{"id":47591,"title":"How to Become a Football Referee","description":"Becoming a football referee is a great way to get involved in the beautiful game. Find out how to become a football referee and the steps you need to take.","content":"<p><strong>Premier League referees are becoming more and more like household names these days. From Michael Oliver to the infamous Mike Dean. Retired referees such as Mark Halsey and Howard Webb have even seen themselves become a big part of match day coverage on certain media outlets. The profile of top level referees has never been bigger but not a lot is known about how referees make their way to the top and what they\u2019ve got to do to get there\u2026<\/strong><\/p><h2><strong>The 3 Steps to Becoming a Football Referee<\/strong><\/h2><p>It\u2019s pretty simple really! Anyone above the age of 14 can become a referee. More and more people from a whole range of ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities are turning to refereeing as a way of getting involved in football. And here\u2019s how to do it:<\/p><ul><li><p><strong>Contact your local County FA.\u00a0<\/strong>Your local CFA will have a dedicated Referee Development team. They will explain to you what you need to do to get started.<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Take a course.\u00a0<\/strong>The first course you take will get you to grips with the laws of the game and provide you with the necessary practical skills. The further you progress with refereeing, the more courses you will undertake to build your knowledge and game management skills.<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Get some experience. <\/strong>You can start refereeing junior football matches after you complete the basic course. This will help you to build the match experience you need to move up the ranks. You\u2019ll be qualified to take on a higher level of the game with each new course you take.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>You can find more information on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefa.com\/get-involved\/referee\/general-information\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><u>The FA\u2019s website.<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p><h2><strong>How long will it take to get to the top?<\/strong><\/h2><p>The short answer is, it depends! How quickly you progress will depend on your hard work and dedication. You should be prepared to spend a lot of time on taking new courses and gaining match experience.<\/p><p>The general consensus is that you need to spend around a year at each level before progressing up the ladder. So you won\u2019t be a Premier League match official overnight.<\/p><p>The ladder from the bottom to the top of officiating in English football are as follows:<\/p><ul><li><p><strong>Level 1 \u2013 National List (English Football League and English Premier League)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 2a \u2013 Panel Select (National League Premier)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 2b \u2013 Panel (National League North and South)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 3 \u2013 Contributory (Contributory Leagues)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 4 \u2013 Supply (Supply Leagues)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 5 \u2013 Senior County (County Leagues)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 6 \u2013 County (County leagues)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 7 \u2013 Junior (Amateur leagues)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 8 \u2013 Youth (Junior Referee below age of 16)<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Level 9 \u2013 Trainee<\/strong><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><\/p><h2><strong>Hear from the refs<\/strong><\/h2><p>A few years back we had the pleasure of sitting down with three young Birmingham FAs referees at St. George\u2019s Park. We discussed all things refereeing with Dan, Travis &amp; Jack.<\/p><p>The guys gave us a great insight into the world of officiating, and a perspective on the beautiful game which doesn\u2019t get much focus:<\/p><div data-youtube-video=\"\"><iframe class=\"youtube\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iSpY-spJTU8\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><\/p><p>Another young referee we\u2019ve had the pleasure of speaking to is <strong>Will Davis<\/strong>. We learnt about his journey towards a career in the professional game and the challenges he has faced along the way. Still in his early twenties, Will is making a name for himself as a referee in the North West of England and has his sights set for a long career in football\u2026<\/p><h3><strong>Getting Started\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p><em>\u201cI have pretty much grown up in and around football. I was kicking a ball around as soon as I could walk. Growing up I represented Sheffield schoolboys as well as playing for my local Sunday team. Unfortunately, whilst playing I suffered a fractured ankle and was out for over a year. I managed to get back into playing but was never quite the same. So I thought I would turn my attentions elsewhere and stay involved in football.<\/em><\/p><p><em>My Dad has always done a bit of refereeing and for some strange reason I thought I would give it a go! So I completed my local Referees course and haven\u2019t looked back since!<\/em><\/p><p><em>That first course is where I learned all about the laws which are enforced by match officials each game. I also learnt about technical aspects such as positioning and match control. In order to pass the course, I had to pass a laws of the game exam and officiate a certain number of football matches. From then on I have just tried to enjoy myself and learn from each match.<\/em><\/p><p><em>There have been some very challenging times but these have only helped me to become a better match official. I am currently a level 4 Supply league referee and Assistant Referee on contributory leagues around the North West.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/bljvsqiil9janficbnjjw1ef39sxoopds8advhwzhsmkimeq.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" alt=\"bljvsqiil9janficbnjjw1ef39sxoopds8advhwzhsmkimeq.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" \/><strong>Developing Your Game\u2026<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cWithin refereeing there are always developmental opportunities designed to help you grow as a Match Official. Once you qualify these courses are optional but I have found them to be absolutely vital to my development.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Since joining Manchester FA I have been a part of their development pathway. From the Referee Development Group to the Referee Academy, right through to the Level 4 Group. Being a part of these groups has allowed me to learn alongside other referees of similar abilities through both practical and theoretical sessions.<\/em><\/p><p><em>We often have meetings led by high profile officials. We analyse clips of certain situations and try to learn from them. We also have regular fitness sessions alongside practical pitch based sessions where we can work on aspects such as positioning.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Being a part of these sessions has been absolutely fantastic for my development as a match official. I am now lucky enough to be leading the Referee Development group at Manchester FA where I can give back and help other referees to develop their own games and skills. This is highly rewarding and has given me so many skills which have not only helped me in Football but also in the world of work. I never expected to have gained all these skills just from becoming a referee. I am confident I would not be where I am now if I never picked up the whistle!\u201d<\/em><\/p><h3><strong>Overcoming the Challenges\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p><em>\u201cThere are obviously a lot of challenges faced when refereeing but overcoming these is what makes it so enjoyable. Initially when I first started, communicating with players, mangers and parents was a challenge. Being able to manage 22 players and ensure I keep full control of the game as a young person was hard. However, with time I found I built confidence and found techniques which work for me in managing different personalities and situations.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Probably one of the biggest things I have had to overcome is the fear of making mistakes. As a referee often you are the first to be blamed and have your performance scrutinised and people can often forget we are only human.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Having a fear of making mistakes can sometimes affect my performance and ironically lead to more mistakes. For me, learning to not be scared of failure and using mistakes as opportunities to develop has helped me get over this.\u201d<\/em><\/p><h3><strong>Working Under Pressure\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p><em>\u201cFor me this is one of the most enjoyable parts of refereeing. Working with and managing different people and their personalities is the biggest challenge out there. I have found different situations and different people can require completely different management styles. It is important to be able to adapt your approach to suit any given situation you find yourself in. Always being honest is key, as most people will respect you for it even if you make a mistake.<\/em><\/p><p><em>In terms of the pressure, it\u2019s just something you get used to. I have learned several coping mechanisms which I now use to help keep me focussed on the game and avoid any unwanted thoughts.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/xqth0mwha7ypoxumpuba0xsvyvur4h0wsrrviiuyey8q30o4.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" alt=\"xqth0mwha7ypoxumpuba0xsvyvur4h0wsrrviiuyey8q30o4.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" \/><\/p><h3><strong>Learning From The Best\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p><em>\u201cI look up to many of the referees on the Premier league and within Europe. I watch how they manage different players and situations and then try to put this into practice during my own games. If I had to pick one, I can\u2019t look much further than Michael Oliver at present. He is the Premier League\u2019s youngest ever referee and consistently delivers top performances. His fitness is second to none and the way he communicates with players and manages challenging situations whilst under so much pressure is a joy to watch.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Unfortunately, when you become a referee, you never quite watch a football match in the same way again. I always have an eye on the Referee even if I\u2019m just trying to watch my own team!\u201d<\/em><\/p><h3><strong>The Future of Refereeing\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p><em>\u201cPersonally I feel refereeing is reaching new heights in terms of the volume of people getting involved from all different backgrounds. We now have many younger referees taking charge of big matches in our top leagues, helping to inspire more young people to take up the whistle. Also, it is now possible to make a career out of refereeing if you can make it to the top, something that wasn\u2019t necessarily possible in the past. These factors, along with the fantastic support provided at County and FA Level has made it a fantastic time for any budding referee to give it a go!<\/em><\/p><p><em>My tips to anyone just starting out would be to make sure you enjoy every moment possible and always look for opportunities to improve. Don\u2019t be scared of making mistakes as these are often the biggest opportunities to learn, embrace them! Lastly get out and watch as much football as you can and learn from your fellow officials.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/pyzdvsmr3ekiw7pgmqlevu852qe7lxnjctowxdhkivqdsfzv.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" alt=\"pyzdvsmr3ekiw7pgmqlevu852qe7lxnjctowxdhkivqdsfzv.png.jpg?w=1140&amp;h=auto\" \/><\/p><h2><strong>So what are you waiting for?<\/strong><\/h2><p><em>Fancy giving it a go? Contact your local County FA for more information or check out <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thefa.com\/get-involved\/referee\/general-information\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><u>The FA\u2019s website<\/u><\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><p><em>If you\u2019re a referee or just interested in the beautiful game from the man in black\u2019s perspective then check out\u00a0<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/refereetales.blogspot.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><u>Referee Tales.<\/u><\/em><\/a><em> It\u2019s a warts and all blog about officiating amateur football.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Find all that you need to become the next Pierluigi Colina on <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/Kitlocker.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><u>Kitlocker.com<\/u><\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0with some massive discounts across the range.<\/em><\/p><p><\/p>","urlTitle":"becoming-a-referee","url":"\/blog\/becoming-a-referee\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/becoming-a-referee\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/kitlocker.com\/blog\/becoming-a-referee\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1742978052,"updatedAt":1749140824,"publishedAt":1749140818,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":356097,"name":"Kitlocker"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/duknftutkz2hzmtdaiuiuanccf52o7pntpsw4gj2nwq33oss.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/duknftutkz2hzmtdaiuiuanccf52o7pntpsw4gj2nwq33oss.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/duknftutkz2hzmtdaiuiuanccf52o7pntpsw4gj2nwq33oss.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"How to Become a Football Referee","metaDescription":"Becoming a football referee is a great way to get involved in the beautiful game. 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