Referee bodycam trial to continue in 2024-25 season

At the start of the 2023-24 season, the FA was the first national association to introduce a new bodycam trial in adult grassroots football, after permission was granted by the International Football Association Board [IFAB], who oversee the laws of the game.

The trial will now be expanded to an additional four selected adult grassroots football leagues in England for the 2024-25 season, so we checked in with Ross Joyce, our National Referee Manager and grassroots referee Sophie Wood, to hear how it’s all going.

Hi Ross, can you tell us more about the expansion of the bodycam trial?

During the 2023-24 season, we successfully trialled the use of bodycams on referees in adult grassroots football in four areas of the country: Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Essex and Worcestershire.

From the 2024-25 season, we will be expanding this to four more areas; London, Surrey, Nottinghamshire and West Riding. We are now working in partnership with the local leagues in these areas and providing an additional 100 referees with the support, education and training required to use the bodycams effectively in approved fixtures.

Can you remind us how the body cam recording process actually works?

The bodycam is worn on the front of the referee’s shirt and whilst always being on, the bodycams are not filming and storing up footage throughout the course of the game.

If a player becomes angry or aggressive during the game, the referee can activate the camera by pressing the button to start the recording, at which point the player would see themselves on the screen. The technology also allows us to capture the 30 seconds prior to activation. The devices are encrypted and any footage is uploaded to a secure FA IT network. If there is an incident, the referee would report the game to us along with the details, and we will then extract and review the footage, which can be used alongside the report of the referee.

What has the initial feedback been from the areas involved in the trial to date?

Initial feedback has been very positive. We've had roughly 1400 games delivered so far across the trial areas since going live in February 2023. Referees tell us that they feel safer, and they've got the bodycam as a safety net if required. They have the bodycam there if they need it, but it also gives them that bit of comfort and confidence that they can do the job without them.

Across these fixtures, we've had no activations of the bodycams to date, which is a real positive. That said, when we look at the number of serious cases of misconduct towards match officials nationally, the percentage is very low, so this doesn’t come as a huge surprise. However, we are always vigilant and will continue to do everything we can to protect our referees, who are the lifeblood of our game.

So the cameras haven’t been activated. Do you see this as a success?

The fact that we've had no activations is really telling and a positive start. We will look to build on this in the second year of the trial, doubling up on the number of games which we will analyse closely. The early signs are that we're in a good place which is why we're rolling out the trial to an additional four leagues this season.

The real success for us though is that referee numbers are at a record high, with over 37,000 registered match officials across the country this season (a 15 per cent increase on last season). Retention levels are also positive as 78 per cent of referees who refereed last season have re-registered this season, which is the highest proportion we have retained since we started collecting retention data.

We have a clear plan through our refereeing strategy to ensure the safety and continued enjoyment of referees at all levels by reducing abuse and making referees feel truly valued on and off the pitch. Our referees officiate matches up and down the country every week, and the vast majority have a positive experience and really enjoy what they do. Everyone must play their part and respect and value our referees, because without them, there is no game.

Could we see referee bodycams being used as standard across the English grassroots game in the future?

Firstly, I think the introduction of the bodycam trial is a really innovative piece of work and the first phase has been very well received.

In terms of next steps, our focus now is on implementing the second season of the trial. At the end of the season, we will be looking at the insight and feedback from clubs, match officials and players to properly understand the impact the trial is having on behaviours and attitudes on the pitch. We can then present this back to IFAB to show our evidence from our findings and key recommendations for the future.

Sophie Wood, a grassroots referee involved in the trial from North Riding FA, also spoke to us about her experiences in wearing the bodycam.

Hi Sophie, so you’ve been using the bodycam for a season now. How has your experience been?

It has been a really good experience overall. All of the players have taken to the trial really well and it’s become the norm in the league that I referee in. Generally, I’ve found behaviour has been much better and I haven’t had any incidents where I’ve felt the need to activate the camera. The players are aware that if their actions cross a certain threshold then this will be captured on video.

Have you noticed an improvement in attitude towards you as the referee during matches?

I always make it clear to the players at the start of each game that I’ll be turning the camera on if I feel my safety is being compromised. I’m not there to stop them from playing the game they want to play, but we do expect certain standards of behaviour and respect.

We’re not there to tell players what they can and can’t say, as football is an emotional game and one we all love. But wearing the bodycam has helped spread awareness of why the trial is going ahead.

Players have been more aware of the impact that poor behaviour has on referees and whilst I haven’t experienced any incidents of abuse or threatening behaviour myself, it has made the players think more about respect and how they conduct themselves on the pitch.

You’ve been refereeing for ten years now. What have been the benefits for you personally being involved in officiating?

I always say that taking the introduction to refereeing course at 15 years old changed the trajectory of my life. I’ve now been officiating for ten years and learnt so many life skills that have benefited me through my studies and into my career outside of football. I’ve learnt how to communicate effectively, increased my confidence and built a strong resilience, and I’ve also made so many good friends along the way.

What would you say to anyone thinking about giving refereeing a go?

Just go for it. There are so many positives that come from being a referee. You’ll join an amazing community of referees who look out for each other and make lots of new friends. Personally, I’ve found the network of female referees to be brilliant and we’re seeing more and more girls coming along to networking events which is great for the future of the game.

Not everyone has to have their sights set on becoming a professional referee either. I love refereeing grassroots football and contributing to the game in the middle of the pitch – the skills I’ve learnt have been invaluable. I’d encourage anyone who is interested to give it a go!

For anyone interested in refereeing, you can check out our online learning module which will give you a basic understanding of the laws of the game and refereeing in the first instance.

And if you want to go further and obtain referee qualifications, there are face-to-face sessions available around the country through County FAs, available to anybody with an interest. Please contact your local County FA for further information.