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:

  1. Effective communication
  2. Positioning and movement
  3. Penalty kick and free kick management
  4. Managing re-starts
  5. Advantage
  6. Managing players
  7. Recognising and dealing with foul challenges
  8. Cautioning and sending-off procedure
  9. Offside
  10. Dealing with substitutions
  11. 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.

The course consists of the following sessions, all of which must be attended:

Date  Session Time
Monday 25th July 2016 Introduction & Distribution of Course Materials 18:30 - 21:30
Sunday 7th August 2016 Tuition & Evaluation of Law Knowledge (indoor & outdoor) 09:30 - 17:00
Monday 8th August 2016 Tuition (indoor only) 18:30 - 21:30 
Sunday 14th August 2016 Tuition and Evaluation of Refereeing Skills (indoor & outdoor) 09:30 - 17:00
Monday 15th August 2016 Safeguarding Children Workshop) ** Subject to numbers / exemption  18:30 - 21:30

** To be exempt, candidates MUST be aged 16 and over already in possession of a Certificate in Safeguarding Children obtained through The FA. This Workshop is also subject to a minimum of 12 candidates requiring a Certificate.

Fees - what do I pay?

 

Price Option

Age

Fee Payable

Safeguarding Children Training

Option A

14-15

£85.00

I already have a Safeguarding Children Certificate

Option B

14-15

£95.00

I do not have a Safeguarding Children Certificate

Option C

16+

£85.00

I already have a Safeguarding Children Certificate

Option D

16+

£110.00

I do not have a Safeguarding Children Certificate

All candidates must undertake training in Safeguarding Children unless they have already done so with The FA. Safeguarding Children training for candidates aged 14 and 15 is undertaken using a web-based system, a link for which will be provided at the introduction evening. This training must be completed prior to the first tuition session on Sunday 7th August 2016.

Candidates aged 16 and above if they wish to be involved in youth (U18) football on a regular basis are required to complete an FA CRC (Criminal Records Check) only if they don't already have an enhanced disclosure certificate obtained through The FA. 

The cost of a CRC check is currently £10.00, payable online once your documents have been verified after the first tuition session. It is not included in the course fee. At the introduction evening, you will receive a document explaining how an application is completed. The documents requested by the online system should be brought to the first tuition session on Sunday 7th August 2016.

Course Information:  

  • Minimum Age: 14 (at the start of the course)
  • Course Duration: 18 hours plus 5 games (11v11 or 9v9, not mini-soccer or small-sided football)
  • Pre-course Requirements: Reading the Laws of The Game, (a copy may be provided, subject to availability), which can be found in the referees section of the WRCFA website and using an interactive DVD provided at the introduction evening.
  • Who is it for: Ideally suited to those wanting to become a referee involved in the 9 or 11 a side game both in Youth and Adult football.
  • Course aims and objectives: This course will provide additional knowledge of the laws of the game as well as developing the practical skills required to be a football referee.

Course Content:

The course is run over 6 modules including the completion of 5 matches as a trainee referee.

The course contains both theoretical and practical elements and is run over two full days and 2 evenings (excluding attendance at the Safeguarding Children Workshop, where applicable).

Module 1 - Introduction

This module will introduce some key aspects in the following:

  • Laws of the Game
  • Course Requirements & Structure
  • Distribution of study packs, other course materials and SCW / CRC information

Module 2 - Laws of the Game Knowledge Test & Tuition (indoor & outdoor)

This module will introduce some key aspects in the following:

  • Practical Refereeing
  • Building on knowledge of the Laws of the Game

Module 3 - Tuition (indoor only)

This module will introduce some key aspects in the following:

  • Misconduct Analysis
  • Report Writing 

Module 4 - Tuition and Evaluation of Refereeing Skills

This module will develop some key aspects in the following:

  • Managing Match Situations
  • Evaluating Refereeing Capabilities in live situations 

Module 5 - Practical refereeing

This module requires each candidate to referee 5 games of 9v9 or 11v11 football as Level 9, trainee referees.

Module 6 - Laws of the Game Examination

This module requires those who have completed the required minimum 5 games to undertake a final examination that, if successful, confirms their qualification as a referee and re-classifies them as Level 7 (if over 16) or Level 8 (if aged 14 or 15). The examination will take place some 3 or 4 months after completion of module 4 (the actual date to be confirmed).



Please note to access this online application, you will need a FAN (FA Number).

If have ever been involved in football or taken an FA Qualification, it is highly likely you already have a FAN. If you do not know your FAN or password, or need to create a FAN, please use our FAN FINDER tool by clicking to register/retrieve your details.

Please be aware that if you already have a FAN, and create another FAN, this could cause delays in being confirmed on the course and any qualifications being awarded.

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