FA REFEREES’ COURSE INFORMATION
Overview
The FA Referees’ Course provides an introduction to officiating 11v11 and 9v9 football. The course will introduce learners to The Laws of Association Football and their application, delivered through theory and practical elements and focussing on the knowledge, skills and attributes required to operate safely and effectively in grass roots football.
Course Structure
Unit 1: Pre-course learning (2 hours)
Unit 2: On-course theory and practical (7 hours)
Unit 3: On-course theory and practical (3 hours)
Unit 4: On-course theory and practical (7 hours)
Unit 5: Referee five matches
Unit 6: On-course final assessment (2 hours)
Course Content
Through a mixture of theory and practical activity, learners will cover:
- Effective communication
- Positioning and movement
- Penalty kick and free kick management
- Managing re-starts
- Advantage
- Managing players
- Recognising and dealing with foul challenges
- Cautioning and sending-off procedure
- Offside
- Dealing with substitutions
- Dealing with injuries
Minimum Age
Learners must be 14 or over on the course start date.
Safeguarding Requirements
Before refereeing their five matches (unit 5), leaners must have complied with the FA’s safeguarding requirements.
Qualification
Upon successful completion of units 1-6, learners will be classified as either a Level Y referee (if aged 14 or 15) or a Level 7 referee (if aged 16 or over). The FA refereeing qualification is awarded only when all 6 units have been successfully completed.
You MUST have completed the "Online Guide to the Laws of the Game" module of the course and the "Online Safeguarding Course" before booking onto the face-to-face training. These can both be done via the links below.
Online Guide to the Laws of the Game Module Link
https://www.shropshirefa.com/referees/development-and-courses/the-fa-referees-course
Safeguarding Course
If you are aged 14 or 15, please complete the "Safeguarding for ALL" Course.
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/safeguarding-courses
If you are 16 years of age or over, please complete the "The FA Safeguarding Children Course".
https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/safeguarding-courses
Venue: Telford College of Arts & Technology, Haybridge Rd, Wellington, Telford TF1 2NP
Face to Face Course Dates (August 2021)
Friday 6th August 2021 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Sunday 8th August 2021 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Course Fee: £130.00
COURSE DETAILS
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 people aged 14 and over who want to referee mini soccer, 9 v 9 and/or 11 v 11 football.
The course comprises online learning on the Laws of the Game and face to face training. You must complete the online learning before attending the face to face training. You will also need to complete online safeguarding training before attending the face to face training.
Course Content
Online Learning
The online learning has five sections (modules) and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. There are lots of videos to demonstrate how the Laws should be applied, activities to help reinforce the important points and, at the end of each module, there are some questions to test what you’ve learned.
The online learning can be accessed at https://falearning.thefa.com/course/view.php?id=1804
If you are under the age of 16, you might find the information at the refereeing help centre useful when logging in.
Module 1 – Before the Match
This module covers the referee’s pre-match responsibilities and includes ensuring players’ kit is safe, how to carry out the coin toss and what a referee needs to take to a match with them.
Module 2 – Signals and Communication
This module contains short video clips (GIFs) which show every signal the referee and assistant referee might give during a match.
Module 3 – ‘Getting it Right’
This module deals with foul challenges, violent conduct, handball, unsporting behaviour, DOGSO offences and advantage. It uses video clips from football at different levels to show how the referee should manage common scenarios.
Module 4 – Offside
This module also uses video clips, this time to demonstrate what is and isn’t offside and how the referee should manage offside offences. The clips, like those used in the ‘Getting it Right’ module, are voiced over to explain the decisions the referees make.
Module 5 – Managing Restarts and Set-Pieces
This module covers restarts and set-pieces, including goal kicks, corner kicks, throw-ins, free kicks and penalty kicks. It uses both video and illustrations to clarify what players must do at each restart and set-piece and explains what the referee should do if players don’t comply with the Law.
Face to Face Training
There is 11 hours of face to face training (normally one evening, followed by a full day), which mixes training room work with practical activity on a pitch. Key messages from the online learning are reinforced throughout. The training room work includes:
• Fun, interactive quizzes
• How to establish rapport and build relationships with players and coaches
• Recognising and dealing with foul challenges and handball
• Managing offside
• Dealing with inappropriate behaviour
• Managing players
On the pitch, you will have the opportunity to turn your knowledge into skills through refereeing game based scenarios. You will practise:
• Communicating decisions
• Cautioning and sending off techniques
• Managing the kick off, free kicks, penalty kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins
• Positioning in open play and at restarts
• Being an assistant referee
Qualifying as a Referee
To qualify as a referee, you must also referee five games after you have attended the face to face training. You will then receive a certificate and an FA Referee badge.
You be supported through those five games by your County Football Association (CFA). As you continue your refereeing career, you will then be able to access further training opportunities, both online and face to face.
