Football coach course in Euskadi (Basque Country)
In the Basque Country the course is run through the Federación Vasca de Fútbol - Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea and its three territorial federations, not by a single regional school. The territory where you enrol drives the venue and the calendar.
- Bizkaia.
- Gipuzkoa.
- Álava.
- Before paying: always confirm in which territory you will enrol — venue and calendar may change.
Federación Vasca and 3 territorial federations: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Álava
The regional umbrella is the Federación Vasca de Fútbol - Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea, with official website at euskadifutbol.eus. Under it three territorial federations operate: Bizkaiko Futbol Federakundea (Bizkaia, based in Bilbao), Gipuzkoako Futbol Federakundea (Gipuzkoa) and Arabako Futbol Federakundea (Álava). Usual coaching activity is published by each one.
To confirm contact and current website of each territorial federation check the RutaMister federations page. The RFEF centralises the UEFA licence process, and for the academic Sports Technician route the CSD and the Basque Government Department of Education list the authorised centres in Euskadi.
| Item | Basque Country |
|---|---|
| Regional federation | Federación Vasca de Fútbol - Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea |
| Bizkaia federation | Bizkaiko Futbol Federakundea |
| Gipuzkoa federation | Gipuzkoako Futbol Federakundea |
| Álava federation | Arabako Futbol Federakundea |
| Official website | www.euskadifutbol.eus |
| Contact | info@euskadifutbol.eus |
| Phone | 944 731 900 |
Coaching schools by territory: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Álava
Each territory runs its own coaching school on the ground, coordinated with the Federación Vasca: in Bizkaia, the Escuela Vizcaína de Entrenadores / Bizkaiko Entrenatzaileen Eskola, based in Bilbao; in Gipuzkoa, the Gipuzkoa school, based in Donostia-San Sebastián; in Álava, the Álava school, based in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Enrolment for UEFA calls is processed through the academia.rfef.es platform.
As a reference for the real format, Bizkaia has republished calls for «Futboleko entrenatzaile izateko ikastaroa - UEFA C» through the Basque Government's Kirolbide portal, in collaboration with the Bizkaia federation (source: bizkaia.eus). The verified price data point is Gipuzkoa: the 2025/26 UEFA C course cost €300, delivered in Basque and Spanish. If you do not have a club yet, check what you need for placements if you take the course without a team.
Alongside the outfield pathway, all three territorial federations also call the futsal Nacional C course, priced between €250 and €350 depending on territory: it is a separate track, not an add-on to the outfield licence.
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| Territory | School | Base | Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizkaia | Escuela Vizcaína de Entrenadores / Bizkaiko Entrenatzaileen Eskola | Bilbao | academia.rfef.es |
| Gipuzkoa | Escuela Guipuzcoana de Entrenadores | Donostia-San Sebastián | academia.rfef.es |
| Álava | Escuela de entrenadores de la Federación Alavesa de Fútbol | Vitoria-Gasteiz | academia.rfef.es |
Enrolment by territory: which one applies and common documentation
- Bizkaia: the Bizkaia federation.
- Gipuzkoa: the Gipuzkoa federation.
- Álava: the Álava federation.
- ID.
- Prior education: Spanish ESO for UEFA C; UEFA C in force plus 6 months of experience for UEFA B.
- Medical certificate.
- Photo.
- Proof of payment.
Licence-by-licence details in what you can coach with each licence. If you want an academic qualification with MEC grant access, consider the Sports Technician: longer and more expensive, but it grants an official Ministry title. Compare both routes in Sports Technician vs UEFA licence.
Minimum qualification per category
In the Basque Country the map has two floors. The Basque Federation (EFF-FVF) competitions set the qualification in each league's competition rules, published by circular every season: the three Basque leagues require a qualified coach with at least UEFA B (Level 1/Basic), with mandatory match attendance except force majeure. National competitions with Basque teams follow RFEF rules: UEFA A in Tercera Federación (Group IV) and UEFA B in Liga Nacional Juvenil.
Below those leagues — territorial senior football and the rest of grassroots — the qualification is set by the territorial federations of Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Araba in their own rules: there is no single chart published by the EFF-FVF, so confirm your specific category with your territorial federation before signing. The 2026/27 competition rules are published between August and September; the table reflects the latest in force.
Basque Federation and national competitions
| Competition | Minimum coach qualification |
|---|---|
| Tercera Federación (grupo IV) | UEFA A — RFEF rules |
| Liga Nacional Juvenil (grupo IV) | UEFA B — RFEF rules |
| Liga Vasca Juvenil | UEFA B (Basic, Level 1) |
| Liga Vasca Cadete | UEFA B (Basic, Level 1) |
| Liga Vasca Femenina | UEFA B (Basic, Level 1) — first-season exemption for newly promoted clubs |
| Territorial senior and the rest of grassroots football | Set by each territorial federation (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba) |
EFF-FVF competition rules for Liga Vasca Femenina, Liga Vasca Juvenil and Liga Vasca Cadete, 2026/27 season (circulars no. 13, 15 and 16, dated 4 and 8 September 2026); the coaches article is unchanged from 2025/26.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find football coach courses in the Basque Country?
The main route goes through the Federación Vasca de Fútbol and its three territorial federations: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Álava. UEFA C, B, A and Pro calls are published on euskadifutbol.eus and on each territorial website. The academic Sports Technician route is delivered at centres authorised by the Basque Government Department of Education and by the CSD. For the procedural detail, see how to enrol in a coaching course.
Which licence do I need to coach in the Basque Country?
It depends on the floor. In the Basque Federation leagues, the competition rules require at least UEFA B (Liga Vasca Juvenil, Liga Vasca Cadete and Liga Vasca Femenina, per seasonal circular); national competitions follow RFEF rules: UEFA A for Tercera Federación Group IV and UEFA B for Liga Nacional Juvenil. In territorial senior football and the rest of grassroots, your territorial federation (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa or Araba) sets the requirement: there is no single Basque chart, so confirm with it before signing.
How much does a coaching course cost in the Basque Country?
The verified data point is Gipuzkoa: the 2025/26 UEFA C course cost €300, delivered in Basque and Spanish. Bizkaia and Álava do not reliably publish a price; confirm the fee in your territorial federation's current call before enrolling. The academic Sports Technician Level 1 route can exceed €800, with MEC grant access.
Is a UEFA licence the same as Sports Technician studies in the Basque Country?
They are different but equivalent routes: the UEFA licence is processed through your territorial federation (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa or Álava) under the Federación Vasca, and is faster and cheaper; the Sports Technician is an official Ministry title, with centres authorised by the Basque Government Department of Education and the CSD, and it qualifies for the MEC grant. Under Article 167 bis of the RFEF Regulations, TD Level 1 equals UEFA B (TD Level 2 = UEFA A; TD Superior = UEFA Pro).
Are Basque courses taught in Basque (Euskara) or Spanish?
Since 2021, the Basque Government and the Gipuzkoa Football Federation have run UEFA C and UEFA B courses in Basque ("futboleko entrenatzaile izateko ikastaroa"), with 85 students in the 2023/24 intake. The Basque-language offer is concentrated in Gipuzkoa; in Bizkaia and Álava most calls are delivered in Spanish, with occasional material in Basque depending on the intake. If you are looking for a course taught fully in Basque ("UEFA C euskaraz"), confirm the specific intake when enrolling: not every call guarantees it.
Which of the three territorials applies to me by domicile or club?
General rule: Bizkaia (Bilbao and province) → Bizkaiko Futbol Federakundea. Gipuzkoa (San Sebastián and province) → Gipuzkoako Futbol Federakundea. Álava (Vitoria-Gasteiz and province) → Arabako Futbol Federakundea. The choice is driven by the federation club where you will do placements, not personal domicile. If your club is in Bizkaia but you live in Álava, enrolment goes through the Bizkaia federation.
What should I do if I do not know which course to choose in the Basque Country?
It depends on your goal, timeline and territory. To start coaching grassroots football now, UEFA C through your territorial federation (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa or Álava) is the most direct route: in Gipuzkoa it cost €300 in 2025/26, delivered in Basque and Spanish. For an academic qualification with MEC grant access, consider the Sports Technician route. Use the RutaMister assistant for a recommendation in under 60 seconds.
Official sources
- Federación Vasca de Fútbol - Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea
- Bizkaiko Futbol Federakundea (Bizkaia federation)
- RFEF: coach education
- Basque Government: Department of Education
- CSD: sports education
- Bizkaia.eus: "Futboleko entrenatzaile izateko ikastaroa - UEFA C" call
- Euskadi.eus: coaching courses in Basque, 85 students 2023/24
- Gipuzkoa Federation: UEFA C call 2025/26, €300
- academia.rfef.es: RFEF enrolment platform
- EFF-FVF: circulars and competition rules by season
- EFF-FVF: Liga Vasca Cadete competition rules 2026/27 (circular no. 16)