The FIFA Women’s World Cup produced record breaking numbers commercially and has inspired many females across the county to get involved in sport. 

One avenue in the beautiful game is refereeing, so if you are coming towards the end of your playing career and want to stay involved in football, or you are just looking for a new hobby that will challenge you, refereeing may be the answer.

The refereeing journey is an exciting one that gives you a physically and mentally challenging experience, it is accessible for all and it is never too late to get involved!

Sussex-based referee Katie Wilde has been on an incredible refereeing journey, which has seen her climb the refereeing ladder after qualifying in 2007. She is now a Level 5 Senior County Referee and had been involved in officiating on FA competitions such as The Emirates FA Cup and The Buildbase FA Vase. She now she wants to inspire others to follow in her footsteps…

Katie said: “Refereeing provides a different perspective of football, which can deepen your appreciation and understanding of the beautiful game.

“It is a unique physical and psychological challenge, which varies with every match - no game is ever the same.

Katie first got into refereeing back in 2006 when she was a Sports Sabbatical Officer at the University of Hertfordshire and flourished in taking the opportunity to develop her skills.

“Irrespective of the level or format, refereeing is demanding however, I personally enjoy the opportunity to develop my skills through exposure to practical situations.

“Development from this applied experience can be transferred to other settings meaning the benefits from refereeing are wide-ranging.  It helps your personal development and allows you to learn about yourself. 

Katie hung up her playing boots through injury in 2009, and that provided, in her words, “the perfect opportunity to focus wholeheartedly on refereeing,” and she now wants to encourage more people do the same instead of giving up the game completely.

“I would actively encourage anyone to take up the whistle regardless of their previous experience or involvement in football. 

“Sussex County FA have an excellent induction scheme and post-qualification support network which can help individuals reach their full potential.”

In addition to refereeing mainstream football, Katie is also now a Futsal referee and an FA Referee Tutor delivering referee courses and in-service training events on our behalf!

To find out how you can get into refereeing in Sussex please contact Referees:

Referees
T: 01903 768573
E: Referees@SussexFA.com