Course Schedule

Venue: Woking College, Rydens Way, Woking, GU22 9DL

Session 1: Friday 11th March (18:30 - 21:30)

Session 2: Saturday 12th March (09:00 - 17:00)

Overview

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, 9v9 and/or 11v11 football. 

The course comprises online learning on the Laws of the Game, face to face training and a requirement to referee 5 games. 

You must complete the online learning and appropriate FA Safeguarding Course before attending the face to face training, at least 7 days prior to the start of your first session. Failure to complete may result in your place being removed.

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 http://falearning.thefa.com/course/view.php?id=1804 If you are under the age of 16, you might find the information at the referee help centre useful when logging in.  

Face to Face Training

There is 11 hours of face to face training, 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 will be supported through those five games by Surrey FA. As you continue your refereeing career, you will then be able to access further training opportunities, both online and face to face. To see what Surrey FA have previously offered, have a look at Surrey FA The Fifth Official. 

Aged 14 or 15?

Part of the FA Referee Course is a Safeguarding Children Course. As someone who is under the age of 16, you will need to complete the FA Safeguarding For All module. This will need to be completed prior to the face to face elements of your course. You can access the course via the link here > https://falearning.thefa.com/enrol/index.php?id=1774. 

Aged 16 or over?

Part of the FA Referee Course is a Safeguarding Children Course. As someone who is aged 16 or over, you will need to the complete the FA Safeguarding Children Course. This will need to be completed prior to the face to face elements of your course. You can access the course via the link here > https://thebootroom.thefa.com/learning/qualifications/fa-safeguarding-children-workshop.

Additionally, you will also need to complete a DBS in order to referee youth football. You will need to complete the online element of this before the start of your course so that there is the option to verify your documents on the course. You can complete the application process for this by following the guidance document available here > https://bit.ly/3aU1U0x