Coin toss

The FA Referee Course

Course Overview

Minimum Age: 14

Price: £150

Leading To: Registered Referee Status (either level 8 Youth Referee or Level 7 Junior County Referee)

View available dates

COURSE 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.

Steps to becoming a qualified referee...

STEP 1: Expression of Interest

Completing the Expression of Interest form is the first step of your referee training. Once you have completed this step you can continue to complete STEP 2 and STEP 3.
Expression of Interest

STEP 2: Online Learning

Learning the Laws of the Game online is the second step of your referee training. You will be contacted by the CFA via email once you have completed this online learning with further information about future steps. You must complete the online learning before attending the face to face training...
Learn the Laws of the Game online

STEP 3: Safeguarding Training (14-15)

Online safeguarding training is the third step of your referee training. You will be contacted by the CFA via email with further information regarding this step once you have completed STEP 2: Online Learning. Those aged 14 or 15 must complete the online safeguarding course before attending the face to face training...
Online Safeguarding Training Course

Step 3: Safeguarding Training (16+)

Online safeguarding training is the third step of your referee training. You will be contacted by the CFA via email with further information regarding this step once you have completed STEP 2: Online Learning. Those aged 16+ must complete this Safeguarding Children Course before attending the face to face training...
Online Safeguarding Children Course

STEP 4: DBS Certifications (16+)

Disclosure and Barring System (DBS) certification is the fourth step of your referee training. You will be contacted by the CFA via email with further information regarding this step once you have completed STEP 2: Online Learning. Ages 14-15 are not required to complete this certification/step. Those aged 16+ must complete the DBS certification before attending the face to face training...
I've not received details of DBS Certification

STEP 5: Face to Face Training

The 11 hours of face to face training is the fifth step of your referee training. You will be contacted by the CFA via email with further information regarding this step after you have completed your online learning, safeguarding training and DBS certification (16+)...
I've not received details of face to face training

STEP 6: Five Games

Refereeing five games is the final step of your referee training. To fully qualify as a referee, you must referee five games after you have completed your online learning, safeguarding training, DBS certification (16+) and attended the face to face training. You will then receive a certificate and an FA Referee badge.
I'm not being appointed to games

Get In Touch

Phone: 01903 768573

Email: Referees@SussexFA.com