Once you have qualified as a referee and started officiating in Adult football, you are able to apply for promotion through The FA's Referee Development structure. To gain promotion, set criteria must be followed, and your success will be based upon assessments of your refereeing performance.

Further information:

• The current 'promotion' season runs from 1st July 2020 to 31st May 2021
• The next 'promotion' season will run in conjunction with the football season, i.e. 1st July 2021 to 31st May 2022
• Details of how to apply for promotion will be published in the Referee's Bulletin in April 2021
• Applications for promotion must be received by 31st May 2021
  
  

  To apply for promotion from Level 7 to Level 6 an applicant must have officiated as a referee in a minimum of 20 games during the last ‘promotion’ season, 70% (14) of these must be in Adult football

Upon fully completing the FA Referees Course, match officials become Level Y (Youth) referees if under the age of 16, or Level 7 referees if over 16. This means you are qualified to officiate local grassroots football.

How many games do I need to complete before applying for promotion?

To apply for promotion from Level 7 to Level 6 a referee must have officiated as a referee in a minimum of 20 games in one football season and is required to:

• Referee a minimum of 20 games during the promotion season, 70% (14) of these must be in Adult football
• Re-register with Norfolk FA using the Whole Game System by 10th June each year
• Attend at least one of the five scheduled CPD Events in the summer and pass the Assessment of Knowledge Test on the Laws of the Game
• Attend a Promotion Seminar organised by the County FA and pass the appropriate National FA test on the Laws of the Game (held in June)
• Receive a minimum of 3 match observations, all of which must be on Adult football
• Be pro-active in their attitude to administrative duties, including a prompt response to all appointments, the submission of closed dates to the Referee Appointments Officer, and the submission of discipline reports via the Whole Game System within the correct time period

For Level 6 referees similar conditions to the above apply, except referees must also act as an assistant referee on a minimum of at least 5 games during the same period and be observed as a Level 6 on a minimum of 3 occasions.

Level 5 referees may then be eligible for promotion to more senior Leagues and Competitions.

These promotions are decided on by The FA after the County FA nominates those Level 5’s who meet the criteria set. This would involve refereeing in a 'Supply League', and being an assistant referee in a 'Contributory League'.

Promotion to Level 3 would lead you to referee on a 'Contributory League' and further promotion would take you on to a 'Panel League' and ultimately, on to the 'National List of Referees' and a full time contract with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)