REFEREE'S

 

In - Service Training Scheme
 
 
The Beginners’ Training Course undertaken by new recruits before they qualify as referees is not intended to teach them everything that they will ever need to know about refereeing.
 
It is only a starting point. As the novice official referees his or her first few games, he or she will quickly appreciate that there is a steep learning curve involved.
 
What might not be realised in those early days, however, is that the learning process never ends: the curve will become less steep as more experience is gained but nevertheless it carries on for ever.
 
What, then, can referees do to assist with this learning process ?   There are various answers to this question.
 
Self-learning
On the Beginners’ Training Course, trainees are encouraged to think about the challenges that they encounter and to try to find their own solutions to the problems.
 
Mentoring
London Football Association has a scheme to allocate experienced colleagues to offer practical guidance and support to new officials.  Following observation of the referee’s match performances by the mentor, written feedback is given on strengths and on areas where there is room for improvement.

CLICK HERE for more details of the Mentoring Scheme.
 
Young Referees
The LFA also has a group set up by young referees (aged 18 to 25) for referees in that age group. It holds regular meetings and issues its own electronic newsletter.

CLICK HERE for more details of the Young Referees Group
 
Assessing
The LFA also has a formal assessing scheme. The assessor will not however have on ongoing relationship with the referee (unlike a mentor or a “referee’s friend”): the assessor will simply provide written feedback following a single match observation. The assessing scheme is closely linked to the Promotion Scheme but it is open to all LFA officials, whether or not they are currently participating in the promotion scheme. 

CLICK HERE for more details of the Promotion Scheme.
 
Referees’ Societies
Newsletters are printed and meetings are held by some leagues, by the Football Association Match Officials Association (“FAMOA”) and by the local societies forming the Referees’ Association (“RA”). A key role of these organisations is to educate officials. 

CLICK HERE for details of FAMOA and RA events.
 
Continuation Training Courses
The LFA organises various “In-Service Training Courses” throughout the year. Each course is targeted at a particular group of individuals, e.g. at referees qualified for around six months or at promotion candidates or at officials appointed to Cup Finals, etc. Details of each course are circularised to LFA officials in the relevant target group in advance of the meeting. Any referees not in the target group are however welcome to express an interest in joining any course if there are any vacancies.