I would like to volunteer in my club
Are you a member of the FFF and at least 15 years old? You can volunteer and get involved in your club. Discover the mission that suits you here (in French)!
Training as a guarantee
The French method is recognized as one of the most successful in the world. The FFF outlines its philosophy, orientation, and content to offer effective training courses for any manager, from the amateur to the elite level. The FFF is supported by three departments: the National Technical Department (DTN), the Refereeing Technical Department (DTA) and the Football Training Institute (IFF). Each program has been adapted to each of its target audiences: referees, educators, facilitators, coaches, managers, salaried staff, administrators and volunteers. In the regions, monitoring and support are also provided by regional and departmental technical managers.
Key figures
300
Regional and departmental technical advisers
3,000
Training sessions per year
46,000
Training participants each year
60,000
Training vouchers per year
Coaching courses - Trainings
Find out more here
I wish to become a coach, to make it my career
If you enjoy your role as a leader or supervisor in your club and you want to make it your career, training courses are offered. Discover them here (in French)!
Offers adapted to everyone
Trainers
Coaches, instructors and staff play an essential educational role. Whether they are volunteers or wish to make it their profession, the National Technical Department offers them a range of training courses combining pedagogy, education and performance. This offer is open to newcomers and new practices: handicap football, urban football, Futsal, etc.
Managers
The "Parcours Fédéral de Formation des Dirigeants", designed by the FFF and IFF, enables volunteer leaders to develop their skills in managing the association, administrative, financial and staff aspects of their structure. This plan is aimed at everyone, especially women, who, since the 2017-2018 season have also been supported by the "Club of 100 Women Leaders".
Referees
The “Direction Technique de l’Arbitrage” provides the necessary training to evolve in various levels of competition from amateur to professional status. These courses, both practical and theoretical, proposes a specialisation in certain area (assistant referee, for example) or practical skills (Futsal, Beach Soccer).
Physicians
Created in 2016 by the Medical Department, the inter-university diploma (IUD) "Pathologies du football - Pierre Rochcongar" trains the medical profession in managing injuries specifically related to football, both amateur and professional. In addition to physicians, massage therapists who have been practising in a national club for at least three years, or at the FFF, can also follow this specialised training.
Employees of the governing bodies
The "Certificate in Football Management" (CFM, UEFA Certificate) course is open to employees of the governing bodies. Launched in 2010, the aim of this project is to train staff in six key areas: football organisation; strategic management and performance management; operational management; football marketing and partnerships; internal and external communication (media and public relations); and event and volunteer management.
L’INSTITUT DE FORMATION DU FOOTBALL (IFF)
Created in 2009, the IFF is the training body of the French Football Federation. It defines and implements a global training project which is divided into three areas:
1. Professional training of coaches, through 4 professional certificates and a state diploma (information to be found here, link to be updated).
2. General training courses offered in a catalogue renew each year and are intended for men and women, FFF members and non-members, leaders, coaches, full-time staff and volunteers working in clubs, districts and leagues.
3. The “Parcours Fédéral de Formation des Dirigeant(e)s”, comprising a dozen modules specifically designed to meet the needs of club, district and league leaders and offered throughout the country.
Key dates
2009, the birth of the IFF
The French Football Federation creates the “Institut de Formation du Football (IFF)”. Its missions: to organise and coordinate all federal training activities for coaches, managers, referees, volunteers and full-time football staff (members or not).
2012, a pioneering Federation
The FFF becomes the first sports federation to propose its own diplomas - known as “Titres à finalité professionnelle (TFP)” - recognised and issued by the State. It delegates its organisation to the IFF. The “Centres interrégionaux de formation (CIF)” created in 2013 propose these diplomas at the regional level. They were renamed “Instituts régionaux de formation du football (IR2F)” in 2016. Thanks to these structures, the IFF has been able to expand its activities over the years.
2016, creation of the « Parcours Fédéral de Formation des Dirigeants »
With its 250,000 licensed managers, the FFF wanted to offer a training course dedicated to managers and volunteers to support them in their missions within the clubs. The Federal Executive Training Course recognizes three challenges: the support and structuring of the clubs of tomorrow, the standardization of training throughout the country, and the recruitment of new executives and the retention of those already in place.
2019, apprenticeship training...
In the year of its tenth anniversary, the IFF became the “Centre de Formation des Apprentis (CFA)” for football professions. The next step in the institute’s future, which, from the 2019-2020 season and in collaboration with six Regional Football Training Institutes (IR2F), will be organising the football coaching certificate and the football coach's certificate through apprenticeship.
…already ten years!
The Institut de Formation du Football (IFF), created in 2009 by the French Football Federation, celebrated its tenth anniversary on Friday December 13, 2019. Major players in football were present for this occasion such as Brigitte HENRIQUES, Marc DEBARBAT, Hubert FOURNIER and Guy STEPHAN.
Three round tables led this ceremony around the theme of thinking about training in the face of the challenges for football, clubs and tomorrow’s society. The IFF is looking to the future and will continue to grow in 2020.
Key figures
4,090
Leaders trained since 2016-2017.
6,692
Federal Coaching Diplomas since 2013-2014.
40,853
Hours of coach training carried out at the national level (IFF) in 2018-2019.
Les instituts régionaux de formation du football (IR2F)
The IR2F, which replaced the “Centres Interrégionaux de Formation (CIF)” in 2016, are the League training centres. Their main mission is the organization and development of training activities at the regional level, both for coaches, managers and referees. The IFF, as a federal training body, is responsible for coordinating the activities of the “Instituts Régionaux de Formation du Football (IR2F)” at the local level.
Find your structure
The training catalogue
The FFF and the IFF provide football players with an online platform that lists all the training courses. It outlines the objectives, programme and teaching resources used, as well as the details for registering: organisation, duration, dates and location of the next sessions.
Frequent questions
- Who are the trainers?
IFF and IR2F call upon different profiles of trainers depending on the sessions proposed and their specialisation. These trainers can be :
- Resource persons from the French Football Federation, participating in the design and development of the training courses provided. They can be National Coaches and Technical Advisors of the FFF (technical training) or some of its employees specialized in their field (legal, financial, marketing ... etc).
- Occasional trainers with recognised special skills in their field
- Training providers who have responded qualitatively to IFF calls for tender or who have been the subject of a comparative study
- How do I register for a training course?
Training for coaches :
The IFF manages and receives registration for level 6 training (DES, BEFF, BEPF), specialised certificates and level 6 continuing education. You can register directly for the course you are interested in by visiting (here link site). You will find all the necessary information there.
The Federal Football Certificates (SBB), supplementary modules, vocational and continuing education at levels 4 and 5 (BMF, BEF) are managed directly by the Regional Leagues. You will find the same training outline on their website, and who you may contact directly for further information.
- What is included in the cost of the training?
- Training fees: invoiced by the IFF or IR2F, they correspond to the cost of the courses followed by the trainee.
- Additional costs: these are not included in the price on the registration forms or in the catalogue. It is therefore necessary to add them to the overall training budget. These costs correspond to food, accommodation and travel.