Refereeing Magazine - Vol 03 - Spring 07

2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 1
Refereeing
Joint Publication of The FA and The RA
Spring/Summer 2007
INTERVIEW WITH
AMY RAYNER
JULIAN CAROSI
MANAGING THE GAME

IAN BLANCHARD
BE A REFEREE AND BE A FRIEND

DAVID BARBER
YOU WOULD MISS US

ANDREW WARD
/FALearning
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 2
Foreword
Refereeing
Foreword
by Neale Barry
Contents
Foreword
Page
Neale Barry
03
Managing the Game
Ian Blanchard
04
The Referee - A Master of the Silent Assist
Julian Carosi
10
Be a Referee and Be a Friend - The Fans' Viewpoint
David Barber
14
Review of Basic Training and Examination Process
Janie Frampton
20
UEFA and FIFA - Where do we stand in World Refereeing?
David Elleray
24
Interview with Amy Rayner
Julian Carosi
26
You would miss us
Andrew Ward
30
Regional Referee Coaches for Level Three Referees
Neale Barry
36
Keeping yourself fit in the Close Season
Simon Breivik
38
Alan Wilkie
42
Features
News and Events

A successful FAMOA Partnership
RA News
44
There is more than one e in Learning
Jonathan Wilson
46
An Evening at the Emirates
Alan Wilkie
48
Society Spotlight West Middlesex
Ray Herb
49
FA Policy on Age Legislation
Neale Barry
50
Refereeing is the official joint magazine of The Football Association

and the Referees Association
The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of

The Football Association.
Editorial Team: Ian Blanchard, Antonia Hagemann,

Cassandra Rees, Ed Stone, Neale Barry, Emma Wands,
Arthur Smith, David Elleray, Alan Poulain and Julian Carosi
Published by: FA Learning, 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA
Acknowledgements: The contents of Refereeing are copyright

of The Football Association. No articles, features or any aspects
can be reproduced or photocopied without written permission
of The Football Association.
Email: FAMOA@TheFA.com
REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007
Website: www.TheFA.com/Refereeing
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to write the

foreword for this issue of the joint Football Association/
Referees' Association (FA/RA) magazine, as it emphasises the
very close relationship between the two bodies in helping to
improve the quality and quantity of training and education, in
order to develop referees at every level of the game.
The first two issues have been very well received, with positive
feedback being received on the style of the magazine and the
quality of the articles; it is vital, therefore, that the editorial
team strive to ensure that every level of referee is catered for.
We are now entering that very interesting and exciting part of
the season, where many games take on extra importance with
regards to promotion, relegation or involvement in the final
stages of cup competitions. It is also the time when decisions
are taken, in terms of referee promotion and retention at all
levels and those all important Cup Final appointments, which
add that bit of extra pressure from a match officials
perspective.
There is no doubt that referees at the semi-professional and
professional levels of the game are under more scrutiny than
ever before, not only from the ever-present eye of the media,
and from the refereeing authorities, who are constantly
demanding the highest levels of performance, but also from
fellow referees of every level, who aspire to those highest
standards themselves.
It is clear that a great level of commitment and professionalism
is required from those referees who want to progress through
to the highest levels of the game in this country, but equally,
the opportunities to do so are also far greater than ever
before.
The Football Association has invested a large amount of money
in supporting referees, particularly at Contributory League and
Supply League level, in terms of an increased number of
assessments and the introduction of Regional Referee Coaches
at Level 3. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
those assessors, coaches and instructors who are helping to
improve and develop our referees; their contribution, a lot of it
voluntary and unnoticed, is very much appreciated.
There is a huge amount of talent within the Supply and

Contributory Leagues system, which we need to develop.
Whilst needing to nurture our younger referees for the future
and give them support and advice, we will ensure that every
referee, whatever their age or experience, is given the
opportunity to improve and develop.
I hope you find the variety of articles in this magazine
interesting. The Editorial Team always welcomes feedback in
an effort to improve the quality of each issue.
Neale Barry is Head of Senior Referee Development at The FA and heads
up the semi professional and PGMO refereeing section at The FA.
Neale.Barry@TheFA.com
The FA Crest is a registered trade mark of The Football Association

The Football Association 2004
Page 3
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 4
MANAGING
THE GAME
by Ian Blanchard
Page 5
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 6
Features
Managing the Game

by Ian Blanchard
The ability of a referee to successfully manage a feisty game

of football can only be admired. How they control players,
communicate with them, deal with incidents and resolve
situations, all fall under the auspices of man-management.
Another important aspect to think about is self-management.
Consideration has to be given on how to prepare for a game,
who to contact, how to meet and greet people, what to say
to secretaries and other club personnel.
Self-Management
Some of the main areas for consideration are:
Is your kit clean and tidy, have your boots been polished?
Remember first impressions do count.
Communication
Normally, a few days before your game, you will receive a
telephone call from the home team's secretary. This is your first
golden opportunity to positively manage what in simple terms
is a quick but highly important contact.
Do you have the tools of the trade, whistles, notebook,

coins, pencils, cards, flags etc?
It's not just a case of confirming that you are the match
referee, be prepared to ask a few questions. For example:
This is the first of a series of three articles that will focus on the
requirements of how a referee can manage people, and deal
with situations before the game, during the game and after the
game has finished. The articles will offer advice, tips and debate
situations that may arise in everyday football, and hopefully,
provide you with some ideas that will help your management.
Have you checked travel arrangements, location of the

ground as well as the time it will take for you to get there?
Can I just confirm what time kick-off is please?

What colours do you play in?
What colours do your opponents play in?
What state is the pitch in?
Can you provide directions?"
And finally, "I intend to arrive at about?"
In this first article we will consider the term management in

the context of refereeing, and identify ways in which you can
interact positively with people, prior to blowing the whistle
that starts that all-important match.
Weather conditions play a big part in not only determining

your travel arrangements, but also in the manner in which
you conduct a field of play inspection.
I suppose the first thing we need to understand is, what do

we mean by the word managing in refereeing terms? If you
look in any dictionary, there are clues to be had that include:
to handle, to be in charge, to succeed; to have room or time
and to exercise control.
This article will focus on how you, the referee, prepare for that
big game, and how you manage yourself.
Research what do you know about the two teams? Have

you refereed these teams before? Who are the personalities,
what are their league positions?
What food do you eat before the game? A great deal of

emphasis has been placed on diet at a senior level; ensuring
carbohydrates are in place to burn off. This is equally important
at local football. Ensuring you have appropriate fluids on
hand at half-time and full-time enables you to re-hydrate.
Letting the secretary know when you are aiming to arrive,

reinforces your preparation and management of the game.
You've also used this first contact as an opportunity to impart
a positive and professional impression.
In this very simple dialogue, you have listened, been very open
and asked highly relevant questions relating to the game. You
have shown an interest in the teams, and in what you are doing.
But more importantly, you have given a good first impression
of yourself. The club secretary will be thinking, weve got a
good one here, not the opposite!
You may be operating with assistant referees; therefore there is
an inference that the referee should always make early contact
with the rest of his team. Once again this is a highly important
aspect of self-management. What you say and how you say it
to your team, says a lot about you. Being polite, expressing a
desire to work with your team's assistance, showing an interest
in what they do in refereeing terms creates a good foundation.
Remember, your initial management of your team will manifest
itself when they go out onto the field of play to work and
support you.
Page 7
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 8
Features
First Impressions
I am sure you have heard the saying, First impressions count.
Well its true. And you only get one chance to make a first
impression.
Your appearance, smart and kitted-out in appropriate clothing
says a lot about you. Having a positive and approachable manner,
which serves to create good working relationships, is imperative.
A good firm handshake, with confident eye contact and a polite
greeting, Pleased to meet you, I am really looking forward to
the game, works wonders. Immediately, key people such as
club secretaries recognise your motivation, professionalism and
desire to referee their game.
The way you interface with club assistant referees is also vitally
important. It is another interaction that needs to be managed
positively. When operating by yourself, try to identify the
individuals early and call them together. Introduce yourself,
shake hands and ascertain whether they have had any training
to do the job of an assistant referee or ask them how much
experience they have had at running a line. Give them the
flags, and then clearly spell out their duties. I have to mention
that in some localities, tradition, or competition rules require
club assistant referees to judge offside situations! Be mindful
of this. Allow for any questions and explain that you wish to
see them after the game to thank them for their contribution
however bad they may prove to be.
Routines
Part of effective self-management may involve having a set
routine before each game. You might like to have your kit laid
out in the dressing room before getting changed. You may like
to be ready at a set time, or you may need to go out for a
warm-up twenty minutes before kick-off. If such routines are
important to you, then so be it, but remember, that when you
are operating as part of a team, always invite them to join you
if they so wish, rather than imposing your routines onto others.
So if you are leaving the dressing room to go for a warm-up on
your own, let them know what you are doing.
When warming up, do so properly. A number of people will
be watching you and are already making up their minds about
your competence as a referee. The way that you warm up,
carry out stretching exercises correctly, and your general mobility,
will send important signals and lines of communication to
observers. The trick is to ensure that the early signals that you
do impart depict a professional who is taking his responsibilities
seriously today.
Another consideration that involves self-management is the way
that you offer pre-match instructions to your assistant referees.
This aspect of your game is crucial and should serve as your
standard for communication during the rest of the day. Keep
the pre-match instructions simple, offer clear messages and
encourage opportunities to clarify understanding. Remember,
once you blow the whistle, it is difficult to clear up any potential
ambiguities or uncertainties.
Such instructions should last no longer than ten minutes.
As the referee, you should encourage eye contact with the rest
of your team, and this is the first opportunity for you to do so.
If you prefer to carry out your instructions outside, you can point
to relevant areas of the field of play to reinforce key messages.
If inside, variation in vocal tone, reinforcing key instructions
and maintaining a good motivational attitude helps your team
to understand what you require of them, as well as motivating
them to work with you.
When carrying out a field-of-play inspection, you may have a

set routine to follow. Check the nets; are the corner flag posts
in place, what are the pitch-markings like? Is the playing surface
free of any hazards? These are just a few of the questions that
you should be asking yourself. Again, the method of delivery
is an important aspect of your duties, as it imparts an important
message to those who are involved and to others who might
be watching. By taking your time, being confident in your
inspection and finally reporting to the home manager any
problems, it will ensure that you have begun to build up a
positive image, and are effectively and proactively managing
the situation.
If team sheets are handed to you, say, thank you, look through
them, and ensure you have all the information that you need
before starting the game. Finally, if you are operating with
neutral assistants, shake their hands and offer them your best
wishes. I always think that it is useful to impart a positive message
before going out, such as, Have a great game, keep focused
and enjoy the experience.
A new aspect that has cropped up recently in the refereeing
world is 'The Game Plan'. In essence, this means preparing
yourself to the best of your ability, having considered all the
parameters of the game you are about to referee. We have
mentioned some of them in this article.
In summary, this first of three articles will hopefully have whetted
your appetite to think positively about your own self-management,
as well as the build up to management of the players and team
officials. Exhibit self-control, engage dialogue, and strive to
manage people and situations so that you always give out that
all-important early positive and professional impression.
It is impossible to cover every angle on such a huge topic, but
in the second article we will focus more on the management of
players by identifying when to talk to them, how to talk to them
and how to make use of vital signs that can be used in YOUR
next game plan.
Until then, remember that you only get one chance to make
a first impression. So why not always make it a positive one?
Ian Blanchard is Head of National Referees Development at The FA.
Ian.Blanchard@TheFA.com
Page 9
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 10
Features
The Referee - Master of the Silent Assist

by Julian Carosi
When someone asked World Cup (1974) referee Jack Taylor to

describe what he thought the art of refereeing was, he replied:
Making your mistakes when no one is looking and knowing
when not to make decisions.
(Jack Taylors World Soccer Referee, published 1976)
Although referees spend a great deal of time running around
chasing players and following the path of the ball, they rarely
need to communicate anything - vocally or via body language.
Yet, conversely, there are many occasions when the fact that
the referee does nothing actually imparts a message that says
much more than any other form of visual message or sound
can communicate. On most occasions all the referee needs to
do is to be there.
A referee went to his instructor and said, Im having trouble
controlling players. Whenever I confront them, it always seems
to end in a bad-tempered argument that leaves both the
players and myself in a bad mood for the rest of the game.
Can you give me a remedy for it?
The instructor said, Certainly, and gave the referee a packet
of chewing gum, explaining, These are charmed pieces of FA
chewing gum. When you officiate your next games, put one
piece of gum in your mouth.
The referee took the advice given and found to his surprise
that there was no quarrelling with players during the next few
games. A month later the referee asked the instructor to
explain how the charmed pieces of FA chewing gum worked.
The instructor answered, The chewing gum is not necessary.
Silence is all that is needed. You have become the master of
the silent assist.
This teaches us that very often we quarrel and invite conflict
only because of our speech, or because we do something
when its better do nothing. Silence, or doing nothing, is a
great communicator, and when used during certain match
situations very often has a greater impact in delivering the
message or diffusing situations than any number of words
or actions can.
For example, the three words I love you, are very simple to
say - three powerful and meaningful words. Conversely,
silence can have the complete opposite effect. I love you
unsaid can become I dont love you out loud.
A referee can sometimes feel uneasy about doing nothing.
It is as if doing nothing has become an enemy. Referees often
feel that they must do something. Doing nothing sometimes
unnerves them. In reality, doing nothing is another tool to
expand in the armoury of a referees skill-set; and can, if its
used at the right times, have a beneficial effect, by increasing
the standard of officiating.
Making your mistakes

when no one is looking
and knowing when not
to make decisions.
Jack Taylors World Soccer Referee, published 1976
Below are three examples where doing nothing enables a

referee to be master of the silent assist.
What should you say to the captains?
Even a single misjudged pre-match dictate can land a referee
in trouble. It forces the referee to take a certain action on a
specific incident, even before the incident has happened. It
can also limit match control flexibility.
Referee to captains: Good afternoon captains, please let
your players know that anyone who swears will be going
straight into my book.
Despite the gallant sentiments of this referee, the instruction
leaves no flexibility in managing colourful language. Therefore,
when a player accidentally bashes his head on the goal-post
and lets out a few colourful words - the referee is in a
quandary. If he cautions or sends-off this player, the referee
will be seen negatively as an over-strict dictator. If the referee
decides not to caution or send-off this player, he reneges on
his pre-match instruction, and the players will see him as being
weak and unable to keep to his word.
By saying very little during the coin-tossing ceremony,
apart from communicating the essentials, the referee retains
the full flexibility to either interpret, or to apply strict Law
for each occurrence.
Page 11
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 12
Features
The higher that a referee puts his head above the parapet
of pre-match instructions, the easier it is for players to take
a pop-shot! An astute referee who leaves his head below the
parapet, by keeping pre-match instructions to the essential
minimum, has the ability to look up over the parapet as many
times as he likes, without fear of making himself an easy target.
Doing something at free-kicks when it is very often much
better to do nothing. There is a simple free-kick management
concept used by referees called the GIVE AND GO or GIVE
AND SORT technique (Mike Gardiner FAMOA Magazine
May 2003).
GIVE AND SORT means that the referee GIVES a free-kick,
and then makes his way quickly to the scene to SORT out a
problem by doing something. The referee GIVES the free
kick and SORTS out the problem.
GIVE AND GO means that there is no issue to resolve, and
the free-kick can take place without any need for the referee
to do anything, or to remain nearby.
The referee GIVES the free-kick, and uses the (dead-ball)
stoppage time to take up a position for the next phase of play.
GIVE the free-kick (do nothing further) and GO sprint to the
restart position. Doing this means that moaning players have
nobody to moan at; the motion of the referee running to his
restart position encourages play to restart quickly; the absence
of the referee focuses the players minds on the game, rather
than on the referee; it keeps the referee alert and focused; and
the game is subtly restarted on the referees terms and not the
players!
Doing nothing can indicate that no offence has occurred
The old adage, a good referee is one that you dont notice,
has a modicum of truth in it. Yet conversely, in the modern
game the growing armoury of non-standard signals that seem
to be constantly delivered by referees sometimes takes the
players and spectators focus away from the game itself,
which in a lot of cases will happily progress without any
involvement from the referee.
To indicate that no offence has occurred, when shouts of

Foul Ref? are heard, the old school of refereeing advocated
holding their hands behind their backs. This stops the movement
of the referee and is becoming outdated. An alternative signal
would be to do nothing? This is a simple universal message
that all players understand; and covers a multitude of scenarios.
Doing nothing also generates positive reaction from team-mates,
with shouts towards their colleagues of, Play to the whistle.
This is something that has worked very well for over a hundred
years, but has almost disappeared, because players are now
beginning to look more often towards the referee for some
form of outward signal, when very often no signal is needed.
Whilst some players do play to the whistle, others are
constantly looking for an outward signal from the referee.
There are a myriad of unofficial no foul signals, which can
cause confusion and may impact on player safety by
unnecessarily distracting their attention. Playing to the whistle
by doing nothing can very often deliver a clearer uniform
message than by doing something. Players should continue
to be encouraged to play to the whistle.
Not reacting to the crowd
The ability to seem completely unaware of derisive comments
from the spectators is a skill that has to be quickly mastered by
new referees, and more especially by assistant referees. Even
the slightest acknowledgement that a referee has registered a
spectators troublesome comment can be enough to entice
further vitriol. This problem is heightened the nearer that the
referee is to the touchline and to the boisterous crowd. It can
be very tempting for a referee who has received abuse from
the sideline to react in one form or another. Most referees in
their early career will have reacted at one time or another and quickly learnt from the consequences!
Conclusion
Whilst the increase in outward communication between the
referee and the players is not in itself a bad thing, doing
nothing in certain circumstances is also a very clear and much
easier way to get the message over, without detracting from
the focus of the game itself. Lets not lose this skill.
Knowing when not to make decisions, is just as important as
knowing when to make decisions.
Refereeing is much more about thinking, rather than doing.
There are many match situations where a referee can become
the master of the silent assist by doing nothing. An astute
referee does not blow the whistle every time the ball goes out
for a throw-in or a goal-kick or corner-kick. The astute referee
saves up the effect for when it really is needed, thus
maximising its impact. This principle also applies to body
language and verbal communication - do nothing when
nothing needs doing. And do something only when
something needs to be done.
Doing nothing at the right time allows the picture to tell
its own story!
Can YOU become a master of the silent assist?
Julian Carosi is a member of the RA and an FA Referees Licensed Instructor,
and Assessor from the county of Wiltshire.
When a referee does nothing, it delivers the strongest

message that can be communicated to the perpetrators. It
clearly shows that the referee has not been affected by the
comments; demonstrates a professional demeanour; minimises
conflict; discourages further comment; displays strength and
not a weakness; allows the referee to retain focus on the game
and encourages the referee to try even harder to fulfil his
duties and responsibilities.
Page 13
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 14
BE A REFEREE
AND BE A FRIEND
- The Fans Viewpoint
by David Barber
Page 15
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 16
Features
Be a Referee and be a friend

- The fans viewpoint
by David Barber
I went to my 5,267th football match yesterday. It might be a

world record. I went to my first match in 1960, when I was
nine and in short trousers.
I am one of those fortunate people whose hobby is also his job.
I have been on the full-time staff of The FA at Lancaster Gate
and Soho Square for 32 years. Now FA Historian and
Publications Editor, Ive compiled more than 150 books on
football over the years, and acted as liaison officer to 48
visiting national teams.
I have football in my veins. Like my Dad, like my Grandad.
I love going through the turnstiles, or more likely through a gap
in the hedge, into that altogether more splendid kind of life,
as JB Priestley called it.
It follows, of course, that Ive seen 5,267 referees. Or, more
accurately, 5,267 refereeing performances because Ive seen
some officials more than once. Ive been asked to comment on
what a football crowd expects from a referee and what in their
eyes would constitute a good referee. Conversely, what
frustrates spectators about a referee? Is it just when decisions
go against their team, or are there other factors?
Ill try to remember some funny incidents too. Theres a lot of
humour in football and thats one of its attractions. Ive never had
any ambition to qualify properly, but I did referee University
Sunday League matches more or less every week when I was
a philosophy student in Liverpool during the 1970s.
Jean-Paul Sartre said: In football, everything is complicated by
the presence of an opposing team. He must have supported
West Ham.
I think you have to be something of a masochist to be a football
referee. You know that youre going to have problems. At the top
level you could walk into a ground knowing, or feeling, that
only four people out of a crowd of 75,000 arent desperate for
one team to win. Thats you, your two assistants and the fourth
official. It can be quite lonely out there.
It can be lonely in a different sense if youre refereeing a Sunday

morning match in a local park. Then your assistants may be
club linesmen who, more often than not, are merely substitutes
waiting to come on. They can be a liability, intentionally or
otherwise. I once saw an Intermediate Cup match where someone
was substituted, both as a player because he was awful and as
a linesman because he was even worse. Ive also seen a
linesman who was on crutches for the whole match. Under the
circumstances, he didnt do that badly.
So what do we expect from a referee?

We expect a referee to look the part. He should turn up in
plenty of time, have the proper kit, have a smart appearance,
be confident and be friendly. He should not be noticeably
old or portly, he should be fit enough to keep up with play
and he shouldnt have a silly running style. He should be able
to pull out a card without ripping a pocket or spilling sundry
items onto the ground. He should clearly be part of a team
with his assistants.
In any football crowd, most people will be prejudiced against

the referee before the match even starts. Why? Because
potentially, he applies rules that can stop their team from
winning. In other words the referee can stop them from
getting what they want. They are unlikely to know the referee
or have met him socially, so its quite impersonal. The referee
is simply the man in black. Hes an easy target. You can say
what you like to him. Hes wrong; youre right. He doesnt
know what hes doing.
We expect a referee to be in control. Im the referee lets

play the game. He should know the Laws inside out and be
confident enough to deal with any eventuality, even those things
not specifically covered by the Laws. He should be prepared
to enter into limited and respectful dialogue with players over
incidents, but in the end its his view that counts.
But the referee is never wrong, because its the referees opinion
that counts. We have referees because we need someone to
make a decision. Seventy-thousand people, or the majority of
them, might say, It wasnt a penalty, but the following days
newspapers and record books in years to come will prove that
it was. Anyone is entitled to an opinion, however crackpot it is,
but only the referees opinion matters.
Ive been quite shocked at a couple of matches at semiprofessional level this season to see more or less every single
refereeing decision disputed by one team or the other - by the
players, by the coaches and by most of the spectators. The
referee cant always be wrong, surely, so you have to suspect
their motive. If you criticise every decision, sooner or later the
referee will give you something. Its human nature. We avoid
confrontation, particularly when its one person against hundreds
or even thousands of people.
It can be painful to see a referee lose control. I saw a Sunday

morning match when a player called the referee a plonker
behind his back at the kick-off after a goal. The referee swung
round demanding to know who it was. When no player owned
up, he booked the whole team.
We expect a referee to be impartial. The worst criticism that could
be directed at a referee is that he is favouring one team. What
else could anyone mean when they call the referee a cheat?
He must be above suspicion. Impartiality at the start could be
swayed during the game as the result of pressure from players,
coaches or spectators and thats what people pick up on
very quickly. But this pressure is cheating too, surely?
We expect a referee to be clever. Perhaps astute would be
a better word. An experienced referee who has handled hundreds
of matches is more likely to be astute. He knows what players
are up to, when there is intent to foul or injure and when there
isnt, when a player is genuinely hurt or not, when to whistle
up or when to play advantage and when to step in with a word
or when to let things go. Theres a level of anticipation that
should come with experience too. An experienced referee
should be able to see situations developing.
Page 17
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 18
Features
We expect a referee to be personable. Players and spectators

respond favourably if they perceive the referee to be a good
bloke - a good bloke doing an honest job. Players often complain,
Why cant I speak to you, ref? They should be allowed to,
and not in a naughty pupil to teacher' kind of way, if they are
respectful and the aim is clarification over a decision.
There should be limits to this kind of dialogue, of course, and
it shouldnt happen after all or most decisions. Most decisions
are, or should be, clear and indisputable.
Personally, I like a referee who knows his stuff, but can do the
job with a smile on his face. If he knows the players first names
and uses them during a match, thats fine. I recently saw a
referee sit on one teams bench, then the other teams, and
chat during a break in play. That went down very well. I dont
like the attitude, Im the referee and however much I cock it
up, there is nothing you can do about it. And, no, you cant
speak to me.
I attended a youth match a couple of years ago in which one
player was seriously injured. The boys parents were there, an
ambulance was swiftly called and it was quite a fraught
situation. The referee was incredibly sympathetic, helping the
boy onto a stretcher, calming the other players down and
making it clear he was in no rush to restart the match; getting
cups of tea for the parents and assisting the medics to get the
boy safely into the ambulance and away to hospital. He even
gave him his match fee.
Be a referee and be a friend. Its that simple. Players and
match officials together make a football match. Even though
their roles are fundamentally different, they need each other.
And the crowd, whether its 75,000 or the proverbial two men
and a dog, needs them too.
David Barber is The FA's Historian and Publications Editor. David has been
on the staff at Lancaster Gate and Soho Square for 32 years and has
attended well over 5,000 matches. David.Barber@TheFA.com
Page 19
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 20
Features
Review of Basic Training

and Examination Process
by Janie Frampton
Of the current 7,500 candidates who pass the Basic Referee

Courses each year, only 22 per cent actually take up
refereeing. The rest, often take the course as part of a
qualification, or just to gain knowledge of the Laws. Not only
does this present an unnecessary amount of work for our
volunteers, but grossly distorts the national retention figures
which indicate we lose these referees, when in fact they are
never active to start with.
For many years, the Basic Referee Course (aimed primarily at
supporting grassroots football) has been predominately taught
within the classroom environment. Whilst this has been
relatively successful, education has moved on, and new and
dynamic methods of teaching can be used to inspire
candidates to equip themselves to meet the demands of the
modern game.
The Football Association recognised that there was a need to
address the balance between knowledge (theoretical) and
application (practical) training. A National Project Group, made
up of key people from across the country, have been working
over a period of 18 months to produce a fit for purpose
modular based Basic Referees Course, tailored more towards
those who want to actively referee. The FA Referees
Committee has now sanctioned this as our entry level to Basic
Referee Training. Pilot courses are now being delivered, with a
view to rolling out the revised training methods to all new
candidates for season 2007-2008.
This efficient resource-focused approach will enable us to train
less people, but produce more referees. It will also bring a
national uniformity to the course framework. Making better
use of our instructors, will undoubtedly improve referee
retention, aid the development and feeling of value to our
instructors, and benefit everyone involved with football.
We will encourage successful candidates to go out onto the
field, officiate in a match and become active referees. This will
alleviate the problem for appointment secretaries, who can and
do, make up to twenty telephone calls before they come
across an active referee who may be able to fulfil a fixture.
Our aim is to fulfil more fixtures, by focusing on those who are
serious about refereeing.
Most current Basic Referee Courses, consist of a few

candidates who want to take up the whistle seriously, some
who only wish to referee their own club or youth games, those
who wish to referee small sided football or futsal, those
wanting a certificate e.g. Duke of Edinburgh, and the rest just
wanting to find out more about the Laws of Association
Football. In the future, a new pre-course questionnaire will be
given to all candidates, so they can be filtered and channelled
into the area of training that meets their specific needs and
just as important, the FAs needs!
Rather than candidates receiving in the old 'welcome pack', a
new portfolio-based pack has been designed, where sections
will be added throughout the course and during further inservice training, as the new candidates career develops. We
will only provide relevant sections to those who have achieved
a particular stage of their refereeing development. Thus, we
adopt a more focused approach and invest only in those who
continue to referee. The new pack will include the standard FA
guides such as the Guide to Misconduct Report Writing, Guide
to the Application of Law and the Guide for Newly Qualified
Referees, as well as the Learn the Laws CD Rom etc.
Instructors will also benefit, by the provision of Theory DVDs
and marking templates, examination papers and answer
templates, Instructor Manuals along with syllabus, copies of
practical examinations and knowledge Assessment papers, and
all relevant teaching materials etc.
To aid transition towards the new training methods, Instructor
Development Days have been programmed for the summer of
2007 and local County Instructor Panel Meetings will be used
to discuss the logistics pertinent to each County FA. The
Regional Manager and a member of the Basic Training Project
Group will lead the Development Days.
There are many positive outcomes that will be generated once
the new training methods beds in. We will be able to identify
what course best suits the individual's needs, and then deliver
a quality learning experience. We will be able to produce more
accurate data on retention figures, and further develop our
existing instructors by giving them a greater feeling of value.
And finally, we will be able to focus our resources, effort and
funding, by helping those who really do want to be referees.
Page 21
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 22
Features
Procedure for Basic Training

Pre-course activities
Prospective candidates should contact their County Football
Association to register their interest in becoming a referee.
They will be provided with details of local courses, dates and
venues, and will receive a registration form, a questionnaire
and a request for payment for completion and return. On
confirmation of registration, training venue and dates for the
Basic Referees' Course will be provided. A current copy of the
Laws of Association Football (LOAF) will also be sent, and
candidates will be expected to complete a Pre Course Study.
More details on the first stages involved in becoming a
referee, can be found on the following FA web site:
http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/Referee/
Once the pre-course requirements have been dealt with, the
candidate will attend the Course Induction, and move through
the modules as described below:
Module Three (1.5 Hours), 'Examination

Depending on whether the candidates' training was
predominantly theoretical (classroom based) or practical (on
the field of play), the exam process will consist of two
elements from the three listed below. The third element will
become an assessment throughout the course.
Written element application of law (theoretical and
practical course)
Theory examination via video analysis using DVD
or CD Rom (theoretical course, and assessment tool
for the practical course)
Practical on field assessment in line with new practical
course (practical course and assessment tool for the
theoretical course)
Candidates will also be expected to successfully complete a
misconduct form, based on a match incident from the theory
exam DVD.
The Basic Referee Course will comprise of 5 modules.

Module One (2.5 Hours) 'Knowledge of the Laws'
The course induction, will introduce candidates to the support
mechanisms available to referees. A DVD promoting the
benefits and opportunities of refereeing will be shown, and a
'Knowledge of the Laws' certificate presented to those who
pass their Module One Assessment of Knowledge paper.
Candidates, who do not wish to take up active refereeing, will
be able to exit the course, and those who wish to progress
further, will move onto Module Two.
Module Two (Minimum 15 hours) 'Application of the Laws'
Module 2 will relate theory to practice, and involves on-field
interactive activities (if available, if not video clips), and selfevaluation techniques. At some time between Modules 2 and
3, Child Protection training will be provided, and candidates
will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau
Disclosure Form.
On successful completion of the Basic Referee Training Modules,

One, Two and Three, the candidate will become a Level 9
Trainee Referee until the completion of Module Four.
Module Four 'Probation Period'
During the probation period, Level 9 Trainee Referees must
referee six times 11 v 11 matches, utilizing a mentor style
appraisal, supported by either a Referee Coach, Assessor or
Instructor. Candidates will be assessed via the standard
competencies in line with the current FA competency based
assessment scheme. They will also be involved with Selfevaluation of their own performance, performance evaluation
of others, and video analysis.
There are many positive

outcomes that will be
generated once the new
training methods beds in.
Module Five (2 Hours). Newly Qualified Referees
In-Service Training
The Level 9 Trainee Referees will have to attend In-Service
Training on subjects incorporating; application of Law,
recognition of offences, body language and communication,
management of people and situations, fitness awareness,
warm-up / cool-down techniques, programmes to meet
individual needs and encouraging training togetherness /
bonding.
On successful completion of the five Basic Referee Training
Modules, the referee will receive an FA Certificate of
Qualification, and progress from a Level 9 (Trainee Referee),
to either a Level 8 (Youth Referee) or a Level 7 (Junior
Referee), depending on the age of the candidate
Janie Frampton, Regional Referees Manager South. Until 2004 she was a
Level 3 referee as well as operating as an assistant referee in numerous
womens games in Europe. She is an experienced educator both in coaching
and refereeing. Please feel free to forward your ideas on this subject to:
Janie.Frampton@TheFA.com
Basic Referee
Training
Level 9
Trainee Referee
(registered on CAS)
Module One
Introduction
2.5 hours
Knowledge of Law
Certificate, Exit route for
those who dont wish to
proceed. What next?
Module Two
Application of Law
15 hours
including CP
If within a year, then

enter at module two,
after one year back
to module one
Module Three
Examination
1.5 hours
CP and CRB to be
completed during
module two and three
Module Four
Referee six times
11 v 11 games
Module Five
In service training
two hours
If Successful, registered
as a Level 8 or 7 Referee
Page 23
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 24
Features
UEFA and FIFA Where do we stand in World Refereeing?

by David Elleray
The 2007 January meeting of Englands male and female

FIFA Referees and Assistant Referees included a visit to the
magnificent new Wembley Stadium.
The spacious seating, executive boxes, press conference room
and restaurant facilities were, of course, hugely interesting but
the officials were much more concerned with their places of work
the referees changing room and the pitch. They discovered
that there are two changing rooms for referees. Both are relatively
small but functional and pleasingly, unlike the old stadium,
there are no concrete stairs to negotiate to reach the players
tunnel! The pitch looked immaculate with the portable light
machine being able to move up and down, ensuring enough
light for grass growth on even on the darkest of January days.
The officials excitement was palpable and, as was remarked
afterwards, if that visit did not inspire them to work as hard as
possible to earn a chance to officiate in what will undoubtedly
be the worlds finest stadium, then nothing will.
English refereeing has always enjoyed a special position in world

football due in part to our historic role in the development of
the game and, more importantly, the global sense of English
fair play. As an International Referee, I was fortunate to travel
across the globe, officiating in an international final on each of
the four major football continents, and never once was there
the slightest hint of someone trying to influence or bribe me or
my colleagues. Regardless of quality of decisions, English
referees are seen as incorruptible and long may it remain so.
But where exactly do we stand in world refereeing these days?
On the face of it, the statistics, at least for the male referees,
appear to make slightly disappointing reading, because as a
major football nation like Germany, Spain and Italy, we could
have ten FIFA Referees. Italy actually has eleven and we only
have seven. In UEFA we have three referees in the Elite and
Premier groups, Graham Poll, Mike Riley and the newly promoted
Howard Webb. Steve Bennett was an Elite referee until his
retirement from the FIFA list at the end of 2006, but we could
have a maximum of four referees in the Elite and Premier
categories combined.
However, as we know, statistics can be deceptive and the
current position simply reflects a period of transition. Already
this year, Mike Dean and Mark Clattenburg have been
promoted to category two and, like Rob Styles, are now only
one step away from the Premier Group. Martin Atkinson has
also made an impressive start to his international career and
has been selected for UEFAs Elite Talent group; he will be
working hard for promotion to category two later in the year.
What is significant, is that although we may not yet have the
full complement of FIFA Referees, those we have are very
highly regarded. The UEFA Referees Committee has identified
25 referees from whom the referees for the Euro 2008 finals in
Switzerland and Austria will be selected. England is the only
country with three referees on that list, Messrs Poll, Riley and
Webb. This means that we have six assistant referees under
consideration, as UEFA, unlike FIFA, has decided that a referee
selected for the finals should not lose his place because of
fitness tests failures by assistants. Thus, once a referee has
been selected for the finals, provided he passes the fitness test
he will officiate; if one of his two selected assistants fails, then
he will be replaced by another.
This sensible move establishes that if the best referees have

been chosen for the finals, it would be wrong to lose one of
them because an assistant fails a fitness test.
As far as our female FIFA referees are concerned, England has
never been stronger. For many years Wendy Toms has been
our sole representative, but our complement has increased for
2007 to three with Amy Rayners promotion and the arrival in
England of FIFA Referee Sasha Irhingova from Slovakia who is
now an English International Referee.
In the past, England has provided two World Cup Final
Referees, George Reader in 1950 and Jack Taylor in 1974, and
two World Cup Final assistants, Mark Warren in 1998 and Phil
Sharp in 2002. It is the firm determination of The FA and PGMO
to add to that list in the coming years with both our male and
female officials. With FIFA favouring teams of three officials
from the same country there is now more of an all or nothing
situation, so the likelihood is that when our roll of honour is
added to, it will be with a referee and two assistants. The
opportunities are there and we hope that our current and
future international officials will do all they can to achieve the
ultimate goals in UEFA and FIFA.
The FA and PGMOL will do everything in their power to help
them achieve these goals. My position as a member of the
UEFA Referees Committee, Ken Riddens role as the Technical
Advisor to the UEFA Committee, having served on it with
distinction for 20 years, and Keith Hacketts presence on the
UEFA Instructors Panel, means The FA and PGMO are
strongly placed to monitor and develop our international
officials. We will be working as hard as the officials themselves
to establish England as the premier refereeing country, so that in
the coming years, clubs and countries from all over the world will
not only want to play at Wembley, but they will want their
matches controlled by English officials.
David Elleray is the Honorary President of the Referees Association England
(RAE), former FIFA referee, Vice-Chairman of The FA Referees Committee
and a member of the UEFA Referees Committee. He works for UEFA, The
FA and Middlesex FA, assessing and developing referees at all levels. He is
the Director of Boarding at Harrow School.
Page 25
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 26
It is not until you

look back that you
fully appreciate what
an important role
you have played
in the game.
Interview with
AMY
RAYNER
by Julian Carosi
Page 27
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 28
Features
Interview with Amy Rayner

by Julian Carosi
Why did you decide to become a match official?

I took the basic referees' course when I was 13 years old, and
officiated my first game on the Sunday after my 14th birthday
in November 1991.
I had always wanted to play football, but never had the chance,
because there were hardly any local girls football teams around
in those days. My dad helped to run my brothers football team
and he passed the referees exam to help out when required.
It was my dad who suggested the idea of refereeing to me.
The 7 match fees sounded a lot better and were more than
the local paper round, so I went for it!
Do you prefer being involved in mens or womens football?
I dont really have a preference as I enjoy both mens and
womens football. However, the mens game is more professional
than the womens game so it offers a greater challenge.
Womens football is growing and improving all the time and
has given me opportunities to be involved at an international
level, therefore allowing me to see a different aspect of the
game. I have already officiated in Germany, Sweden, Norway,
Belarus and the Ukraine.
Where do you see your career as a referee going?
I do not know. I am enjoying what I am doing at the moment,
but would love to receive an invite as an Assistant Referee on
the Premiership line, or into the Football League as a referee.
I realise that the competition for places is high, as is the case
when you near the top of any sport. I will keep working on
developing my game and fitness, in the hope that I finish in
the top banding, which will give me a chance to be put
forward for a promotion interview if selected.
What is your life away from football?
I am a Financial Analyst at Rolls Royce in Derby. My boyfriend
Paul likes the fact that I am involved in sport, as he is a climber,
so has to train three times per week. We often go to the Peak
District to climb outdoors. Because of my involvement in
football, I understand his need to train, so it works very well.
When was your most memorable occasion?

I will never forget running my first line on the Football League
at Boston, and refereeing the The FA Women's Cup Final in 2004.
What are your views on the progress and success of

women Referees?
Women referees have the same opportunities as their male
counterparts. To get to officiate at the semi-professional or
professional level of the game is a great personal achievement
for any referee. The fact that there has been a woman on the
Premiership line shows that every woman can have a goal to
aim for, assuming they are willing to put in the commitment
required to reach them!
Who has been your inspiration and why?

I do not have a single inspiration. But I am lucky that I live near
Pete Jones (ex FIFA referee and now UEFA/PGMOL assessor).
Pete has helped me to work on my game and my development
as a referee. My last training partner Eddie Mitchell was also a
great help in getting me out training, especially during the
winter after a long day at work. When I receive criticism from
the press, my dad provides a good sounding board by offering
encouragement to keep me going!
What tips can you give to other female referees and assistants?
I do not think that it has to be specific to females, but my tips
apply to all people working through the system:
Can you tell us a little about your FIFA experiences and

your aspirations?
Following five enjoyable years as an assistant on the womens
FIFA list, I have recently been promoted onto the women's
FIFA referee list. I have had opportunities to go to countries
that I would never have previously visited. These include
Belarus, Ukraine, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The standard
of facilities and quality of games can vary.
My aim is to establish my position on the women's FIFA
referee list for the next season. As for the long term, then
involvement in any major final would be a great achievement
whether it is open age or an U19 competition.
What role and how effective is the contribution made by
your Coach to your career?
The role of the coach varies between individuals, as it is dependant
on both the level of commitment the coach wants to offer and
how willing the referee is to take up offers of help. I am lucky that
I have a great relationship with my coach Eddie Wolstenholme
and we often have open and honest discussions about not only
my performances but also those of other referees. I personally
feel that this has helped me to develop as a referee and pre-empt
problems before they occur. Hopefully this will allow me to reach
my full potential in a shorter amount of time.
Keep focused and do not get complacent. Even the games

considered 'easy' on paper have a tendency to create
problems if you are not switched onto the game at the start.
Ensure that you prepare for every game, including training
in the week leading up to the match.
Eat properly to ensure that you are physically fit.
Can you give us an insight into a typical week for you
as a Referee?
Apart from keeping a full time job (normal working hours 8 5)
I have to juggle with games, training and finding time to go out
with friends as well as keeping my boyfriend and family happy!
I usually train four times per week if I do not have a midweek
game and will use Matt Westons advice and training plans to
determine what sessions I do. I usually vary my training so that
I incorporate weights, high intensity, speed endurance and
sprint sessions. In the past I trained with a Panel Assistant but
since he retired from refereeing I drag my boyfriend out with
me to give me that extra bit of motivation and drive!
Prepare mentally for the game by finding out a little bit

about each team, as this may help you on the day.
Do the best you can, as the players deserve at least that much.
Listen to advice and don't be afraid to change something
if it does not work for you.
Most of all enjoy what you do, as sometimes it is not until
you look back that you fully appreciate what an important
role you play in the game.
Amy Rayner is a FIFA Referee, Panel and a National List Referee.
What aspects do you feel that you have personally brought

into the game as a Referee?
I would like to think that I try to let games flow. Players, managers
and spectators want to watch football not the referee so I do
try to look for advantages to play where possible.
Page 29
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 30
YOU
WOULD
MISS US
by Andrew Ward
Page 31
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 32
Features
You would miss us

by Andrew Ward
A few weeks ago, while watching a local match, I had a sense

of football in its early days. During the second half, the unofficial
referee pulled up sharply while clutching his torn calf muscle.
Can someone take over? he asked, limping away.
The home-team manager eventually volunteered. It took him
a few minutes to get organised.
I need something to write with, he yelled.
You need to learn how to write first, shouted one of his players.
This was how it must have been in the 1870s, when each club
appointed an umpire. Eventually a referee was introduced to
decide any disputes between the umpires. The referee sat just
outside the touchline near the halfway-line. When the umpires
failed to agree they walked from the pitch to the touchline and
referred the matter for a final decision. Watching that local game
recently, standing on the halfway-line myself, I imagined myself
as an early match referee and one was certainly needed because
the various club officials disagreed on how long was left.
That local match looked like a throwback to olden days, but it
also made me realise how much is missing when an amateur
deputises. Refereeing has become a well-established profession.
Not only do referees get paid but they have their own distinctive
uniform, their own jargon, their own set of signals, their own
career development, speciality training courses, a strong code
of ethics and an amazing body of knowledge that has accumulated
over 140 years.
Most importantly, referees represent their profession in all parts
of the world. Association football is the most pervasive and
frequently used international legal system on our planet - FIFA
has more signed-up countries than the United Nations - and
referees have been its essential sustenance.
In the beginning, though, there were no referees. According to
William Pickford, writing about the first decade of organised
football, 'The rules we played under were few and not too
definite, but certain things were not done. We were rough and
banged each other about like skittles. Occasionally human
nature flared up and there was an angry moment, but on the
whole the game controlled itself.'
The nearest sporting example in modern society is Ultimate

Frisbee, a competitive sport with no referee. The main reason
put forth for not having a referee is the loss of the spirit of the
game. If you leave all decisions to the referee, you take away
personal responsibility. When Ultimate Frisbee players disagree,
they return to the last set-play position, the equivalent of
playing a let in tennis.
Association football, of course, has no regular equivalent
of the tennis serve. 'Take the corner again' would not pacify many.
Indeed, football is probably more dependent on the referee than
almost any other sport. Football referees make decisions every
second, if only about where to stand. In sports such as golf
and tennis the referee stays hidden for much of the match.
The soccer referee moved from the touchline to the pitch in 1891
and the two umpires shifted to the sidelines. The profession
has since developed in earnest. Referees have consolidated
their place as the symbol of neutrality in an emotional sport
where rumour spreads quickly and bias is everywhere.
Not much has changed in terms of equipment. Referees still
need a watch (or two), a whistle (or two), flags (at least two),
a match-ball (or several), a notebook (or card), a pencil and
a coin (or two). The uniform has become more and more
streamlined as the athletic effort increased - international
referees wore jackets as late as 1960 - and referees now carry
red and yellow cards to prepare for disciplinary action.
It would be very difficult to chart the history of abuse against
referees over the years, but contemporary accounts would
suggest two major triggers. An outbreak of unrest followed the
introduction of the penalty-kick offence (1891), and more
disquiet followed the introduction of red and yellow cards to
English football (1976). English referees took a six-year break
from using red and yellow cards (1981 to 1987) because they
were considered provocative and humiliating to players.
Page 33
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 34
Features
The advent of television has also brought about changes which

are distinctive to top-level professional football four, sometimes
five, referees at one match, a marked technical area, the use of
video in misconduct cases, microphone link-ups, electronic boards
to show minimum stoppage-time, the sponsorship of referees,
full-time employment for top-class referees, and much higher
profiles for top officials. In 2001, the FA of Wales warned IFAB
that it was greatly concerned about the prospect of a two-tier
football system.
Another major change to refereeing has been the increase in
women officials. Female referees were actively recruited in 1976-77
when a shortage of referees coincided with the 1975 Sex
Discrimination Act, and Pat Dunn became the first woman to
referee a competitive men's match in the Dorset County Sunday
League. More recently, Sonia Denoncourt, Canada, has refereed
top men's league matches in Brazil, and Nicole Petignat,
Switzerland, refereed a UEFA Cup tie in Sweden in 2003.
Football still has only 17 laws but they have grown in complexity.
Three examples illustrate the game's increasing legal sophistication:
substitutes were not allowed in competitive matches until 1959
(and then only at the discretion of the relevant national or
international football association) but the 2006 FIFA Questions
and Answers now lists 23 items on substitutions; the offside
law's 'interfering with play' clause has become an elaborate
algorithm whereas until the 1970s it meant virtually anyone in
an offside position; and the offence of denying a goal scoring
opportunity was introduced as recently as 1990.
The history of the referee is, of course, also the history of

everything else. The biggest change in the past 50 years has
been the mass adoption of television. Turning-points include
the Coronation year of 1953, when the number of British sets
increased from 300,000 to three million, the introduction of
BBCs Match of the Day highlights programme in 1964, soon
to attract a ten million audience, the simultaneous broadcasting
of League matches starting in 1983, and the large television
contracts of the 1990s.
Whereas referees like Jack Taylor appeared as television pundits

in the 1970s, it is now left to ex-footballers to comment on
refereeing. These modern-day pundits have rarely refereed
and they have learned the laws of football in an informal wordof-mouth way. This is the only explanation as to why such
knowledgeable football men as David Pleat and Mark Lawrenson
have been recently referring to a dropped ball as a bounce
up. (A bounce-up disappeared from the laws in 1914. It
involved the referee throwing the ball at the ground so that it
bounced to head height.)
More than ever, the referee is the person on the field who knows
the Laws better than anyone else. Matches are only replayed if
there is a proven technical error (an error in the Laws), and referees
have fared much better than judges when it comes to appeals.
A relatively recent example of a replay was the UzbekistanBahrain match in September 2005, when the referee ordered
an indirect free-kick to Bahrain after an Uzbekistan player had
entered the penalty area while his team-mate was scoring from
a penalty-kick. (The decision should have been a retake.)
In 1970, the law-making International Football Association

Board (IFAB) recorded a somewhat optimistic minute: 'The
Board deprecated the emphasis placed in television recordings
and television comment which challenged the authority of the
referee. It was agreed to request the television authorities to
refrain from any slow-motion play-back which reflected, or
might reflect, adversely, on any decision of the referee.' Within
a year, however, the BBC was vilifying the referee of a Leeds
United-West Brom match for not taking note of the linesman's
flag when Suggett (West Brom) was in an offside position.
Television broadcasters would argue that they have helped the

professional development of referees by forcing officials to
think about eradicating mistakes. Whenever I see film of Diego
Maradona, Argentina, palming a goal against England in 1986,
I think of how it concentrated the mind on the need for specialist
assistants at the top level. Gone are the days when a top-level
assistant would be running the line for the first time in a year.
Part of footballs mass appeal is that it is refereed far better

than other parts of society. Offences are punished more readily
on football pitches than they are, say, on roads, in tax returns,
or on computer downloads. When I saw those unofficial
referees in action recently, my main thought was of how
football would be unsustainable without qualified referees.
They are the neutrons you don't see, the spaces between the
words in a sentence, the things you would miss most about
the game if they weren't there.
Andrew Ward, an ex-referee, is a writer and an avid historian of the Laws
of the Game. He has written several books including 'Ward's Soccerpedia'
(2006), an in-depth look at the history of the Laws, and 'Football's
Strangest Matches'.
Page 35
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 36
Features
Regional Referee Coaches for Level Three Referees

by Neale Barry
It is widely recognised that referee coaches and mentors have

a positive effect on referee performance and development.
Coaches or mentors currently operate with great success at
Panel List, National List and UEFA levels. Indeed, some of the
countrys leading referees, Howard Webb, Mark Clattenburg
and now Martin Atkinson, have benefited from the work and
support of their UEFA mentors. The Football Association is
committed to delivering high quality and effective training,
education and support to referees at all levels and this season
has specifically targeted Level 3 referees. In November 2006,
ten Regional Level 3 Referee Coaches were appointed to work
for the remainder of the season with those referees new to
Level 3. From next season, they will work with the next new
group of Level 3 referees and a group of current Level 3
referees deemed to have the potential to progress to higher
levels. The details of the scheme are outlined here:
Promotion and progress of leading Level 3 referees;

ultimately the number moving to the Football
League/Premiership League (FL/PL) and FIFA
Dave Frampton Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire,

Devon, Cornwall
Feedback from Level 3 referees
Operating the Scheme

Season 2006-07
Because the scheme started in mid-season, the coaches are
focusing primarily on the 110 referees newly promoted to
Level 3. However, those referees identified as strong
candidates for promotion to Level 2 will also receive some
development assistance from the coaches.
Impact on referees lower down the pyramid who aspire to

Level 3 and beyond
The Coaches
The ten coaches appointed have significant experience as
educators and referees: three are former FIFA Referees, four
are or have been National List Referees and three are former
National List Assistant Referees.
Aims
Raise the standard of refereeing at Level 3 (Contributory League)
Due to geographical considerations, seven of the coaches

work with referees in their own and other counties, whilst
three coaches will work with referees in counties adjacent
or close to the coachs own county.
Assist referees newly promoted to Level 3 to settle in quickly

and effectively
For the remainder of season 2006-07 the ten coaches and the
counties from which their coaching group is drawn are:
Identify and develop those referees showing the

potential/talent to progress to higher levels
Phil Prosser - North Riding, Durham, Northumberland
Identify and assist those referees struggling at Level 3

Identify development areas for all Level 3 referees and
assistant referees
Steve Lodge - East Riding, West Riding, Sheffield and

Hallamshire, Manchester
Matt Messias Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire
George Cain - Lancashire, Liverpool and Cumbria
Monitoring the scheme

The effectiveness of the scheme will be judged using data
derived from:
Season 2007-08 and beyond

Each coach will have a number of new Level 3 referees,
probably five to six, and around ten referees who, by their
performance in season 2006-07, are identified as having the
talent/potential to progress up the pyramid.
During the season any referee whose performance indicates
the possibility of advancement will be brought into a coaching
group. Equally, a referee who does not appear to be
embracing or benefiting from the scheme may be dropped
from a coaching group.
Role of the coach
All coaches operate within the same framework, under the
direct guidance of Neale Barry, FA Head of Senior Referee
Development and David Elleray, Vice Chairman of The FA
Referees Committee. The coaches are expected to:
Andy Martin Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire
Discuss with each referee an individual development plan

which will include targets for performance, fitness and
administration
Martin Cassidy Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire,

Worcestershire, Berks & Bucks
Watch each referee in their group at least three times

each season
Phil Joslin Leicestershire, Birmingham, Northamptonshire,

Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire
Have regular contact with referees particularly before

and after key matches
John Elwin Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire,

Middlesex, Bedfordshire
Where appropriate, take a referee to watch a match either

when the coach is assessing or when another group member
is officiating
Assist referees within the group if they encounter problems

with fitness, health, administration, availability or any other
issue where the referee may benefit from
advice/intervention/assistance
Arrange occasional meetings of the whole coaching group
Receive and analyse all assessments on referees within his group
Submit regular reports on each referee to the Head of Senior
Referee Development; submit recommendations for
promotion from Level 3 and for movement into/out of a
coaching group
Where possible, watch a referee from another coaching
group if requested.
If requested, watch a Level 4 referee who has been
identified as a strong candidate for promotion to Level 3
Identify trends within the group which can become the
focus of attention/development for all Level 3 referees
Submit to regular appraisal by the Head of Senior
Referee Development and Vice Chairman
of The FA Referees Committee.
I have no doubt that this scheme will have an important and
very positive impact on the quality of refereeing at Level 3 and
at higher levels of football in the coming years. Football needs
referees and the more we can do to support, encourage and
educate them, the healthier our national game will be.
Club and assessor marks

Subjective views of clubs and leagues
Rates of retention at Level 3
Martin Bodenham Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London
Page 37
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 38
Features
Keeping Yourself Fit in the Close Season

by Simon Breivik
Unlike professional athletes, who have time to dedicate

themselves to being fit for their sport, match officials have
families and full-time jobs to sustain, leaving them with
limited time to train and recover.
But whether you love training or despise it, there are physical
demands associated with officiating football and it is your duty
to live up to them, which means training to be fit for purpose.
And with the fitness of players rising and the pace of the game
increasing, your task on a Saturday afternoon is becoming
increasingly challenging making your training more important
than ever.
Team Averages
(Km)
Season Season Season Season

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06
High Intensity
8.15
8.85
9.17
9.50
137
287
315
352
Distance Covered in sprints 1.79
2.19
2.31
2.49
Distance Covered
No of Sprints Performed
break from football and allows you to recover psychologically

as well as physiologically from the stresses of the past season.
Trying to continuously increase your fitness all year round can
lead to staleness and potential injury.
Repeated
Sprint
Ability
Flexibility
Aerobic
Match
Fitness
Body
Composition
Strength
Speed
and
Agility
Diagram 1. Your Fitness Needs: The components

of your match-fitness.
Table 1. Premier League Players Work Rate over last Four

Seasons (ProZone).
The aim of your fitness training programme should be to address

each fitness component by providing you with training
sessions or exercises designed to target and enhance each
of them.
Contrary to popular belief, improving your training does not

necessarily mean training more often. If your training lacks
quality and variety, your fitness levels will remain stagnant and
non-match-specific. So, crucially, it is not just the amount of
training that is important to your fitness the quality of your
training is actually more influential.
Your training must push you beyond your comfort zone

(overload) in order for you to make progress. A mistake often
made by those performing monotonous training programmes
is that the required overload does not take place and, as a
result, improvements in fitness do not occur.
By training more scientifically, you will enjoy your training more,

save valuable time and gain match-specific fitness. The summer
fitness test will become a simple formality, not a concern.
Training must be carefully structured around each calendar

year so that you are achieving peak fitness for the start of the
season, maintaining your fitness throughout the season and
receiving time at the end of the season to rest and recuperate.
Training
According to last seasons ProZone statistics, Football-League
referees covered an average distance of 12.1kilometres (7.5
miles) per game 858 meters of which was performed at
speeds of above 19.8km/h. They performed an average of 23
sprints in each game and recorded an average top speed of
above 30 km/h. And because officials change their movement
pattern on the pitch every four to five seconds, agility must
also be considered.
Having the balance of an off-season and regularly programmed

downtime enabled me to never have to struggle for motivation
when I needed it. You have to know when to step on the gas
and when to break.
Lance Armstrong (7 times Tour de France winner)
But doing nothing should also be avoided. Performing
enjoyable activities with an aerobic emphasis, such as tennis,
cycling, squash or five-a-side during the transition phase will
prevent excess fitness loss. And since a loss of fitness followed
by an abrupt increase in training load has been associated with
an increased risk of injury, remaining active during the
transition phase should be seen as a safety mechanism for the
prevention of injuries in the pre-season period.
By the end of the transition period you should be feeling
regenerated and motivated to tackle pre-season match-specific
training once again.
Pre-Season Training Phase
(June, July and the beginning of August)
The pre-season period is of particular importance. The early
stages will provide you with a foundation of fitness on which
to build and the later stages will allow you to focus on the
more match-specific components of your fitness. If you do not
train well during this period, you will struggle to gain adequate
match-fitness during the season ahead.
For those of you keen to transform your training for next season,
the perfect starting point is the period between the end of the
current season and the start of the next May to August.
Injuries are more prevalent during the pre-season period than any
other time of the year probably due to a combination of a sudden
increase in training volume, poor foot-wear and hard training
surfaces. So it is important to make sure that you wear suitable
foot-wear with adequate cushioning that are suited to your running
mechanics and that you increase your training volume and intensity
very gradually as you head towards the start of the season.
The Non-Competitive Period Transition Phase (May)

Your last game of the season should be followed by three to
four weeks of light, non-refereeing-related exercise. This
period also termed a transition phase provides you with a
Week one and two (four sessions per week)

During the first couple of weeks in June you should start to
work on your general aerobic fitness. A mixture of cycling,
crosstraining and jogging three to four times a week at an intensity
of between 75 per cent and 85 per cent of your maximum

heart rate (moderate to somewhat hard) for between 20 and
30 minutes is a good starting point. In the second week, increase
the duration of your exercise to between 30 and 40 minutes at
the same intensity but run more and cycle and crosstrain less.
Week three and four (four sessions per week)
During this two-week block you should increase the intensity
of your aerobic training. Replace a medium-intensity session
each week with a shorter and sharper session, such as 25 minutes
continuously at 85-90 per cent of your maximum heart rate
(hard), two times ten minutes at 88 per cent HRmax with three
minutes recovery between each repetition or four times five
minutes at 88-92 per cent of your maximum (hard to very hard).
The medium-intensity sessions, of which you should still perform
one per week, should simply increase a touch in length to 45
minutes at 80-85 per cent of your maximum heart rate (moderate
to somewhat hard).
Week five and six (three sessions per week)
By the last week in June you should replace some of your aerobic
training with speed and agility sessions (SP/AG). Speed training
involves performing 15 to 20 maximal sprints at distances
between 10 meters and 40meters. It is important that you
receive complete recovery between each of your sprints so
that you can sustain a maximal effort throughout the session
and thus gain the full benefit. You should rest for 15 times
longer than you sprint between sprints.
To incorporate agility, simply perform the maximal sprints
through a series of obstacles, such as fast feet through agility
ladders and zig zagging around cones.
Perform one of these sessions per week during week five and
two per week during week six.
Your aerobic training should take a further step up during this
period whereby the intensity is increased but the interval
length is decreased, making it more match-specific. Examples
include eight times two minutes running at 90-92 per cent of
your maximum heart rate (very hard) with one minute of
jogging between each effort and fifteen times one minute at a
faster pace with one minute recovery between each effort.
Page 39
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 40
Features
Also in weeks seven and eight, try to further increase the

intensity of your aerobic training by performing shorter
intervals, such as 30s of near-maximal effort with the same
length of time to recover X 20.
Continue to perform a pure speed training session once a
week also.
Week nine and ten (two sessions per week)
By the end of July and the beginning of August you should be
thinking about tapering your training down in preparation for
the first game of the season. The sessions you perform should
be of a high intensity but low volume, such as speed and
agility training.
By this time you will also have been officiating warm-up games,
which will help condition your legs for 90 minutes of running
so that it does not come as a surprise when the season starts.
General Advice
For both injury prevention and performance purposes, you
should always warm up before games and training sessions.
Your warm up should start with between five and ten minutes
of jogging followed by dynamic stretching i.e. skipping, side
stepping, grapevine, high knees, heel flicks.
You should also cool down after each training session or game
(not always possible due to logistics) with a five-minute jog
followed by a thorough static stretch. You should stretch each
muscle, especially the lower-body muscles, for 25 seconds at
a time at least twice.
SP/AG
Intensity % HRmax
Week Seven and Eight (three sessions per week)

By the later stages of pre-season training you should be ready
to work on improving your ability to perform repeated sprints
speed endurance (SE). These sessions are similar to speed
training sessions but with near-maximal sprints instead of
maximal sprints and without complete recovery between
sprints. Instead of a work-to-rest ratio of 1:15, you should use
a work-to-rest ratio of 1:3. This will make the session far harder
and give rise to peak heart rates of above 90% HRmax. Try
performing one of these a week in week seven and eight.
Match
Specific
Training
SE
Interval HI AREOBIC
Continuous HI AREOBIC
MI AREOBIC
Non
Specific
Training
Volume (Time)
Diagram 2. The Continuum from Pre-Season Training to

Match-Specific Training.
Make use of Recovery Training sessions to promote recovery
following a hard training session or game. Active recovery is a
more effective way of recovering from fatigue than doing nothing
at all. You should cycle or swim (jog if you have not got access
to a gym or pool) at between 65 and 70 per cent of your maximum
heart rate (Easy) for 25 minutes at a continuous pace.
Training smartly will save you valuable time as well as more
efficiently improve your match-specific fitness. A quality
training session can be performed in just 30 minutes and with
the short and intense interval runs, you will spend less time
pounding thus saving your lower limbs from over-use injury.
Striking the balance between overload and recovery is a fine
art so always listen to your body and rest/recover when you
feel it is necessary.
Enjoy your training and your season ahead.
Simon Breivik, a Sports Scientist who previously worked at Lilleshall National
Sports Centre, is currently employed full-time by the PGMOL to look after
the fitness of our Premier League and Football-League match officials.
Page 41
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 42
News and Events
A successful FAMOA Partnership

by Alan Wilkie
Well done, is the first thing to say. That is, well done
to everyone concerned in the first series of Football
Association Match Officials' Association (FAMOA)
events which have been double-badged as a Football
Association and County Football Association joint
initiative. And thank you to all of you who attended.
As Regional Manager with prime responsibility for the FAMOA
events, I am absolutely delighted with the response from all
those who joined in and staged the 43 events throughout the
country. The reason that we decided to involve the County FA
more in the arranging of these events was with a hope that we
could increase attendances and pass on education, social
interaction and the chance to meet new colleagues to a
greater audience.
One word describes the outcome of our liaison, and that word
is SUCCESS.
Together, we have achieved an increase in attendance overall,
by 154 per cent (2,805 delegates). This is made up of the
following Regional area increases:
North East
North West
Midlands
East
South East
South
South West
325 per cent (456 delegates)

The style of delivery varied throughout, ranging from an

all-day event (incorporating outdoor workshops and activities),
a half-day event (incorporating outdoor activities and
presentations), and finally, a more formal presentations
evening. All events were closed with a keynote speaker from
various backgrounds, including the Head of National Referee
Development and International Referees.
So the challenge was made and surpassed, but with every
success story comes hard work and effort again. Whilst
offering thanks to everyone for their achievement, I lay a
further challenge.
You embraced the FAMOA events and achieved success.

I would ask those involved in planning for the new events
to begin planning now, as some have done already. This will
ensure that there is an improvement in the next series. I have
produced a planning document, which is available from myself,
or your Regional Manager, along with appropriate marketing
and early notification advice. Let's make an effort to break the
3,000 barrier. I would ask those who attended the events to
contact either your County Training Officer or County FA; or
check The FA website for details (thefa.com) - and ensure you
accept the challenge to turn up at your local event.
Listed below, are the details available so far, and I will be
updating these as and when they become available. Please
ensure that you keep making enquiries about when your event
will take place. If you missed the last series, ensure that you
make the effort to attend the next series, as we would love to
see you come along.
Alan Wilkie is a Referee Assessor in both The FA Premiership and
Football League. Alan took his position as Regional Manager -referees for
the North East Region in September 2001. Alan.Wilkie@TheFA.com
County FA
Durham
Northumberland
East Riding
Nottinghamshire
Herefordshire
Worcestershire
Shropshire
Norfolk
Essex
AFA
Kent
London
Suffolk
Gloucestershire
Cornwall
Devon
Dorset
Wiltshire
Date/venue(If known)
November 07
25/10/07
01/10/07
14/07/07
Notts Co FC
06/08/07
Three Counties Hotel
Hereford
08/10/07
County Cricket Ground
15/10/07
Newman School
Adrian Shorter
Brian Chapman
14/07/07
Filton Academy
06/0807
Bodmin FC
13/09/07
Culompton
02/09/07
Sun 5 Aug 2007
Melksham House
Melksham
Contact
John Topping
Bill Darby
Geoff Hanson
David Coote
Telephone
0191 3872929
0191 2700700
01482221158
n/a
e-mail
john.topping@durhamfa.com
bill.darby@northumberland fa.com
geoffery.hanson@eastridingfa.com
david.coote@nottinghamshirefa.com
Jim Lambert
n/a
Jim.lambert@herefordshirefa.com
Bill Allsopp
n/a
bill@allsoppref.fsnet.co.uk
David Rowe
Na/
david.rowe@shropshirefa.com
Barry Knight
Terry Thacker
Trevor Syms
01603 704050
01245 393086
0208 3603339
barry.knight@norfolkfa.com
terry.thacker@essexfa.com
trevor.syms@amateur-fa.com
0207 6108375
01284 703558
Barry Gee
01453 541992
adrian.shorter@londonfa.com
brian.chapman@suffolkfa.com
bigee_1999@yahoo.co.uk
Ray Brown
01726 812180
rbrown277@btinternet.com
Tom Sampson
01752 218159
t.samson@tiscali.co.uk
Lyn Nethercott
Julian Carosi
and Kevin Barnes
01202 891574
01249-714552
01793 612470
lyn.Nethercott@dorsetfa.com
julian@carosi.freeserve.co.uk
graham@lwaygreen.fsnet.co.uk
Page 43
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 44
News and Events
RA News
The copy date for our magazine is around three months

before publication so the news we write here will never
be hot news. However this column gives us the chance
to reach all our English members directly and to update
our colleagues in Wales, Northern Ireland and overseas
who see this. Just as importantly, this gives us the chance
to show all those registered referees who are not
members of the Referees Association of England (RAE)
what they are missing. Our Association offers a unique
opportunity to regularly meet with other referees locally
and nationally. Through this they benefit from personal
development via informal and formal training sessions
conducted within our 300 local Societies as well as
meeting socially to discuss football and refereeing. Our
Societies doors are always open to new members so
contact us, well be pleased to see you.
Through membership other general benefits accrue such as
membership of the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, access
to the RA Benevolent Fund, discounted refereeing kit and
equipment from RAshop.co.uk and advice or representation
on legal and administrational matters. We are here for your
development, support and welfare.
The Conference itself takes place on Saturday 9 June 2007

starting at 10 a.m. Platform presentations by eminent
speakers will be interspersed with more intimate workshop
sessions that were so successful when we introduced them
at the Southport event in 2005. These sessions offer the
chance for smaller groups to interact with some of our top
referees and administrators. Those participating this year will
include: Ian Blanchard, Howard Webb, Mark Clattenburg,
Steve Bennett, Martin Atkinson, Mike Riley, Phil Sharp and
Chris Hoy
As well as these star performers there will be other sessions
on refereeing at park level and an interactive session (perhaps
for our more mature members and RAE administrators)
where questions on the Association itself will be debated.
Adding these items to the programme means there is really
something for everybody to enjoy and to learn from.
Saturday continues in the evening with the Dinner and Dance.
The Annual Draw will take place during the interval of the
dancing to a live band. Before that, many of our most senior
referees will be presented with mementos to mark their
appearance at various prestigious cup finals. Come along
and rub shoulders with them.
RA Conference Weekend 8/9 June

Again this year we are based at the Hilton Hotel, Warwick.
It is very accessible by car being right by Junction 15 of the
M40 and not too far from local railway stations Warwick
Parkway is the nearest. The hotel was very hospitable last
year and has been reserved for our exclusive use over the
weekend with normal parking fees waived for attendees.
Well before the time this reaches you, the Conference
bookings will be rolling in. Your local Society will have had
full details and should have publicised the very attractive
programme this year. There will be a formal Association
AGM on the afternoon of Friday 8 June followed in the
evening with a buffet reception with entertainment. During
the evening a number of RAE Long and Meritorious Service
Awards will be presented to members.
Entrance to all Conference events is by ticket only. The Saturday

daytime programme is free to all members but must be prebooked. Full details and booking forms are available from
your own Society Secretary and extras may be requested
from the head office in Coventry (not from The FA, though).
If you are not already an RAE member, why not join now
and enjoy what the Warwick Conference has to offer?
No increase in RA insurance premium
The RA website
The premium for 2007-08 remains unchanged at 4 for all

members aged 14 to 75. Against a background of generally
high inflation in insurance premiums, it now offers members
even better value. They have personal accident cover while
engaged in all football-related activities not just whilst
actually officiating travelling to and attendance at meetings
is also covered, for instance, so is acting as an assessor,
instructor or examiner. The general benefits that may be
claimed, subject to the exact terms of the policy, as a result
of an accident include:
This is now fully functional thanks to the efforts of several

members. It is a source for information on the Association
generally with downloads of many standard documents now
available. Almost complete is the database of local Societies
so that you can find where and when your local branch
meets and who to contact there. The site provides topical
news feeds and we are sure you will find them interesting
and informative.
Up to 20,000 for death, the loss of a limb or an eye,

permanent disablement or paralysis
The once-troubled Discussion Board is now operating under

control and right-minded individuals can sign on and get
involved. There is also the direct link to our Supplies business
at www.RAshop.co.uk and to other commercial enterprises.
Medical expenses up to 100
Go to www.footballreferee.org and catch up!
Dental expenses up to 100
Eve-of-the-Final Rally
100 per week for temporary total disablement
The Eve-of-Final Rally returns to London on Friday 18 May

2007 at 6 p.m. and we are delighted to announce that this
will be held at the Emirates Stadium Ashburton Grove, the
home of Arsenal Football Club. The Rally honours The FA
Cup Final Referee and his team. It is a tribute paid to them
by their fellow referees to recognise their achievement.
Everybody will get a chance to mingle with the match officials
and VIPs before the formalities begin and will receive a souvenir
programme autographed by The FA Cup Final officials. We are
delighted that Keith Hackett, General Manager of the PGMOL,
will be the Guest Speaker.
Additionally, theft of refereeing equipment of up to 200

may be claimed for, again subject to reasonable conditions.
The RA group personal accident insurance policy represents
excellent value and is another good reason for joining us.
National Quiz Final
This takes place on Sunday 29 April at the Stonebridge
Manor Hotel, off the A45 west of Coventry. Six teams
representing the regions in England will go head-to-head
with challengers from Wales and Northern Ireland in what
promises to be a keenly-fought contest. It starts at 2 p.m.
If youre nearby or even if youre not why not go along
and watch? Its a good chance to brush up on your
knowledge on the more obscure parts of the Laws!
We say a big thank you to our colleagues in Cardiff Society

who have kept the show going so well during the FAs exile
in Wales, and expect that this year we will combine the best
of past rallies in London with the freshness of our Welsh friends
brought to the events in Cardiff.
Tickets for this event are now on sale at 12.50 each.
They can be ordered at http://www.footballreferee.org/
or in bulk by ABSs. Demand is expected to be high,
so we recommend early application, which will be on a
first come/first served basis, to avoid disappointment.
Page 45
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 46
News and Events
Theres more than one e in Learning

by Jonathan Wilson
While the debate continues to rage within football and

refereeing circles about the benefits and drawbacks of
allowing referees to utilise technology to aid decision making,
there is one area of technology that The FA is convinced
will support the development of all referees e-learning!
Within the next few months, FA Learning, the educational division
of The FA (for which refereeing plays a central role) will launch
its first ever online course aimed at and designed for, existing,
qualified referees.
More about the Referee Player Management course

The high expectations placed upon the referee by players,
team officials, spectators and the media means that referees
now need an increasingly wide skills set to meet the challenges
presented. For some referees 'keeping all the juggling balls in
the air' can be daunting. This innovative and dynamic online
course has been designed to give referees coping strategies
in dealing with real life on-field situations and use strategies
to help them positively deal with these situations.
What happens if I have a problem with the course?

FA Learning provides full support including a telephone hotline
and email service to make sure you have all the answers to
your questions, but dont worry its a very straightforward, not
to mention, a fun way to learn!
How many other online courses does The FA manage?
We now have 13 online courses covering a range of subjects
including psychology, fitness, coaching, learning the laws and
child protection with more on the way in 2007. Since we
launched the courses in 2004 we have enrolled thousands of
learners in more than ten thousand courses with brilliantly
positive feedback.
This course has been designed to help you:

The course Referee Player Management - is designed to support
all referees in the management of difficult situations that are all
too common on pitches up and down the country.
Whether you are a new, young, aspiring referee, an assistant
referee for the Football League or one of the thousands of
referees that support the game week in week out across the
parks of England, we all know how much of an issue dealing
with difficult players in confrontational situations can be.
As the governing body, we have recognised the need to increase
our efforts in equipping our dedicated referee workforce with
the relevant skills in this area and as part of that programme
we will launch this new interactive online course very shortly.
The course has been designed by Keith Hill and Ray Olivier,
FA Regional Referee Development Managers and very experienced,
both in officiating at the highest level and working to help develop
officials at all levels of the game. With the help of FA Learning
and our chosen design agency, First Media, we are very confident
that the course will improve the skills, knowledge and
understanding of any referee that decides to take the course.
Having seen the course in development, Ian Blanchard
commented, I think it looks great and will be of real benefit
to the refereeing community. We know the online courses
have worked brilliantly for coaches and parents and I am
convinced this course will be the first of many for referees.
Improve your player management skills

Introduce you to some useful techniques and their benefits
Enhance your match control
Increase your enjoyment as a referee
Although the course isnt available yet, we have already had more
than 300 referees register their interest in the course so that
they know the minute the course is live. For all the referees on
the interested list, there will be a real benefit to being in the
first group to enrol on the course. To find out when the course
goes live and to make sure you gain the exclusive benefits on
offer register an interest for the course today.
You can do this by simply visiting www.TheFA.com/FALearning,
clicking on the Courses and Conferences button and then
clicking on the Online Courses button. Finally just find the
course on the list and register today!
Questions about the Referee Player Management Course
and e-learning
Who is the course for?
The course is predominantly aimed at referees or people involved
in refereeing. The course will assume that the individual will
have some experience refereeing and a basic knowledge of
the Laws. The course can be taken by referees at all levels,
although it is ideal that they have refereeing experience before
they take it. The course may also be taken by other participants
in the game, such as players, coaches, parents etc as it may
help in their understanding of how cooperating on the filed of
play will improve the running of the game.
What the benefits to taking an FA Online Course?

Help to further your skills as a referee
Learn in a new and exciting way
Six months 24/7 access to complete the course
Learn at your own pace and in your own time
Save your work at any time and return to the course
at the same point
FA Certificate sent to your home on completion
of the course
When will the course be available?
The course will be ready for people to access by the end of
May 2007.
What are the aims of the course?
The course will give referees more confidence in effectively
dealing with players when faced with a variety of circumstances
on the field of play. This should help prevent confrontation on
the pitch and therefore help the game to run more smoothly.
To make sure that you know when the new Referee Player
Management course goes live, visit www.TheFA.com/FALearing
and register your interest today.
Jonathan Wilson is the Marketing Manager for FA Learning and responsible
for the continued development of FA Learnings e-learning strategy.
How long will the course take?

We anticipate the course will take approx 3 hours to complete,
but this can be done over a 6 month period, allowing the
learner to save their work and return to the course at any time.
Do I need to be a computer whiz kid to complete the course?
No! All the online courses are designed for people will minimal
IT experience and if you use a computer to surf the internet
you will be able to register, enrol and complete the course.
Page 47
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 48
News and Events
An Evening at the Emirates
Society Spotlight - West Middlesex
by Alan Wilkie
by Ray Herb
On 1 February 2007 the penultimate Football Association

Match Officials' Association (FAMOA) event in the 2006
series took place at the brand new Emirates Stadium in
London, home of Arsenal Football Club. This event was
planned and organised by the London Football Association
(LFA), in conjunction with Edward Stone, The FA Regional
Manager for Referees in the South East.
On arrival it was clear that the huge amount of planning that
must have gone into organising this event should be highly
commended. London FA's Adrian Shorter and his efficient
group of volunteers had obviously adopted their best
practices and lessons learnt from previous FA events staged
within the capital. The brand new stadium has a bright and
airy feel and this added to the curiosity factor with a large
number of attendees taking the opportunity to tour around
the stadium.
The stadium is mightily impressive, offering a splendid
uninterrupted view from each of the 60,000+ seats. And in
keeping with the Arsenal tradition of having a top quality
playing surface, they have installed special sun lamps on the
pitch to ensure continual growth of the turf throughout the
winter months; this generated a great deal of interest.
The event was attended by 224 delegates. This is by far the
highest number of attendees since the County Football
Associations began to stage the events. It is also the highest
number since the FAMOA events began.
The evening was designed to inform and stimulate interest
in the work of the County FAs. The FAs own Ed Stone set
the scene for the event and was ably supported by David
Dixon who gave an in-depth outline on the topic entitled
What can your County FA do for you?
Following this presentation, guest speaker Chris Foy
presented a certificate and tunic badge to Peter Gill, to
acknowledge Peter's first ten games as a new referee and
also described his part in the proceedings, as one of the
more pleasurable duties of a high-profile referee.
Following the presentation of the certificate, Adrian Shorter

delivered a rallying call by presenting a topic entitled, What
can you do for your County?. The presentation was designed
to stimulate interest in delegates, by encouraging them to
become involved in the three current initiatives of Mentoring,
Assessing and Young Referees. To enhance this delivery the
London FA had provided three booths in an adjoining area
where interested parties could discuss the individual
disciplines with local coordinators; it was pleasing to note
that these cubicles were very busy during the break.
Keynote speaker Chris Foy, FA Premier League Referee,
gave a presentation on the 'Life of a professional referee'.
Chris kept the delegates spellbound with his honesty,
humour and professionalism for well over an hour, including
dealing with many questions from the floor. The biggest
compliment to Chris is that it only seemed like 10 minutes!
Lockie Bramzell, London FA Referees' Committee Chairman,
who must have been a very proud man throughout the
evening, closed the event with generous thanks to those
who were in attendance and to those involved in the event's
organisation.
As a guest speaker myself, it was a privilege to be at an
extremely well organised, well attended and expertly
delivered event. We look forward to seeing you all at the
next FAMOA events throughout the country.
The West Middlesex Referees' Society was founded in 1948

by Harold Bunce, Les Kitson, Wally Guyett and Charlie Angliss.
Initially, the Society worked in conjunction with the West
Middlesex Sunday Football League where some of our older
members were recruited. These included stalwarts such as
Alan Oliver, Derek Stevens, Dennis Martin, Tony Allright,
Charlie Woods, Ron Rumsey and Dave Davies, who all had
some part to play in making the Society successful.
Over time, the Society became more independent, and during
the 1970s membership grew to over 100, including John Brooks,
Keith Burley, Dave Mann, Frank Howlett, George Smith and
Ray Herb. During this period, the Society had a vibrant social
scene, with Dinner Dances and other social functions being
very popular.
During the eighties and nineties, the number of referees within
the Society dropped steadily. The Societys main claim to fame
was the membership of Philip Don, who was the English
representative at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and
later became the Referees' Manager for the Professional Game
Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
During the nineties, membership dropped below the fifty mark,
and the Society lost key members of its Executive Committee
through retirement, resignation and bereavement. Newer
members were encouraged to take a more active part in the
running of the Society, and Rod Chatfield and Noel Palmer
joined the Executive Committee.
During the early 2000s, the Society took a long, hard look at
itself. The Chairman Ray Herb and Vice Chairman Richard
Seuke subsequently took the view that the traditional style of
meetings with numerous reports and a guest speaker needed
updating. A new emphasis was put on training, and two things
were implemented. Firstly, Richard drastically changed the
format of monthly meetings. Reports were moved to the
Society magazine; a members problems section was
incorporated into the agenda and the emphasis switched to
involving members more at meetings. Secondly, Chris
Thompson joined the Training Team. The Team then changed
the format of its courses to include summer courses, weekend
courses, two-tier courses and crash courses.
The impact of these changes slowly began to take effect, and

membership began to increase again from 85 in 2004-05 to 104
in 2005-06, which was recognised by the Ken Longhurst Trophy
for the biggest percentage increase amongst 12 other societies.
Training continues to be at the forefront of the Societys
success, and the Training Team has strengthened its numbers
to seven over the past three years, including Jo Northey who
attained FA Licensed Instructor status this year. The Society
embarked on a youth-only course in September 2006 and
trained sixteen lads under the age of seventeen. Not content
with training these lads, the Society then mustered a group of
volunteers to work alongside the Training Team as mentors.
Together, we ensured that every one of these new referees
had a mentor with him for his first three games. The games
themselves were allocated as a result of collaboration between
the Society and the Surrey Youth League. The result is that of
the original sixteen trainees, fourteen continue to referee on a
regular basis.
The Society has achieved its success as a result of the dedication
and commitment shown by the Training Team and the Executive
Committee. There is also much stability within the Executive
Committee due to long memberships. In recognition of their
service to refereeing, Keith Burley and Ray Herb were each
awarded their Referees' Association Long and Meritorious
Service awards in 2004.
Notable speakers include Stephen Bennett, Dermot Gallagher,
Barry Knight, Rob Styles and Paul Taylor, and the Society is
very fortunate to have use of the excellent facilities offered by
BP at their Meadhurst Social Club in Sunbury-on-Thames.
Ray Herb qualified as a referee in 1974 and became Training Officer in
1985. Since then he has become an FA Licensed Instructor and FA Assessor.
He was Chairman of Middlesex RA for three years before taking the Chair at
Society in 1994. He received his RA Long and Meritorious Service in 2004.
Page 49
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 50
News and Events
FA Policy on Age Legislation

by Neale Barry
In light of the age discrimination legislation that was

implemented in England in October 2006, The FA
has reviewed its policy relating to the appointment
of Match Officials.
As you will be aware, under the current system there are a
number of age restrictions for Match Officials in terms of
their promotion into or removal from levels within the
refereeing structure operated by The FA. This starts with
promotion into Level 4 where The FA only takes referees
under the age of 43.
As a result of the review, The FA has decided that in future
decisions on the promotion and/or removal of referees
appointed by The FA (i.e. Levels 2 to 4) will be based on a
robust performance analysis system that applies to all referees
irrespective of age and accordingly the current age
restrictions will cease to apply .
What this means in practice:
1. Nominations from County FAs for promotion
to Supply League (i.e. Level 4)
Age will no longer be a factor to be considered by County
FAs in deciding which referees to nominate for promotion.
The FA has redesigned the CL1 (Detail) form so that County
FAs will now be required to provide more detailed information
about each referee so that promotion to Level 4 is purely on
merit-based accurate information.
2. Rigorous performance analysis system
Now that age has been removed as a criterion, to ensure that
referees with the potential are given the opportunity to move
up the refereeing ladder to the professional game, it is essential
that The FA has a rigorous performance analysis system.
This includes performance analysis and fitness testing.
3. Feedback to Match Officials

In the interests of fairness, The FA has increased the
frequency at which we advise Match Officials of their merit
table ranking at Levels 3 and 2. At Level 3 we have
introduced a new merit ranking system that divides the
current 398 referees into groups of 25, which gives referees
a clearer indication of their position. This information is now
sent to the referees four times a year rather than twice a
year as in the past.
This increase to four times a year has also been introduced
for Level 2 referees.
4. Identifying talent
We have introduced a Regional Referee Coaching scheme
at Level 3 (Contributory League) to work closely with Match
Officials to enhance their performance and develop the skills
required to achieve the next level.
The Coaching scheme for 2007/08 will involve two groups
of referees.
The ten coaches will be working with the 60 or so new
Level 3 referees to support them as they are trying to
adapt to a higher level of football.
Around 100 current Level 3 referees who are identified as
having the potential to progress their refereeing careers
will be selected to form a Talent Group. However, being in
this Talent Group brings no guarantee of promotion and
there will be flexibility to allow the movement of referees
into and out of the scheme.
The criteria for the talent group are:

A perceived on-field potential to progress through to a
higher level of refereeing.
Sufficient time and opportunity to achieve promotion into
the professional game. In general terms it would take a
referee 5-6 seasons to gain enough experience to move
from Level 3 to Level 1, although clearly some referees
with exceptional talent will move more quickly than that
and some referees may take longer to achieve that promotion)
A high level of commitment and personal responsibility
towards the principles of the group
An undertaking to establish goal/target-setting within an
agreed action plan with their coach
Commitment to attend all the training and education
seminars set up for the group.
Those referees selected for the Regional Referee Coaching
scheme for season 2007-08 will be contacted at the end of
the current playing season.
If you have any questions in relation to the new system
please contact me at Neale.Barry@TheFA.com
As you are aware, The FA has improved the assessment

schemes operating at Levels 4 and 3 by increasing the number
of assessments and the quality of the feedback to ensure
that we have sufficient detailed information on referee
performance for both promotion and retention purposes.
Page 51
2487_Refereeing AW
8/6/07
14:44
Page 52
FA Learning
The Football Association
25 Soho Square
London
W1D 4FA
The Referees Association

1 Westhill Road
Coundon
Coventry
CV6 2AD
Telephone:
+44 (0)20 7745 4545
Facsimile:
+44 (0)20 7745 4546
FA Learning Hotline:
0870 8500424
Email:
info@TheFA.com
Visit:
www.TheFA.com/FALearning
Telephone:
+44 (0)2476 601 701
Facsimile:
+44 (0)2476 601 556
Email:
ra@footballreferee.org
Visit:
www.footballreferee.org
Refereeing
Joint Publication of The FA and the RA

Refereeing Magazine - Vol 03 - Spring 07

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Refereeing Magazine - Vol 03 - Spring 07

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

2487_Refereeing AW

MANAGING THE GAME

BE A REFEREE AND BE A FRIEND

YOU WOULD MISS US

Managing the Game

The Referee - A Master of the Silent Assist

Be a Referee and Be a Friend - The Fans' Viewpoint

Review of Basic Training and Examination Process

UEFA and FIFA - Where do we stand in World Refereeing?

Interview with Amy Rayner

You would miss us

Regional Referee Coaches for Level Three Referees

Keeping yourself fit in the Close Season

News and Events

There is more than one e in Learning

An Evening at the Emirates

Society Spotlight West Middlesex

FA Policy on Age Legislation

Refereeing is the official joint magazine of The Football Association

The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of

Editorial Team: Ian Blanchard, Antonia Hagemann,

Published by: FA Learning, 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA

Acknowledgements: The contents of Refereeing are copyright

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to write the

There is a huge amount of talent within the Supply and

The FA Crest is a registered trade mark of The Football Association

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

Managing the Game

The ability of a referee to successfully manage a feisty game

Do you have the tools of the trade, whistles, notebook,

Have you checked travel arrangements, location of the

Can I just confirm what time kick-off is please?

In this first article we will consider the term management in

Weather conditions play a big part in not only determining

I suppose the first thing we need to understand is, what do

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

Research what do you know about the two teams? Have

What food do you eat before the game? A great deal of

Letting the secretary know when you are aiming to arrive,

When carrying out a field-of-play inspection, you may have a

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

The Referee - Master of the Silent Assist

When someone asked World Cup (1974) referee Jack Taylor to

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

Making your mistakes

Below are three examples where doing nothing enables a

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

To indicate that no offence has occurred, when shouts of

When a referee does nothing, it delivers the strongest

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

Be a Referee and be a friend

I went to my 5,267th football match yesterday. It might be a

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

It can be lonely in a different sense if youre refereeing a Sunday

So what do we expect from a referee?

In any football crowd, most people will be prejudiced against

We expect a referee to be in control. Im the referee lets

It can be painful to see a referee lose control. I saw a Sunday

We expect a referee to be personable. Players and spectators

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007

Review of Basic Training

Of the current 7,500 candidates who pass the Basic Referee

REFEREEING Spring/Summer 2007