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Why Should
Anyone want to be a Referee ? |
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| When we ask our referees for the
answer to this question, they normally give one of three
reasons... |
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I can't play for my team as
I'm injured or too old but I want to keep up my
involvement or... |
| * |
I was never much good as a
player but I wanted to be involved in the game or... |
| * |
I'm involved in running a
side but often we do not have an official referee.
I help out on these occasions and want to learn more
about it. |
|
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| The common factor is
that all these men and women love the game and want to be
involved. We are short of referees. A programme is in place
to recruit more officials and to retain a higher percentage
of people once they have qualified. Read on if you want to
know more! |
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| Are
there minimum or maximum ages ? |
| Candidates must be
aged at least 14 at the date of Module 3. There is no
maximum age. |
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| What
do the Courses involve ? |
| FA acredited
instructors lead all our courses, which are all open to both
male and female candidates unless otherwise stated. The
English language will be used and relevant literature will
be provided. The following elements have to be completed:- |
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Pre-Course Study:
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Candidates will be
provided with:-
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·
a copy of the “Laws of the Game” booklet
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·
a “Learn the Laws” DVD and
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·
a Pre-Course Study Pack
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which
they are asked to study for at least ten hours |
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Module 1:
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Two hour classroom-based
introductory session, including the completion of a
multiple-choice question paper to assess candidates’
knowledge of the Laws of the Game following the
Pre-Course Study
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Module 2:
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Classroom-based
instruction for 12 hours on the Laws of the Game and
on refereeing in practice plus an eyesight test and
(if required – see below) Safeguarding Children
Awareness Training and FA Criminal Records Bureau
checks
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Module 3:
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Classroom-based one and
a half hour multiple-choice examination based on
questions in a written paper and on a DVD
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Module 4:
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Candidates referee six
11-a-side games (appointments to suitable games can be
arranged if required and mentors can also be provided)
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Module 5:
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Classroom-based three
hour evening “Next Step Workshop”
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Normally Module 2 is completed
by way of evening class sessions of two hours a night, one
night a week for six weeks. Alternatively, some intensive
courses are held with a six hour session on a Saturday or
Sunday followed by a further six hour session either the
next day (on some of the courses starting on a Saturday) or
the next weekend. |
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| Module 2 will also
include a three hour Safeguarding Children Best Practice
Workshop. Anyone who has already attended such a Workshop
within the last three years (e.g. in order to obtain a
coaching qualification) does not however have to attend the
Workshop again. Candidates aged 14 or 15 at the date of
Module 3 should also not attend the Workshop: instead, they
are required to complete a checksheet after viewing a
“Safeguarding Children Guide” CD-ROM.
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All candidates aged 18 or over
at the date of Module 3 must also apply during the course
for a Criminal Records Bureau check, unless they have
already applied for such a check through the FA CRB Unit
within the last three years. The procedure includes
producing evidence of identity, e.g. the originals of a
passport, a driving licence and a birth certificate. The
vast majority of people with convictions have nothing to
fear from the process and can qualify as a referee without
any problems as the FA CRB Unit is only aiming to keep out
of the game individuals who are a threat to children. For
more information, please CLICK
HERE: a facility to speak in confidence is also
available on 0845 210 8080
|
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What
qualifications do I get ?
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On satisfactory completion of
Module 3, candidates will be registered as Level 9 (Trainee)
Referees and will receive a London FA Referee’s Badge.
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On satisfactory completion of
Module 5, candidates will be reclassified as Level 7
(Junior) Referees, unless they are aged 14 or 15, when they
will be registered as Level 8 (Youth) Referees. They will
receive a London FA Referee’s Certificate, a Record of
Achievement and a Football Association Match Officials
Association Referee’s Badge.
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What
does it cost ?
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| The amount payable
varies depending on the age of the candidate, on whether
s/he has attended a Safeguarding Children Best Practice
Workshop within the last three years and on whether s/he has
obtained a Criminal Records Bureau check through the FA CRB
Unit within the last three years. The table below shows the
sums payable. |
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Age 14 or 15
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Age 16 or 17
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Age 18 or
above
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Course fee (refundable
– see below)
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10.00
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30.00
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30.00
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PLUS
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Referee registration fee
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15.00
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15.00
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15.00
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PLUS
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Safeguarding Children
Guide CD-ROM
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10.00
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0.00
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0.00
|
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PLUS
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Workshop fee (not
payable if Workshop attended within last 3 years)
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0.00
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30.00
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30.00
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PLUS
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CRB check fee (not
payable if issued by FA CRB Unit within 3 years)
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0.00
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0.00
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12.00
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TOTAL
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£35.00
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£75.00
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£87.00
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Once candidates have completed
Module 4, they can apply for a refund of the course fees,
i.e. £10.00 if aged 14 or 15 or £30.00 if aged 16 or over.
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No concessions are granted to
the fees listed above. This is because course fees will be
refunded once candidates have completed Module 4 and because
they will be paid a match fee for each game that they
referee: the match fee is up to £35 per game in most
“parks level” adult leagues in the Greater London area.
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Course fees will not be
refunded to candidates unable to complete a course
successfully because the costs of running a course have to
be shared by all candidates. London FA will however look
favourably on requests by candidates who do not complete a
course successfully to be transferred onto another course
without having to pay any additional fees.
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When
do the courses start ?
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At approximately fortnightly
intervals throughout the year: more details are given on the
right hand side of this page. We run about 30 courses a
year: details of further courses will be added to the
website as soon as the arrangements are confirmed.
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Where
are the courses held ?
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At various venues all around
London: once again, more details are given on the right hand
side of this page. Information about courses at other venues
will be added to the website as soon as the arrangements
have been confirmed.
|
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| What
help do I get when I have qualified ? |
| Plenty !
The following assistance is available: |
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A mentoring scheme, offering
support in the early days after qualification,
including practical advice on matters such as buying
kit, finding suitable leagues, etc. |
| * |
Links with the youth
academies of some of the professional clubs in our
area, so that the basics of officiating can be learned
in an environment free from undisciplined players and
unruly spectators. |
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Ongoing training courses
targeted at various levels of experience. |
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Automatic membership of the
Football Association Match Officials Association. |
| * |
The opportunity to join local
referees’ societies and the Referees’ Association
of England. |
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An assessment scheme. |
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A promotion scheme. |
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A Support Group specifically
for female officials. |
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A Support Group specifically
for officials under the age of 25. |
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Groups at which referees work
together on their fitness. |
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And much more besides ! |
|
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| Is
there anything else I must do ? |
| Referees must
re-register with the LFA by 31st May each year. At the
moment the annual re-registration fee is £15.00 but it may
differ from year to year. |
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| How
do I apply ? |
| Please complete the
form below. Details of forthcoming courses will be sent to
you with a booking form. |
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|
Or simply telephone the
Referees Department at the LFA office on...
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020 7610 8375
or 020 7610 8362 |
|
to request an Information Pack. |
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