The FA Referee Course is designed to equip new referees with the key skills and knowledge they will need to be able to referee grassroots football matches safely and effectively.
It is for anyone aged 14 years old and older who want to referee within mini soccer (5v5 & 7v7), 9v9 and/or 11v11 football.
The course comprises online learning on the Laws of the Game and face-to-face training. We request for all the online learning to be completed before attending the face-to-face training.
Mandatory Online Learning (Pre-Course)
Guide to the Laws of the Game
CLICK HERE to access The Laws of the Game learning modules
Safeguarding Training
CLICK HERE to access Safeguarding for All course
Safeguarding training must also be completed prior to your attendance on our FA Referee Course - however, if you have an in-date 'Safeguarding for All' and/or 'Safeguarding Children' England Football qualification already, then you will not have to re-complete the safeguarding training until it expires.
All FA Referees must have in-date Safeguarding training - in order to officiate within affiliated football.
Please note, this must be completed via the FAN account of the individual attending the course - and not a Parent/Guardian's FAN account. If the online learning modules aren't showing on the FAN provided, then your booking request may be rejected.
Online Learning Support for U18s
Please use the link below to access England Football Learning's guidance for anyone aged under 18 years old - who wishes to access and complete the online learning modules via their own FAN accounts.
Just to note, effective immediately, the FA Support team will no longer transfer course completions from a parent or guardian’s account to a child’s FAN. This applies to all free online courses and is necessary to protect young people, ensure accurate learner records, and maintain compliance with safeguarding standards.
The FA Referee Course Face-to-Face Training Days
Minimum Age
All learners must be aged 14 years old or older on the start date of your course booking.
Those booked onto a course that they are too young to attend can have their booking cancelled by Berks & Bucks FA - as referenced in our booking terms and conditions.
Face-to-Face Training
DAY 1 & 2 Venue: Leon Leisure Centre, Fern Grove, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 3HQ.
In-Person Course Training Dates | Start | Finish | Venue |
DAY 1 - Thursday 25 June 2026 | 19:30 | 21:30 | Leon Leisure Centre |
DAY 2 - Sunday 28 June 2026 | 09:00 | 17:00 | Leon Leisure Centre |
Before booking onto an FA Referee Course - please click here to view our Terms & Conditions
DAY 3
- After attending both DAY 1 & 2 of the FA Referee Course (as well as completing the online learning via your own FAN account), you will be registered as a Trainee Referee and sent further details on the next steps of the course.
- All Trainee Referees must referee five affiliated football matches, plus complete further online training courses, in order to attend the final date of their FA Referee Course (DAY 3).
- For the 2026-27 Season, all Trainee Referees who have logged their five trainee match records and reported them to us via the Centre Circle app - plus completed the FA's new course content (only available to Trainee Referees) - will be able to select which DAY 3 event they would like to attend.
- Our DAY 3 events will be ran throughout the football season, with further details of each DAY 3 to be sent to the Trainee Referee by BBFA Refereeing team - once the learner is eligible to attend.
- Once you have attended your DAY 3 of the course, you will be registered as Youth Referee/Level 7 Referee.
Any questions or queries, then feel free to email our BBFA Refereeing team via [email protected]
