026/27 edition called by the RFEF Academy keeps the €3,000 fee.
UEFA Goalkeeper A: €6,000 and 140 hours in 2022/23; €7,000 in 2019/20. Also historical; the RFEF publishes the figure for each edition.

Add the cost of the base outfield UEFA C, plus the outfield UEFA B if you plan to reach UEFA Goalkeeper B or A. For an estimate of the full cost, see the coaching course price guide; goalkeeper fees are on top.

Why specialising pays off despite the long pathway

A goalkeeper coach adds specific work to the technical staff of any club.

In the higher categories, the specific goalkeeper title is a clear asset; the exact requirements of each competition are in its own rules.

Combined with the natural curve of the first year coaching, specialising in goalkeepers from the start builds a career in a niche where ongoing training matters more than the head coach's record.

Frequently asked questions

Can I coach goalkeepers without the outfield UEFA C?

Normally no. The Nacional C Goalkeeper Diploma usually requires an outfield UEFA C: read the call. UEFA Goalkeeper B needs an outfield UEFA B, and the A needs UEFA A or UEFA B with two seasons as a specialist. Private courses do not unlock a federation licence.

What's the difference between Nacional C Goalkeeper and UEFA Goalkeeper B?

Nacional C is the first tier: regional federations teach it and UEFA C is the norm. UEFA Goalkeeper B is taught at Las Rozas, requires an outfield UEFA B plus the earlier goalkeeper diploma and, per the 2021/22 bases, covers Primera Federación, Segunda Federación and women's Primera División. It ran about 90 hours with 24 places.

Where are UEFA Goalkeeper B and A courses taught?

At the RFEF facilities in Las Rozas (Madrid), run by the National Coaching School. The open bases set 24 places for UEFA Goalkeeper B (2021/22) and 16 for UEFA Goalkeeper A (2022/23), by points scale. No fixed calendar: in 2026/27 only UEFA Goalkeeper B is called, with pre-registration until 06/12/2026 and first session on 25/01/2027.

Does the goalkeeper licence work for futsal as well?

Not directly, and no current offer was found. Futsal has its own coaching pathway (see the futsal Nacional C guide), but the 2026/27 RFEF Academy catalogue has no futsal goalkeeper specialist edition. If you are interested, ask your regional federation.

How much does the full goalkeeper-coach pathway cost?

Add the base UEFA C cost and the specialist fees. Nacional C Goalkeeper costs €275 to €350 in 2026/27 (€350 is the most common). As a historical reference, the RFEF bases set UEFA Goalkeeper B at €3,000 (2021/22) and UEFA Goalkeeper A at €6,000 (2022/23). Confirm the current figure and budget over several years.