REFEREES

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-791/aniGif.gif" alt="Referree" border="0" align="bottom" width="96" height="120">  </div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> HOME PAGE    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME"><U>home</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>REFEREES</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Engravers MT" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How do I become involved ?"><U>How do I become involved ?</U></A></div> <div> <B>Refereeing and what it entails</B></div> <bR> <div> Have you have ever thought about improving your knowledge about the Laws of the Game, so when you stand there each week abusive the Referee you will be able to do it from a position of strength as you will know you are right. If so why not attend a Referees Course; this should help you in a couple of ways. </div> <bR> <div> First it will enable you to understand the Laws of the Game correctly, which should improved your enjoyment of the wonderful game. The second advantage is that when you take up the whistle you will be able to earn some money whilst enjoying yourself. Also if you are young enough then maybe one day you will be able to Referee the FA or World Cup Final, obviously there are a lot of hurdles in the way, but if you are dedicated enough then anything is possible. How do you start? </div> <bR> <div> First of all is that you have to be 14 years or older, there is no upper age limited. The next thing is you have to attend a Referees Course. At the end of which you will be required to take a one-hour written examination followed by an oral examination, the overall pass mark is 75% but this is achievable, provided you pay attention during the Course.</div> <bR> <div> Having passed the Examination you can then register as a Level 7 Referee (Level 8 if you are between 14 and 16 years old) you will then be put in contact with Local Football Leagues who will then appoint you to matches. This could be Youth Football, ages 11 to 18, Women's Football (open age groups), and Men's Football (open age groups). You will also be allowed to act as an Assistant Referee on a local Supply League. In addition to officiating on matches you can ask that a Mentor or Friend be appointed to assist you in developing as a Referee. It will also be recommended to you that you join the local Referees Association, this is a monthly meeting of Referees within your local area, who meet on a regular basis for training, instruction and advice about refereeing.</div> <bR> <div> Once you have completed a full season as a Registered Referee you will be eligible to apply for promotion, once in the Promotion Scheme you will begin to develop your skills as a Referee to a much higher standard. During the promotion year, which starts on 1st March and ends on the last day of February, you will be required to referee 20 matches, attend an In Service Training Seminar and pass an examination on the Laws of the Game. An Assessor will also watch you on at least three occasions, after each of these games the Assessor will complete a comprehensive assessment on your performance highlighting both your strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the promotion year you achievements will be viewed and provided you have satisfied the Assessors you will be promoted to Level 6. If you do not reach the required standard you will be allowed to remain in the system as long as you want and the process each year is the same.</div> <div> In order to progress higher you will remain in the Promotion Scheme and the pattern is repeated, however during the second year you will be required to act as an Assistant Referee for 5 matches. Towards the end of the Promotion Year as a Level 6 you will be invited to attend a County Fitness Test where you will be required to run around a running track for 12 minutes during which time you must cover a minimum distance of 2,700 metres. Once again your performance will be judged and if you reached the required standard you will be promoted to Level 5.</div> <bR> <div> Provided you are young enough things can really begin to happen at this stage, assuming that you passed the County Fitness Test you will be nominated for promotion to Level 4. If selected it will mean that you can referee at Supply League Level and be an Assistant Referee at Contributory League Level. </div> <bR> <div> At the end of each season your marks will be looked at and if you finish high enough up the list of Referees you will be invited to the FA Headquarters for an Interview. If successful you will be promoted to Level 3, where you will referee at Contributory League level and acting as an Assistant Referee for The Panel.</div> <div> Again your marks will be monitored and if you are doing well you will be invited for another interview and now you could be promoted to Level 2, when you referee the Nationwide Conference and be an Assistant Referee on the Football League.</div> <bR> <div> The process is repeated and this time you will be promoted to Level 1, Football League Referee, and Premier League Assistant Referee. You will continue to improve and eventually join the Premier League Referees List and then the next move is to be selected as a FIFA Referee and then maybe the World Cup Final.</div> <bR> <div> As said at the beginning there are a lot of hurdles to cross, however with the right about of dedication, commitment, and suitable fitness levels anything is possible.</div> <div> I hope this has given you a brief insight into the World of Refereeing but if there are any more questions please do not hesitate to contact me.</div> <bR> <div> Andy Taylor, County Training Officer, Middlesex County Football Association</div> <div> Home Address</div> <div> 33, Hereford Gardens, Pinner, Middx HA5 5JR (H) 0208-866-6937 (M) 07957-626270</div> <div> Email <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#3300FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:andyjc.taylor@virgin.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:andyjc.taylor@virgin.net"><U>andyjc.taylor@virgin.net</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME"><U>HOME</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>