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.


This course is open to both male and female candidates. The English language will be used. Relevant literature will be supplied but candidates should bring a pen and paper.

Candidates are required to complete 6 hours of pre-course study. Units 1, 3, and 6 (see below) are classroom based and casual clothing should be worn.


Candidates aged 17 and over will need to attend the three hour Safeguarding Children Best Practice Workshop on Monday 19th October at Surrey FA Headquarters starting at 7pm. Candidates aged 14, 15 or 16 at the date of Unit 3 do not need to attend the Workshop: instead, they are required to complete a check sheet after viewing an online “Safeguarding Children Guide” for which the link will be sent to you.

In units 2 & 4, this will be outside practical work and appropriate Clothing and footwear must be worn (this to include Shin Pads) candidates are required to referee Five 11-a-side or 9-a-side games within four months of attending Unit 4.

Candidates successfully completing all the Units will be registered as fully-qualified Level 7 (Junior) Referees, unless they are aged 14 or 15, when they will be registered as Level 8 (Youth) Referees

The course comprises:-

Pre-Course Study: Unit 1

Candidates will be sent a “Laws of the Game” booklet, a “Learn the Laws” CD/ROM and a Pre-Course Study Pack requiring completion before start of the course


Unit 2

Practical Referee Training & A CRC check (if required)

Saturday 24th October (9.00am-5.00pm)

Unit 3

Law 12 Fouls & Misconduct

Tuesday 27th October(7.00pm-9.30pm)

Unit 4

Practical Referee Training

Saturday 31st October (9am–5pm)

Unit 5

Referee five 11-a-side or 9-a-side games

Information to suitable Leagues will be supplied and mentors can be arranged if required

Unit 6

FA Examination & Call back unit of competition of 5 games

(minimum 2.5 hours)

TBC



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