Be Part of the Journey
Give something back to the game you love or remain involved in the game after injury or retirement. Play a vital role in ensuring players enjoy the game and increase participation in the sport. Make new and lasting friends whilst keeping fit and healthy. Refereeing can be a potential career for those who wish to progress to the top.
To get started, enrol on a course with your local County Football Association.
Your Journey as a Referee
What does the course entail?
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.
Please do ensure that you are logged in on your FAN so as to avoid the learning being recorded on someone else’s FAN. You can check this via My Account, or at the top of The FA Guide to the Laws of the Game course page where the name of the person logged in is displayed. Should you be logged in as someone else, please log out and log back in using the email address on your FAN and associated password. If you need any support, please contact us before starting the course.
Module 1 – Before the Match
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.
Module 2 – Signals and Communication
This module contains short video clips (GIFs) which show every signal the referee and assistant referee might give during a match.
Module 3 – ‘Getting it Right’
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.
Module 4 – Offside
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.
Module 5 – Managing Restarts and Set-Pieces
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.
• 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
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.
PGMOL
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) is the organisation responsible for managing and training professional match officials in the top tier competitions in England, from the Premier League to National League, Barclays Womens Super League and Championship.
Reporting Discrimination
Report discrimination in football: Speak up, take action and make a difference
Find out more
Respect the Referee
Show Respect, Support the Referee: A key to a fair and enjoyable game for all.
Find out more
The Referee Recognition Awards 2023
Nominate a referee who’s impressed you this season, and they could carry home one of 12 national awards in the first ever national Referee Recognition Awards!
NOMINATE HERE
Rules & Regulations
Stay Informed, Follow the Rules: Essential for a safe and fair game for all players.
Contact your local CFA
FA Refereeing Strategy: 2023-26
The FA has launched an ambitious new strategy for grassroots refereeing in England, providing a clear direction for the future of officiating over the next three years and beyond.
FIND OUT MORE HERE
Get Started as a Referee - Find a Course
To get started on your journey to be a referee, select your local County Football Association for the list below to view course availability.
Website: www.durhamfa.com
Email: info@durhamfa.com
EAST RIDING FA
Website: www.eastridingfa.com
Email: info@eastridingfa.com
NORTH RIDING FA
Website: www.northridingfa.com
Email: support@northridingfa.com
NORTHUMBERLAND FA
Website: www.northumberlandfa.com
Email: info@northumberlandfa.com
WESTMORLAND FA
Website: www.westmorlandfa.com
Email: info@westmorlandfa.com
WEST RIDING FA
Website: www.westridingfa.com
Email: info@westridingfa.com
Website: www.cumberlandfa.com
Email: info@cumberlandfa.com
CHESHIRE FA
Website: www.cheshirefa.com
Email: info@cheshirefa.com
LANCASHIRE FA
Website: www.lancashirefa.com
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
LIVERPOOL FA
Website: www.liverpoolfa.com
Email: Daniel.green@liverpoolfa.com
MANCHESTER FA
Website: www.manchesterfa.com
Email: info@manchesterfa.com
Website: www.bedfordshirefa.com
Email: info@bedfordshirefa.com
BIRMINGHAM FA
Website: www.birminghamfa.com
Email: support@birminghamfa.com
CAMBRIDGESHIRE FA
Website: www.cambridgeshirefa.com
Email: info@cambridgeshirefa.com
DERBYSHIRE FA
Website: www.derbyshirefa.com
Email: info@derbyshirefa.com
ESSEX FA
Website: www.essexfa.com
Email: info@essexfa.com
HERTFORDSHIRE FA
Website: www.hertfordshirefa.com
Email: contactus@hertfordshirefa.com
HUNTINGDONSHIRE FA
Website: www.huntsfa.com
Email: info@huntsfa.com
LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND FA
Website: www.leicestershirefa.com
Email: info@leicestershirefa.com
LINCOLNSHIRE FA
Website: www.lincolnshirefa.com
Email: info@lincolnshirefa.com
LONDON FA
Website: www.londonfa.com
Email: info@londonfa.com
MIDDLESEX FA
Website: www.middlesexfa.com
Email: info@middlesexfa.com
NORFOLK FA
Website: www.norfolkfa.com
Email: info@norfolkfa.com
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FA
Website: www.northamptonshirefa.com
Email: info@northantsfa.com
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FA
Website: www.nottinghamshirefa.com
Email: info@nottinghamshirefa.com
RAF FA
Website: www.royalairforcefa.com
Email: info@royalairforcefa.com
ROYAL NAVY FA
Website: www.royalnavyfa.com
Email: info@navyfa.com
SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FA
Website: www.sheffieldfa.com
Email: info@sheffieldfa.com
SHROPSHIRE FA
Website: www.shropshirefa.com
Email: info@shropshirefa.com
STAFFORDSHIRE FA
Website: www.staffordshirefa.com
Email: info@staffordshirefa.com
SUFFOLK FA
Website: www.suffolkfa.com
Email: info@suffolkfa.com
WORCESTERSHIRE FA
Website: www.worcestershirefa.com
Email: info@worcestershirefa.com
Website: www.amateur-fa.com
Website: www.hampshirefa.com
Email: info@hampshirefa.com
KENT FA
Website: www.kentfa.com
Email: info@kentfa.com
OXFORDSHIRE FA
Website: www.oxfordshirefa.com
Email: info@oxfordshirefa.com
SURREY FA
Website: www.surreyfa.com
Email: info@surreyfa.com
SUSSEX FA
Website: www.sussexfa.com
Email: info@sussexfa.com
Website: www.cornwallfa.com
Email: info@cornwallfa.com
DEVON FA
Website: www.devonfa.com
Email: info@devonfa.com
DORSET FA
Website: www.dorsetfa.com
Email: support@dorsetfa.com
GLOUCESTERSHIRE FA
Website: www.gloucestershirefa.com
Email: info@gloucestershirefa.com
GUERNSEY FA
Website: www.guernseyfa.com
Email: admin@guernseyfa.com
HEREFORDSHIRE FA
Website: www.herefordshirefa.com
Email: info@herefordshirefa.com
ISLE OF MAN FA
Website: www.isleofmanfa.com
JERSEY FA
Website: www.jerseyfa.com
Email: info@jerseyfa.com
SOMERSET FA
Website: www.somersetfa.com
Email: info@somersetfa.com
WILTSHIRE FA
Website: www.wiltshirefa.com
Email: info@wiltshirefa.com
Frequently Asked Questions
They will assist the referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game but the final decision will always be taken by the referee.
At certain points in the referee pyramid a referee may choose to specialise as a referee or assistant referee only.