England Football Learning To Run UEFA B Fitness Diploma Pilot Course

England Football Learning has announced they will be running a pilot course for their new UEFA B Fitness Diploma in April 2026, ahead of a full national launch in the 2026/27 season.

The UEFA B Fitness Diploma is a first of its kind course designed for fitness coaches working, or aspiring to work, in high performance environments across men’s and women’s professional football. This qualification will equip fitness coaches with the knowledge and practical skills to develop football-specific fitness within the modern game.

The pilot course will consist of four modules focusing on the demands of the game, training process and monitoring, developing game speed for football and health and wellbeing for players. Each module will include digital content, a series of webinars and face-to-face practical days. Throughout the course there will also be two in situ club visits.

All face-to-face learning will be held at St. George’s Park on the following dates:

Module One – Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May 2026,

Module Two – Thursday 18 June and Friday 19 June 2026

Module Three – Thursday 23 July and Friday 24 July 2026

Module Four – Friday 16 October 2026.

England Football Learning places high importance on preparing coaches to support player well-being and performance at the elite level, and the UEFA B Fitness Diploma will ensure they have the tools to deliver in professional settings. The course will enhance learners’ understanding of how to plan, deliver and evaluate fitness training that aligns with the technical and tactical demands of football.

The programme emphasises collaborative working with technical coaches to co-design integrated training practices, while developing competence in player monitoring, profiling, and data-informed decision-making. Graduates will be able to apply effective coaching methods to support performance, player development and long-term physical development.

The course is open to people who have a sport science degree or related discipline and either have the UEFA C Diploma or have seven years (or longer) experience as a full-time fitness coach. Candidates must actively be coaching within a club.

There are 16 places available on the UEFA B Fitness Diploma pilot, with applications now open until 23rd February 2026 via this link.

To find out more about the course or apply for a place on the pilot, visit the UEFA B Fitness Diploma course page on the England Football Learning website.

Stacey Emmonds, Senior Lead for Performance Education, commented: “We are excited to launch the UEFA B Fitness Diploma, a qualification we believe can have a meaningful and lasting impact across both the men’s and women’s game.

“This qualification is designed to support practitioners in the game by deepening their understanding of how to prepare players for the modern demands of football, while placing player health and wellbeing at the centre of performance.

“By combining scientific evidence with applied practice, the diplomas aim to enhance performance outcomes while protecting player health and supporting long-term player development.”

Image: The FA/England Football Learning