The FA Referee Course
Course Overview
Minimum Age: 14
Price: £110
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.
Before booking on to a course
You must have completed the ‘Online Guide to the Laws of the Game’. This is a compulsory requirement of the FA Referee Course and is free of charge. In order to access the course you will need to log in with an existing FA account or create a new account. Please ensure that the information on the account is accurate to the learner.
You must have completed the relevant Online Safeguarding training. Please see the details of which course to access below.
Learners who are 14/15 years old - Complete free 1 hour Safeguarding For All (valid for two years)
All other learners who are 16+ - Complete the Online Safeguarding Children Course (£30) (valid for two years with continual free recertification)
If you plan on officiating in youth football (and are aged 16+) you will require an in date FA DBS.
All learners (and parents/guardians of under 18 learners) must also read the 'Course Guide' which you will find below.
All learners who are under the age of 18 must complete and submit a parental consent form at the time of booking.
All learners must book on to the course using their own FAN number and details.
Please access our course guidance document to support under 18's accessing the course and relevant learning.
AVAILABLE COURSE DATES
REF2305 Maltby Academy, Rotherham
Session 1: Wednesday 17th May, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Sunday 21st May, 9:00-17:00
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL
REF2309 SGP Thorncliffe, Sheffield
Session 1: Wednesday 24th May, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Sunday 28th May, 9:00-17:00
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL
REF2306 SGP Thorncliffe, Sheffield
Session 1: Wednesday 21st June, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Sunday 25th June, 9:00-17:00
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL
REF2310 Rossington Main FC, Doncaster
Session 1: Wednesday 5th July, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Sunday 9th July, 9:00-17:00
book your place here
REF2307 Barnsley College, Barnsley
Session 1: Wednesday 19th July, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Saturday 22nd July, 13:00-17:00
Session 3: Saturday 29th July, 13:00-17:00
REF2308 Wickersley School & Sports College, Rotherham
Session 1: Thursday 3rd August, 18:00-21:00
Session 2: Sunday 6th August, 9:15-17:00
book your place here
Guide for Under 18s
A step by step guide for under 18s accessing the course and relevant online learning
Under 18s
All learners aged under 18 must submit a parental consent form at the time of booking.
Course Guide
Operating standards and course terms and conditions for learners
Course Details
Minimum age: 14
Price: £110
Get In Touch
Danny Guest
Education Course Administrator (Part-Time)
07719 028924
Available Dates
Unfortunately there are no available dates.
Under 18s
All learners aged under 18 must submit a parental consent form at the time of booking.
Get In Touch
Danny Guest
Education Course Administrator
(Part-Time)
07719 028924
To apply for an FA DBS please download this form for instructions. Once you have completed this you will need to make an appointment with SHCFA to have your ID documents verified. Please email Safeguarding@Sheffieldfa.com to make an appointment.
Please only book on to a course where you can attend all of the dates.
Please email Support@SheffieldFA.com with your name, DOB and address and we will locate your FAN number.
Your next steps will be explained to you on your course but please click here for further information and guidance