The FA Referee Course
Course Overview
Minimum Age: 14
Price: £125
Leading To: Registered Referee Status (either level 8 Youth Referee or Level 7 Junior County Referee)
View available datesCOURSE 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.
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.
This module contains short video clips (GIFs) which show every signal the referee and assistant referee might give during a match.
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.
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.
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.
UPCOMING COURSES
Please see below our upcoming courses
• The FDC Dates: Friday 14th July 2023, 6pm – 9pm and Saturday 15th July 2023, 9am - 3pm
Booking Link: http://eventspace.thefa.com/norfolkfa/event/referee_course_14072023
• Great Yarmouth Town FC Dates: Thursday 27th July 2023, 6pm – 9pm and Sunday 30th July 2023, 9am - 3pm
Booking Link: http://eventspace.thefa.com/norfolkfa/event/referee_course_27072023
• Fakenham Town FC Dates: Friday 18th August 2023, 6pm – 9pm and Sunday 20th August 2023, 9am - 3pm
Booking Link: http://eventspace.thefa.com/norfolkfa/event/referee_course_18082023
• The FDC Dates: Tuesday 22nd August 2023, 9am – 2pm and Wednesday 23rd August 2023, 9am - 2pm
Booking Link: http://eventspace.thefa.com/norfolkfa/event/referee_course_22082023
• The FDC (Female Only) Dates: Wednesday 30th August 2023, 9am – 6:30pm
Booking Link: http://eventspace.thefa.com/norfolkfa/event/referee_course_female_only_30082023
To book on, please click the booking links, email Harvey.Newstead@NorfolkFA.com or call T: 01603 704050 (Ext.1; Opt.1; Opt.3) M: 07467806248
If you cannot attend one of the courses above, please fill in our Expression of Interest Form.
Minimum Age
Learners must be 14 or over on the course start date.
Online Requirements
It is a requirement before you attend face to face training that you have completed the Online Guide to the Laws of the Game and the appropriate online safeguarding course which can be found below.
When completing the Online Modules, please ensure you login in using the FAN of the person completing the course not a parent/carer FAN. If you are unsure of your FAN please get in contact.
Course 1: Online Guide to the Laws of the Game Modules
The online learning can be accessed at https://falearning.thefa.com/course/view.php?id=1804
Please complete all 5 Modules as well as the survey at the bottom of the learning page.
If you are under the age of 16, you might find the information at the link https://help.thefa.com/support/solutions/7000014796 useful when logging in.
Course 2: Safeguarding Requirements
Referees who are 14/15 years old can
- Complete the free 1 hour Safeguarding For All LINK HERE (valid for two years)
All other Referees who are 16+ can
- Complete the free 1 hour Safeguarding For All LINK HERE (valid for two years)
OR
- Complete the new Online Safeguarding Children Course (£30) LINK HERE (valid for two years with continual free recertification)
Qualification
Upon successful completion of the Online Guide to the Laws of the Game, the 11 hours face to face course and 5 games, learners will receive a certificate as well as being classified as either a Level Y Referee (if aged 14 or 15) or a Level 7 referee (if aged 16 or above).
Course Fee: £135
The Course Fee Includes:
- Includes all training modules
- 1st Season FA Referee Registration
- Norfolk FA Badge
- Green Armband for U18's
- Equipment: red & yellow cards, notebook & pencil, whistle & assistant referee flags
- Opportunity to join 3 New Referee Support Sessions across the season
- Mentor visits
- Promotion opportunities immediately upon qualification
Referee Kit (Shirt, shorts, socks) are not included and will need to be purchased yourself.
It is a requirement before you attend face to face training that you have completed the Online Guide to the Laws of the Game and the appropriate online safeguarding course which can be found above.
Available Dates
Unfortunately there are no available dates.
Important Information
We adhere to a strict cancellation policy and by enrolling onto our course you agree to have read and agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Get In Touch
By Phone: 01603 704050
(9am - 5pm Monday - Friday)
By Email: