Contributors:

David Elleray, Michael Oliver, Jon Moss, Natasha Wilson,

Adam Gale-Watts, Dick Sawdon Smith, Ian Blanchard,
Simon Breivik, Laura Ritchie, Daniel Meeson, Phil Knight,
Bartholomew OToole, Tom Bowkett, James Callow,
Mark Lucie, Will Finnie

JON MOSS: PREPARING

FOR THE PINNACLE
PAGE 6

COPING WITH PRESSURE

FROM PLAYERS ON THE FIELD
PAGE 8

Editorial Team:

David Elleray, Ian Blanchard, Peter Glynn,

Thomas Coupland

Design:

David Mills, James Howle, Aadil Mughal

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

PAGE 16

Image Recognition:

Getty Images, FA Learning

Acknowledgements:

RA-FA LIAISON COMMITTEE

Chairman
David Elleray
Chairman FA Referees Committee
President The Referees Association
The FA Referees Committee
David Horlick Vice Chairman
The FA Refereeing Department
Neale Barry
Ian Blanchard
Roger Vaughan
Daniel Meeson
Keith Stroud

FA Head of Senior Referee Development

FA Senior National Game Referee Manager
FA National Referee Manager Recruitment, Retention & Development
FA National Referee Manager Volunteers
FA National Referee Manager Workforce

The Referees Association

Paul Field
Albert Astbury
David Crick

Acting RA General Manager

RA External Affairs Committee (Chairman)
RA representative on FA Council; member of FA Referees Committee

The RA-FA Youth Council

Will Finnie

Chairman

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.
The views of this journal are not necessarily those of
The Football Association or The Referees Association

Foreword

David Elleray

Preparing for the pinnacle

Jon Moss

Published By:

Coping with Pressure from Players on the Field

Michael Oliver

Preparing for the future

Simon Breivik

12

Coping with Pressure

Natacha Wilson

14

FA Learning,
The Football Association,
St. Georges Park, Newborough Road,
Needwood, Burton-Upon-Trent, DE13 9PD

Website:

TheFA.com/Refereeing

Email:

FALearning@TheFA.com
ra@footballreferee.org
The FA Crest is a registered trademark of The Football
Association. The Football Association 2004

Grace under Pressure

Adam Gale Watts

16

Taking One Game at a Time

Ian Blanchard

20

Dealing with Difficult Players

Jon Moss

22

Lessons from Sir Alex Fergusson

Dick Sawdon Smith

26

IFAB AGM
Whole Game System update

28
Phil Knight

29

FA finals

David Elleray

30

New County FA Assessment Form

Daniel Meeson

31

County football as a Business

Ian Blanchard

32

FA Referee Diversity Action Group

Roger Vaughan

33

Referee wins unsung Hero award

Representation of Members

34
Bart OToole

36

Portsmouth Referees Society

38

RA Conference 2015 Understanding Football

40

RAFAYC updates

Tom Bowkett

42

Foreword

FOREWORD
I would like to start this edition by congratulating all of you who have been appointed to a cup final. I hope each
of you has a great and memorable match.
Whether its The FA Cup or a local junior cup,
receiving notification of being appointed to a
cup final is a thrilling and exciting moment.

Whether its
The FA Cup or
a local junior
cup, receiving
notification of
being appointed
to a cup final is
a thrilling and
exciting moment.

But as anticipation grows and the date nears,

it is important to avoid the feeling that
because it is a final you have to do
something special during the match.
This is completely the wrong approach and
it is important to remember that you got the
cup final appointment because of the way you
have been officiating all season so there is no
reason, or need, to change anything.
It is also important to remember that no matter
how nervous you are, the players are equally
nervous and part of the referees role is to calm
those nerves and help produce a match which
befits a final.
On Saturday 30 May, Jon Moss, his assistants,
Darren England and Simon Bennett, fourth
official, Craig Pawson, and Reserve Assistant,
Harry Lennard, will achieve every match
officials dream and walk out at Wembley
Stadium to officiate in The FA Cup Final
the highest refereeing domestic honour.
I have no doubt that everyone in the
refereeing family, and beyond, will be hoping
Jon and his team will perform superbly and
have a successful afternoon.
And I hope many of you will join us in
Westminster the evening before the Final
at the RA Eve of the Final Rally to hear guest
speaker Mike Riley, PGMOL General Manager,
and pay tribute to Jon and his team.
When The FA Referees Committee chose
the Cup Final officials we had no doubt that
they would rise to the occasion. Their vast
experience will enable them to cope with the
huge pressure which surrounds the worlds
oldest cup final.

Jon Moss, Select Group Referee, will take charge of the

2015 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Aston Villa at
Wembley Stadium on 30 May

Indeed, pressure is a major focus of this edition.

There are a number of articles from different
perspectives looking at how to cope with
pressure both on and off the field.

Referees should never be above constructive

criticism, but what has been one of the most
disappointing aspects of this season has been
the seemingly relentless criticism of our most
senior and experienced referees, and those
who develop and manage them.
Referees receive unfair criticism from different
parts of the game and it is unhelpful when some
who know refereeing better also add comment.
No referee or assistant referee is perfect and
there have been some very poor decisions
and errors, but we should not allow people to
give the impression that English refereeing is
in decline or is sub-standard as our referees
remain among the very best in the world.
We must not forget that in the last five years
English referees and assistants have achieved
more on the international stage than at any
stage in the past and no country can come
anywhere near the level of international
achievements of English officials since 2010.
Demonstrating that this excellence continues,
I would like to congratulate Natalie Walker
on her selection as assistant referee for the
FIFA Womens World Cup in Canada. I am
sure she will have an excellent tournament.
Congratulations also to Martin Atkinson
and Mark Clattenburg and their teams
on their UEFA Champions League
semi-final appointments.
There is a great deal of useful advice and
information in this edition, including a
summary of the IFAB AGM. There are no
Law changes for next season but some very
interesting topics are being discussed within
IFAB and its Advisory Panels.
Domestically, there is information on the
new assessment form and documents we
have introduced for those of you going for
promotion to Level 7 and Level 6.
One very significant and welcome
development is The FAs decision to hold
the FA Womens Cup Final at Wembley.

While it is a hugely positive step forwards for

womens football, this has presented The FA
Referees Committee with somewhat of a
dilemma as, traditionally, no one officiates in
the same FA Final twice.
However, after careful consideration, we
felt that it would be unfair if some of our top
Women officials were unable to experience a
Wembley Cup final.
As a result, the Committee has decided that
any Women match official who has previously
officiated in The FA Womens Cup Final can be
considered for the Wembley Cup final. But no
one will do a Wembley final twice.
The final weeks of the season will be filled
with, as Rudyard Kipling put it, triumph and
disaster as teams and match officials gain or
miss out on promotion and avoid or succumb
to relegation/demotion.
These ups and downs are part of footballs rich
tapestry and I hope that those of you who are
successful will celebrate and those of you who
are disappointed will redouble your efforts
next season.
I know a number of you will have decided that
this is your last active season. I very much
hope you will seriously consider staying in
the game and helping the next generation of
referees by assessing, coaching or mentoring
we need you as much when you are retired as
we do when you were active.
I wish you all an enjoyable and successful
final few weeks of Season 2014/15 and I hope
that if you are involved in a cup final it will be a
memorable and happy occasion.
Best wishes for a restful summer.
David Elleray
Chairman, FA Referees Committee
President, The Referees Association

Jon Moss Interview

PREPARING FOR
THE PINNACLE
Following the news of his appointment as the 2015 FA Cup Final
Referee, Jon Moss spoke to TheFA.coms James Callow about
what it is like to be on the brink of making a dream come true.
Jon Moss has spoken of his pride after
being appointed to referee The FA Cup
Final on 30 May.
The 44-year-old from West Riding has
been awarded the chance to officiate
under the arch after a season of
consistent performances at Premier
League level.
It was a complete surprise. When I got
the call it was the realisation of a dream
really. For any referee it is the pinnacle
of your career, he said.
Ive been involved in the Community
Shield and the Conference and
Championship play-off finals - but this
is the biggest game I will ever referee.
Moss will be assisted for the Final by
Darren England and Simon Bennett,
while Craig Pawson will be the fourth
official. Harry Lennard will be the
reserve assistant referee
He said: As a young boy I used to
watch The FA Cup Final with my dad.
We always had the programme and we
went to a couple of Finals at Wembley.
You dream about playing in a Final as a
boy but Ive dreamed about refereeing
as I got older. Referees are no different
to players and you strive always to get
those massive games.
He refereed his first game as a
teenager, but only started to focus on
officiating when a career which started
with Sunderlands youth team, took in
Connecticut State University in the US
and the Millwall, came to an end.
When my career ended it was my
love for football that encouraged me to
focus on refereeing.
Ive always been involved in football.
As part of my A level studies I qualified
as a football referee, a basketball
referee and a rugby referee, he said.

At 18 I refereed my first game. I would

be playing most of the weekend
but I would do junior games on the
Sunday afternoon.
I was playing until I was 29. But when
my career ended it was my love for
football that encouraged me to focus
on refereeing.
I was a teacher at the time and it was
something I used to do after school.
It came from there and bit-by-bit you
get promoted, and then it becomes
your career.
Moss continues to teach one day a
week as an executive head at Beech
Hill School in Halifax but has been a
professional referee since 2011.
And he believes his experience as a
player has helped him understand
the emotions that come with
top-flight football.
He said: I was a competitive
midfield player and I liked to tackle.
Sometimes you mistime a tackle and
you get the attention of the referee but I was always polite!
But I think it is healthy as a referee
to know when the players get
a bit frustrated and to take a
backseat.
He added: I still like to do
grassroots football. I did a
junior game last Sunday
after my game at
Crystal Palace.
Refereeing top-flight
football and grassroots
football have their own
challenges. With
Premier League
football everything
is magnified and

every decision you make is under scrutiny.

My family dont often come to
games, but they will when it is such a
special game like this
I think it is important for younger
referees to see more experienced
colleagues doing a junior game.
It was lovely for me to referee on
Sunday. It keeps you grounded.
Moss says he cannot wait for
The Final to come round, and is
excited to share the occasion with
his wife and four children including
14-year-old son Joe, who recently
refereed his first game.
They dont often come to games,
but they will when it is such a special
game like this, he said.
You make a lot of sacrifices and you
have to have a supportive family.
Im very lucky to have that.
As a referee things dont always
go right so you need to have their
support. And when you have a special
day like this it is important they play a
part in it.
Moss says that when he steps out on
to the hallowed turf at Wembley, he
will be doing it also for the people who
have supported him in his career.
When I got the call yesterday I took
a moment to remember all those
people who have helped me along the
way all the unsung heroes who help
you when things dont go so well,
he said.
Ill be phoning them all and
thanking them personally because
it is important that you share the
success with those people that
have made you.

Some further thoughts from Jon...

On the role the RA
played in his career

On the best advice he

has been given

It has played a very important role in

my career journey.

My dad has always given me some really

good advice which I think it is important
in refereeing and in life in general:
always treat people like you want to be
treated yourself.

When I started taking refereeing

seriously I was going to all the meetings.
In those first few games where you are
finding your feet it was a great way of
picking the brains of more experienced
referees who guide you through
the ways.
That could be simple things like choosing
the type of whistle to use, where to get
your cards from, what type of kit to wear,
and how to dress for games.
That then moves forward on to match
incidents. Maybe when you havent
dealt with something well, then they are
always on hand to one, take the mick
out of you a little bit, but also to offer you
some really good advice as to how you
might handle it differently next time.
It is also about having a supportive
structure behind you and certainly
the RA offers that in terms of advice,
encouragement, motivation and also
training needs because I learnt a lot
in those early years listening to guest
speakers and other referees.
And today, as a Premier League referee
I am still learning my trade and I go to
my local RA to I listen to other referees
and to spend time talking to them.
I got a lovely message from Paul Field
from the RA congratulating me and
that meant a great deal to me. And the
amount of messages I have had and the
number of emails I have had has been
so special. To know I have the support
of referees all around the country
following my appointment is fantastic.

It sounds simple but how you conduct

yourself with secretaries, with players,
with managers is important.
Another thing is to never give up and
bounce back when things havent gone
to plan. Its a bit clichd but when I got
that telephone call I was thinking about
all the times when the alarm clock has
gone off at six in the morning and I have
felt like knocking it on to snooze and
going back to bed, but I havent. I have
got up. I have gone for a run. I have
gone and done another talk.
Of course there are times when you
throw your bag in the corner and you
think, I have had enough of that, but
you have to pick your bag back up, go
out there and you put things right.

You make a lot

of sacrifices and
you have to have a
supportive family.
Im very lucky to
have that.
7

Coping with pressure from players on the field

PRESSURE
WITH
COPING

Having belief in what you have seen with your own

eyes can be your biggest friend on the field.

FROM PLAYERS ON THE FIELD

Michael Oliver, FIFA and Select Group Referee, provides an insight into the three main techniques he uses to cope
with pressure exerted by a player on the field of play.
No matter the match FA Cup Final or the
local Sunday morning pub match there
are always going to be 22 players desperate
to win.
They will look for every possible opportunity
to gain the advantage, one thing that could
turn the result in their favour.
Unfortunately for us, this will often lead to
players trying to put pressure on us
as match officials.
Although we can act on what the players
and coaches do, we cannot control how they
initially react. Therefore, we can only focus
on how we react and our techniques for
coping with the pressure.
It is important to take into account the game,

the players concerned and the decisions

you have made. A throw-in during a friendly
match, for example, will never attract as
much reaction as a crucial penalty
decision in a cup final.
Equally, knowing the players concerned can
also add some perspective to your decision.
Is the pressure being applied from the player
who questions everything, or from the quiet
forward? Is it the normal player that you
learn to switch off from, or a player who
might have a genuine argument?
As match officials, in situations like these,
we have two things in our favour. Firstly,
we know the Laws and will generally have
a greater understanding of them than the
players we are refereeing.

Secondly, we know why we have made a

particular decision and the thought process
behind it. The pressure from players will
often come immediately, without them
having thought through the decision. We
have the advantage of knowing what we
have done and why we have done it.
Knowing the reason behind the decision gives
us our own peace of mind, but cannot always
prove useful when dealing with players. So,
when a decision has been made, we know the
reasoning behind it, but the players continue
to apply pressure. How do we respond?
I have three different techniques I use in
certain circumstances depending on
the game, the players involved and the
importance of the decision.

Belief in
what you
have seen
Having belief in what you have seen with
your own eyes can be your biggest friend on
the field.
You have witnessed something that has
forced you to make a decision, or you have
decided what you have seen was not
an offence.
The players will only see this through blinkers
and will want you to give the decision that
benefits them.
It is imperative therefore that you have the
trust in yourself to believe that you have
made the correct decision.
This could serve you well when questioned
by the players. In situations like this, it can
also be useful to communicate this to
the players.
Often I will use phrases such as: Its a
free-kick, 100%. I saw the trip and it
doesnt need to be discussed.

Michael Oliver manages a situation involving

Manchester Uniteds Angel Di Maria. Oliver stresses
the need for referees to trust themselves and in the
decisions they make.

Coping with pressure from players on the field

Having the confidence

to explain these
decisions can be a big
tool in your referee
armoury and can help
you to gain the respect
of the players.

Confidence
to explain
decisions
Sometimes it is the lack of knowledge from
players that can cause you problems.
Players will generally accept decisions in a
more amicable manner if they are explained
clearly and confidently by the referee.
Having the confidence to explain these
decisions can be a big tool in your referee
armoury and can help you to gain the
respect of the players.
However, be careful not to explain every
decision to every player as you will lose focus
on the match and will have to explain the
next decision as well.
It is very important that you do not give the
impression to the players or to spectators
that you are trying to justify your decisions.

Acceptance
that you may
have made
a mistake
You will make mistakes. A judgement call
could be misinterpreted, a player could have
run across your line of sight or you may have
found yourself in a position that doesnt give
you a good view.
In situations where you think you have made
a mistake, dont be afraid to admit it.
Sometimes it is important to wait until
the next phase of play in case something
happens. For instance, it is not wise to admit
a corner kick should have been a goal kick
and then the attacking team scores from
the corner.

10

Being honest that you have made an error

can be a fantastic tool. Players who hear
a referee admit they might have made a
mistake on a decision will be more than
likely to accept a referees explanation of
why they are correct later in the game on
a different decision.
However, this comes with another word of
warning. Be careful what decisions you admit
and how many times in a game.
Players will generally accept a small decision
in a safe area, but they can be less tolerant
of a referee who admits they have made a
mistake on a penalty.
Also, be careful how often you do this.
Admitting you have made a mistake 4-5
times per half will lead to the players losing
trust in you.
--------------------------------------------------------------I use these three techniques at various
stages in a match to help cope with the
pressure that the players are trying to
exert on me. Some of them work to
prevent pressure, others to cope with
it when it happens.
99% of the time your gut reaction will be
correct. There are various techniques that
could work for you as a referee. Dont be
afraid to try them, see what works for you
and what doesnt.

99% of the time

your gut reaction
will be correct.

It is very important that each referee finds

something they are comfortable saying, as
words and phrases that work for one will not
necessarily work for another.
Having confidence in what you are saying
will portray the confidence you have in your
decision. It is no use explaining something
you dont believe yourself, as the players will
definitely not believe it.
Remember, the end result is the same: every
player wants to win and they will try what
they can to gain an advantage l

11

Preparing for the future

PREPARING FOR
THE FUTURE
Simon Breivik, PGMOL Head of Sports
Science, examines the research behind
footballs quickening pace and how
you can prepare yourself to meet the
future demands of an increasingly
fast-paced game.
Owing to the popularity of the sport and the debate
it generates, football tends to divide opinion. But
there is one aspect of the modern game that
very few commentators would disagree on the
increasing pace at which it is played.
With the likes of Theo Walcott, Antonio Valencia
and Aaron Lennon topping the list of the worlds
quickest players, it is no surprise that the pace of
the game is at an all-time high and that this is most
apparent in the Premier League.
Speak to any top referee and they will tell you that
when something happens in a Premier League match
nowadays it tends to happen extremely quickly.
And, if the past is anything to go by, then it is likely
that the knock-on effects will soon be felt in the
lower tiers of the game, if they are not already.
But do the facts support the hype? Has the game
really transformed so much in recent years?

A RECENT STUDY
Chris Barnes, a sports scientist at West Bromwich Albion, and his coworkers at the University of Sunderland have tried to put the record
straight by attempting to quantify the physicality of the game at the
top flight.
They identified a number of key physical and technical parameters
that they believe best characterise how the game is played.
Then, drawing on an enormous set of match data, they tracked
these parameters over a seven-season period to examine how, if at
all, the game has evolved.

Thanks to previously published research on refereeing, we already

know that the match officials physical work rate is very closely
linked to that of the players the players set the pace and referees
have to keep up.
Given the findings of this recent study, it would be sensible to
deduce that the modern game represents a significant physical
challenge to match officials.
Officials need to be physically better prepared than ever before
to cope with the increasing demands placed upon them by
increasingly fitter and more skilful players.
Weve known for many years that there are many physical
attributes required to referee at the highest level.
But this study has shed light on the fact that the physical challenge
now relates to a greater extent to the explosiveness of the game.
Referees need to be able to react quickly to changing situations
and possess an ability to accelerate rapidly in order to take up
appropriate viewing angles. Crucially, they must be able to rely on
a high top speed to keep up with fast counter-attacks between the
penalty areas.

Examining over 14,000 player performances between 2006 and

2013, they uncovered some interesting facts.

To put this into perspective, the lower threshold for a high-speed run
is 20km/h the same speed your treadmill in the gym will top out
at. This statistic proved to be more interesting because the number
of high-speed runs completed per match increased by 50% in seven
seasons.

From a technical standpoint, the results of the study revealed that

players are passing the ball more whilst achieving a higher pass
complete rate.
They are moving the ball around the field more quickly and more
accurately than ever before, adding further weight to the argument
that the game is being played at a quicker pace.

Bearing in mind the increasing explosiveness of the

modern game, a referees training should become
equally explosive. Strength, power and speed
training should be a high priority.
Worryingly, this is precisely the type of training
that is absent from most match officials
training programmes.
Becoming an explosive referee starts in the gym
with an appropriate strength training programme.
After all, there is no power without strength.
The focus should be on the fundamental running
exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and lunges
not on the customary beach body exercises such
as bicep curls and bench press.
Due to the importance of correct technique in
avoiding injury, strength training requires the
supervision of a qualified strength and conditioning
coach. You can source this guidance at any decent
gym in the form of a personal trainer.

To complement strength training, all match officials

must perform a weekly speed training session,
preferably on grass.

For this reason, Chris and his team looked at the number of highspeed runs the players were performing.

They found that a significantly higher proportion of the players

sprints are being performed explosively nowadays when compared
to back in 2006. Add this to the fact that the players top running
speeds are also on the rise and we have increasingly powerful
players covering ground at progressively higher speeds.

A referees fitness training programme should be

designed to closely reflect the evolving game.

Embarking on a strength training programme can

seem a daunting prospect, especially if youve
never ventured into the intimidating free weights
room of your local gym. But the results will be
worth it.

When it comes to physical match demands, analysts prefer to look

at the distances covered by the players at higher speeds. This better
represents the pace of the game.

They made another significant discovery when they dug a

little deeper and inspected the type of sprints the players were
performing.

TRAINING

In addition to increased strength and power,

another benefit is the associated reduced injury
risk. The stronger you are, the less likely you are to
break. Not to mention improved body image.

The total distance covered by the players in each match remained

fairly stable over the seven-year period not a particularly
interesting find. Then again, total distance is not a particularly
useful gauge because it doesnt effectively describe the physicality
of a match.

The most significant discovery, however, concerned the number

of sprints players were performing. These are runs performed at
speeds in excess of 25km/h. This figure increased by a massive 85%
in the same period.

12

THE CONSEQUENCES

This is an extremely basic yet often neglected

form of training that requires very little time and
equipment. By performing between ten and
twenty short (10m to 60m) but very explosive
sprints, interspersed with plenty of rest, you will
enhance your bodys ability to accelerate whilst
increasing your top speed.

According to research, there has been an 85% increase in players running at

speeds in excess of 25km/h. As a result, the onus is now on referees to keep up.

Like any form of training, these techniques

must form part of a structured, progressive and
long-term programme.

CONCLUSION
Whether youre an aspiring referee or an international official, you must constantly adapt your
training to suit the changing demands of the game.
Even if you are not currently aware of the increasing speed of the game at your level, it is still
sensible to prepare yourself for the next level before you gain promotion, especially as it might
be your fitness that sets you apart from your fellow promotion hunters.
See this as a heads up and prepare yourself for the step up before you get there.

13

Strategies to cope with pressure

Players, particularly at a grassroots level, are very passionate

about the teams they play for.

Let them
know what you
expect of them,
and stick to
what you
tell them.

Sometimes, though, that passion can often enter the field of play
as they try and pressure referees into making a decision go their
way. With that in mind, here are a few strategies I find useful
when dealing with pressure from players.
BUILD A RELATIONSHIP EARLY
As soon as I arrive I try to speak to the players in a more
relaxed environment.
This often helps to get players onside before the game begins,
more than likely resulting in improved match control later on.
A polite hello and having a quick chat about their day usually
does the trick.
During the game I often praise players for good attempts and
have a laugh and joke with them about the shots that are nearer
the corner flag.
It shows your more human side as a referee and ultimately it
keeps them on your side as they remember you during the good
parts of the game, making them more likely to be controllable
during the tougher parts.

STRATEGIES

TO COPE WITH

PRESSURE

Natasha Wilson, Level 5 Referee Sheffield & Hallamshire FA, reveals her strategies for minimising
the potential for pressure before the game as well as how she deals with it during matches

ENJOY THE GAME

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CAPTAINS

Let them know what you expect of them and stick to what
you tell them.
I will only speak to the captains if they speak to me like they do at
the coin toss. If they raise their voice or try and pressure me into
a decision I will smile and politely decline to comment until they
have learnt to control their actions.

During a game we can get so caught up in the game itself and

forget why we are there.

Use the captains as a tool to aid your control. If you have a player
who is reacting a little too much, ask the captain to have a word
as they are often the most sensible players on the pitch and
they have usually been given the armband for a reason.

The main reason why people go to a football match is to enjoy it,

so show you are enjoying it.

DIVIDE THE GAME INTO CHUNKS

A well-timed smile can often resolve a lot of tension between

players. Its part of your body language so use it to your
advantage while on the field.

When a game gets really tough and you want to pick up the ball
and walk away, take it 10 minutes at a time.
Chunk the game down into smaller pieces to help you remain
calm and collected, and take each decision and give what you see.
Try not to allow the pressure to affect your decision-making.
No matter how stressed you are on the inside, try and remain
calm on the outside.
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
I feel the best way to cope with pressure is to be honest and
true to yourself and give what you see.
Be brave. If you see something and you know it is right, do it.
The Laws of the Game are there for a reason, so use them.
I place a lot of pressure on myself to do well and probably put
more on myself than the players do.
If I know I have done something wrong, after a game I analyse
what I did, why I came to a wrong decision and come up with a
strategy to improve it next time - all with the aim of continually
making myself better.
But the most important aspect of coping under pressure is to
enjoy what you do. As referees we all enjoy it otherwise we
wouldnt give up so much of our free time to go out and referee.
So make sure you go out and enjoy what you do and do it with
a smile on your face l

14

15

Grace under pressure

Grace Under

PRESSURE
Exactly what do you mean by guts? asked Dorothy,
I mean, grace under pressure replied Ernest.
This was taken from a short profile piece for the New Yorker
magazine entitled: The Artists Reward, which was written by
Dorothy Parker about Ernest Hemingway and published in 1929.
Right now, you might be thinking - how does a quote from a
Nobel Prize-winning American author relate to the role of the
modern day assistant referee?

Adam Gale-Watts PGMOL Senior Coach for

Assistant Referees and former FIFA Assistant Referee
examines a series of strategies and approaches to
dealing with pressure from players on a match day.

Well, acting with grace when placed under pressure is what all
assistant referees - and referees for that matter - should strive for.

Pressure from players

In simple terms, pressure usually refers to the feelings you
experience prior to and when performing your duties.
It is a feeling more often created by ourselves when reacting
to particular events or situations that may be driven by
internal or external factors.
At all levels of the game football involves players, coaches,
managers and match officials all making judgements and
decisions, with the primary role of the refereeing team
ultimately being to control the match within the framework
of the Laws of the Game.
Against this backdrop of opinion, judgement and
decision-making by referees and assistant referees,
there is a reasonable chance that disagreements can
occur with a particular outcome.
However, it is important to remember that simply disagreeing
with an outcome is not an offence. It is often the manner of
expression of the disagreement that brings with it challenging
situations and behaviour, which may in turn manifest as pressure.
Focusing specifically on players, pressure usually takes one
of two forms: verbal or physical.
Verbal pressure relates to what is said (words used) and
how it is said (tone and volume), while physical pressure
is associated with actions (gestures, movements, facial
expressions and body language).
More often than not, the pressure experienced by assistant
referees is a combination of both verbal and physical forms.

16

For example, the raising of an arm and a shout of offside lino!

by the central defender as the attacking player runs onto
a through ball, or the pointed finger and shout of you saw him
kick me, tell the ref!
Pressure from players has a spectrum, from the subtle e.g.
the right-back commenting just ahead of the kick off, I am
sure that you are better than the buffoon we had last week.
He had no idea about offside, to the blatant examples of the
defender appealing that the attacking player has deliberately
handled the ball in the process of scoring a goal - tell the ref
what you saw lino. You saw the handball.

Coping strategies
All match officials should recognise that pressure is inherent
in their role, so it is essential to have coping strategies to deal
with it and circumvent the negative effects on performance
and enjoyment of officiating.
Not coping effectively with pressure can lead to both physical
and mental stress, which can result in anxiety. That can then
affect concentration and confidence and, ultimately, have a
negative impact on performance.
In order to cope with pressure, try to recognise the situations
or circumstances in which pressure from players is most likely
to be encountered.
For instance, following a major or contentious outcome player
pressure is likely to be experienced, so be prepared to bring into
play an appropriate coping strategy.
The following pages show some coping strategies
for responding to pressure from players.

Not coping effectively with

pressure can lead to both
physical and mental stress,
which can result in anxiety.

17

Grace under pressure

In order to cope with pressure, try to recognise the situations or

circumstances in which pressure from players is most likely
to be encountered.
Pressure from players can come in many different forms. It is therefore important to have
coping strategies in place to deal with each as they arise during games.

Avoid instigating
unnecessary
discussion or
debate about
a judgement
and avoid in
conversation
reducing the
referees options.

18

Avoid player interaction

Avoid hypersensitivity

De-personalise

Position the assistant referees

area of patrol is relatively prescribed,
however following a major or
contentious outcome, where possible,
avoid moving to a place where conflict
is more likely. For example, following
the indication of a penalty kick, try not
to move onto the goal line immediately.

Be aware of, but not hypersensitive to,

what players say and do.

Recognise that disagreement and

challenge by players (pressure) relates to
the decision and not you in the majority of
cases. Of course when there is a personal
challenge to your integrity then further
action is usually required.

Instead, remain positioned behind

the corner flag to allow the referee
to intercept and manage the players
before moving onto the goal line to
monitor the penalty.

Conversation avoid instigating

unnecessary discussion or debate
about a judgement and avoid in
conversation reducing the referees
options, e.g. agreeing that you have
seen a kick before you have advised
the referee of what you have seen.

Assistant referees who feel compelled

to respond to very minor comments or
challenge from players are more likely to
become more stressed and thus more
likely to become distracted.
Set the tolerance level appropriately,
filtering out what is necessary to act
upon and what can be simply
acknowledged/ignored.

Be empathetic
Demonstrate empathy for a player where
appropriate - recognise the difference
between frustration and dissent when
experiencing verbal pressure.

Remain in control of your

emotional response
To assert a positive influence when under
pressure, assistant referees should always
remain in control of their emotions: take a
deep breath if necessary, avoid showing
anger or lack of control in what you say
and how you say it. Its best to avoid
shouting and speak slowly and clearly in
order to de-escalate rather than inflame.

Remain in control of your

physical response
Use clear, calm and assertive body
language e.g. if a player is moving towards
you disputing a judgement (physical
pressure), remain stationary and extend
your arm with a flat hand in a stop
gesture to create a buffer.
Avoid physical contact with players.
Also avoid making or beginning any
signal with your flag before you are
clear in your judgement.

Have self-belief
Be confident in your judgement and work
with what you know. Dont allow players
to pressurise you in to only seeing what
they want you to see.

Recognise the consequence

Your main responsibility as an assistant
referee is to assist the referee and add
value by providing advice and creating
options. Consider what you would need
from your assistant if you were the
referee in a particular situation.

Summary
Pressure is something that is inherent
in the role of the assistant referee as the
judgements you make may give rise to
disagreement and challenge, but that
pressure is not necessarily a bad thing.
It can be used positively to enhance
concentration, performance and
enjoyment, as the feeling of pressure can
help you keep focused, and ready to rise
to the next challenge.
Remember - it is grace under pressure
that characterises the very best assistant
referees at any level of the game l

19

Taking it one game at a time

Refereeing is all about the mental

processes that we go through to
make a correct decision.
As a referee you need to be mentally prepared. This means going
through a pre match routine, checking your equipment, making
sure you have everything ready and arriving at the ground in plenty
of time.
You need to feel comfortable and ready for the challenge. You need
to be in the zone, where you have the purity of focus to avoid being
distracted so you concentrate fully on the game.
As you enter the field of play for the first time look around you: What
are the teams doing? What are the players doing? Are they going
through drills or are they just standing around having a chat with
each other? What are the interactions between team mates?

You have to have the purity of

focus to avoid being distracted
so you concentrate fully on
the game.

You should be starting to focus on the game, gathering information to

enable your concentration to develop.
During a match a referees attention is shifting all the time from one
sequence of play to another. During these changes, focus on how
the players are moving, how they react to different facets of play and
how they cope with the external elements of the game such as a high
wind, heavy rain.
You are now focusing your mind where it matters and not thinking
about how long there is to half time or getting warm.

Taking it one
game at a time
Ian Blanchard FA Senior National
Game Manager offers up a few tips
to help you develop the key strengths
needed to progress in refereeing.

There is a theory that focus relies on internal and external elements

and whether our focus is narrow or broad.
For example, golfers depend on a very narrow internal focus as they
have time to consider the position of the ball, which club to use,
position of the club face, and how much of a swing to take.
In refereeing, however, we are faced with an ever-changing
environment, causing players to reassess and react differently, which
means we need to do the same. This offers more of an external,
broader approach to developing our focus.

After checking on the welfare of the player step back, look

around you, focus on players, what are they doing? If operating
with assistant referees gain eye contact and make sure they
are focused on you.

Corner-kicks

Look at the position of players. Who is marking whom and

where are they likely to move?

Substitutions

Remain focused on the player leaving and the player entering.

Moving over to the half way line and getting the details of the
player not only engages you in the process but also keeps you
focused on the task.

Attacking free-kicks just outside a penalty area

Finally, think about the saying: control the controllables. How true is
this in respect of ignoring and getting bogged down with distractions
that have no bearing on how you control and manage the game?
By focusing on the controllables you can then control yourself, you
are able to apply the Laws of the Game and you are able to identify
the difference between fair and foul challenges. These are just some
of the things you can control.

You may be the fittest referee in the world physically, always in

the right place at the right time, but you will struggle to make
accurate decisions if you are not able to tune your mind and
maintain a high level of focus and concentration.

Remember refereeing is all about the mental processes that we go

through to make a correct decision.

At this time of the year, it is especially important. Teams can have

a bad run and lose sight of the need to focus on one game at a
time. They can get distracted by many different aspects of the
game such as media, fans, form or lack of goals.

20

A player is injured and you stop play

There are many things to consider and to manage before

allowing the kick to be taken. Give yourself that final focal point
to ensure everything is in place before blowing your whistle for
play to resume.

Being able to control your focus and concentration is crucial for

success at any stage of refereeing.

Referees are no different. At every level of the game there are

distractions, not just from within the game but also from
external influences.

There are some simple practical situations that will enable you
to remain focused during the game:

To be correct we need to have clear focus and full concentration

which helps our minds correctly determine what has happened and
what action is needed and correct.

Referees face an ever-changing environment during matches and so by focusing on

controlling the controllables it can help to manage games more effectively.

Refereeing is about developing a run of successful games, being in

the zone, having an appropriate level of confidence and taking one
game at a time.

21

Dealing with difficult players

DEALING WITH

DIFFICULT
PLAYERS

Jon Moss Select Group Referee takes a look at nine types of

player who can prove challenging for referees on game day and
outlines various strategies to deal with them effectively.

Non-engagement
Engagement
Knowing your
players

Dealing with
problems
appropriately

The effective management of football

matches, at all levels, requires a refined
skill in managing a range of problems and
challenges from players who pose a potential
threat to match control.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every
game is different, with new challenges and
situations for us as referees to overcome
and conquer.

NOTORIOUS 9

THEMOUTH
This is the player who is constantly confronting you,
questioning decisions, complaining and generally being irritating.
Although they might cause low-level disruption to the referee,
its essential that this player is dealt with early.
I find the two-step approach works best - the public warning and
then the inevitable caution, after which they will generally go quiet.

When dealing with

players it is important
to know who you are
dealing with - the type
of player and what
strategies will most
probably work best
with them.

The very best referees use a myriad of

strategies to manage and cajole. They are
versatile and are able to adapt and
respond appropriately.
They are able to change their style and be
proactive. They are strong and decisive.
They pitch their involvement appropriately
and deal with players effectively.

Management
of the game

Pitching your
involvement

Refereeing is an art form

MEET THE

In this article I will look at the various

strategies you can use to deal with different
types of players that you may encounter.

Sell them
your style
Getting the decision
Strong body
language

When dealing with players it is important to

know who you are dealing with - the type of
player and what strategies will most probably
work best with them.
I have identified nine player types that Im
sure you will recognise.

THETACKLER
This is the player who dives into every tackle, which poses problems
for the referee. This kind of player is best managed with the stepped
approach where appropriate. Obviously, this is dependent on the
tackle - reckless challenges cant be managed.
Generally, the tackler will be competitive throughout the game and
therefore its essential that as referees we work through the stepped
approach of: quiet word > public word > formal warning (which may
involve the captain> formal disciplinary action (yellow or red card)

22

23

Dealing with difficult players

THEHELPFULONE

THECAPTAIN

THEREPUTATION

THESNEAKYONE

This is the player who welcomes you at the ground as a

long-lost friend and insists you are his favourite referee.
But dont be fooled.

There are two types of captain - the one who helps you to referee
the game, and the one who thinks being the captain entitles
them to question every decision. The management of the
captain starts before the match. I use the team-sheet exchange
to lay the ground rules down but keep it simple:

I mentioned earlier that referees need to do their homework in

preparation for games, but does this cause the referee to
pre-judge players? The Reputation player is, as the name
suggests, the player with history.

This is the player who puts a bad tackle in but is the first to
offer a helpful hand to the individual on the receiving end
before being apologetic to the referee.

The helpful one will try to control the game by persuasion and
coercion. This is where the referee can be proactive using the
helpful one to cajole a problematic team-mate.
Thats what friends are for, after all.

Guys, let me referee the game. If I need your help Ill ask for it.
Where appropriate Ill explain decisions to you from time to time,
but dont expect it as a rule. If you see one of your players losing
their head get hold of them and calm them down. See you out
there and all the best.
Captains are not exempt from discipline. If they turn into
The Mouth, then deal with it in the same way.

They may be someone who has been sent off before for
excessive force challenges. You know about it and so
does the opposing team. Normal tackles by the reputation player
can cause an overreaction from the opposition who try to get a
reaction from the player and you as the referee.

Sorry ref, pure accident dont be fooled. Judge the

tackle using the appropriate stage of the stepped approach.
The sneaky one knows exactly what they are doing.

Like before, positioning and staying calm is important. Judge

each tackle on its merits. Being proactive with The Reputation
can be beneficial. Coaching and cajoling, therefore, is essential.

In conclusion
I started this article by describing
refereeing as an art form because
that is what it is.

THEOLD FRIEND
Players returning to previous clubs can pose the referee issues.

Players that go to ground cheaply cause two issues.

Doing your pre-match homework at any level is important so that

you know what you are going into.

Firstly you have to be in the right position to judge if

players have simulated. Have they gone over cheaply?
Have they initiated contact or been fouled?
Being in the wrong position can put the referee in jail.

How the crowd interacts with the Old Friend can affect the way
the players on the field of play behave, but its important that you
are not sucked into the occasion. Judge each tackle/interaction
on its own merit and stay focused and calm.

24

THELIGHTWEIGHT
Secondly, when a player goes to ground weakly, it can cause the
tackler to overreact. Again, referees need to be on their toes.

THEHEAVYWEIGHT
Amateur football brings the referee into contact with players
of all shapes and sizes.
The heavyweight presents the referee with a different type of
challenge in terms of managing occasions when a slow and
cumbersome player genuinely attempts to play the ball.
The stepped approach works best with this type of player,
but again - manage what is manageable.

The best referees at every level manage

players with ease. They are calm.
They lead, motivate and control the
game from start to finish.
Dealing with difficult players is not an
exact science. Along the way were
going to get it wrong.
What separates the great referees
from the ordinary ones is their ability
to learn from success and failure in
equal measure l

25

Lessons from Sir Alex

During his long reign as Manchester United

manager, Sir Alex Ferguson became renowned
for the way he interacted with referees.
His subtle word choices before and after matches and his perhaps
not-so-subtle choices during games were all trademark tactics
designed to exert pressure and gain an advantage for his team.
And lest we forget his walking up and down tapping his wrist watch
towards the end of games.
He has since admitted that he had no idea how much time there was
to go, he just did it to pressurise the referee if his team was winning.
While these tactics might not be agreeable to us as referees, he
remains one of the most successful managers of our time
someone who will go down in history.
With that in mind, I wondered - what can we, as officials, learn from
this extraordinary man?
To find some clues, I picked up a book by management consultant,
Professor Damian Hughes, entitled How to think like Sir Alex Ferguson.
In it, Hughes begins by explaining how Ferguson did not see himself
as a football manager but a manager of change.
He always had his eyes fixed on three or four years ahead and he
knew where he wanted the team to be and he planned accordingly.
Do we as referees always think in this way? Where do we want to be
in four years time and what do we need to do to get there?
Hughes also said that Ferguson had a relentless focus. He believed
that a lack of focus drains energy, which was so vital.
He once told fellow Scot, Andy Murray: If you can keep your focus
for the entire game, the conisistency will follow.
Isnt that so true of refereeing? I am sure most, if not all, of us can
think of an occasion when we have let our focus wander, only to
miss an incident that brings unnecessary inconsistency and
turbulence to our game.

Fergusons comments on his selection of players are also very

interesting. He said he didnt necessarily go for the best players but
wanted those with the right spirit.
To get an idea of what that might mean, we can consider the advice
singer Lionel Richies father gave him when he said, altitude depends
on aptitude and attitude.
In other words how high you rise depends not only your ability but on
your attitude.
Muhammed Ali went further, To be a champion, he said, you must
have the skill and the will, and the will must be greater than the skill.
At Manchester United, one player endeared himself to Ferguson
because he stayed behind after training and helped the coaches
collect stray balls. He was someone prepared to help those
around him.
Are we prepared to help others, perhaps at our local RA, or as a
mentor, assessor or a tutor or even making sure we help others like
appointment secretaries with our administration?
Another trick was to watch videos with players, asking them to
analyse their mistakes. Some players would get defensive but
he was looking for those who were willing to learn rather than
justify themselves.
Have we got an open mind and do we try to learn all the time?
All good referees will tell you that there is always something they
could have done better.
One story Ferguson enjoyed telling his players was that of three men
laying bricks. Each was asked what he was doing.
Laying bricks, said one. Earning 10 per hour, said another. The third
said, Im building a cathedral and one day I will bring my kids and tell
them that their dad contributed to this magnificent building.
He wanted his players to believe that they were building the best
Manchester United team ever, something they would be proud to
talk about.
Why shouldnt we look at our games in the same way? What are we
doing? Refereeing a game, earning 25 or contributing positively to
a match that everyone enjoys and pleased to talk about having
taken part in?
Professor Hughes went on to examine how Ferguson, a man at the
top of his profession, was unafraid to seek advice from others.

Lessons from

Sir Alex
by Dick Sawdon Smith

26

He frequently refreshed the people around him, making sure he was

up-to-date with the latest thinking.
Are we stuck in a rut, thinking we know best and not bothering to
listen to others who may have different ideas?
A simple example may be attending RA meetings and listening,
not only from a speakers experiences but from other peoples
points of view.
Finally, Hughes outlined how Ferguson rigorously practised and
prepared for when things werent going well, especially in the closing
moments of the game, sometimes known as squeaky bum time.
Those closing moments are also important for referees. Do we have a
plan that we put into operation especially when things are tight, or do
we just plod on and hope to get to the final whistle unscathed?
Is that the time when our focus might slip? Ferguson may have often
been a challenging figure to deal with for many referees, but if we
look closer at how he achieved such unprecedented success, there
are lessons for us all.

Ferguson rigorously practised

and prepared for when things
werent going well, especially
in the closing moments of
the game, sometimes known
as squeaky bum time.

27

FA News and admin

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION BOARD AGM

SUMMARYOFMINUTES
ITEMS FOR
DECISION
1. Law 3 - The Number of Players
a. 4th Substitution in Extra Time
Proposal by FIFA on behalf of member
associations and confederations

Elleray explained that the aim of the revision is

to make the Laws of the Game more accessible
and more easily understood by everyone
in football and increase consistency of
understanding, interpretation and application.
The main aspects of the revision include the
improvement of the structure, clearer language,
corrections, clarifications and a new layout.

The use of EPTS in principle approved

Until EPTS have proven preventive
medical benefits it will not be allowed
to use the data in real time within the
technical area

The ultimate aim is to increase the universality

of the Laws by making them easily understood
so football throughout the world benefits from
consistent interpretation and application.

Decisions /next steps...

ITEMS FOR
DISCUSSION

no further action to be taken by The IFAB

disciplinary bodies of competition
organisers to deal with such
individual matters

3. Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct

4. Law 7 Duration of the match

Stopping the clock Proposal by US Soccer

Other Matches (p.17)

Decisions /next steps...

The proposal was not approved

()

The new wording proposed by UEFA was

not approved, as it would be difficult to
implement an entirely new approach,
which did not seem to be very different from
the idea behind the current LOTG wording

5. Law 12 Fouls and misconduct

Agreement to the FIFA proposal:

the removal of one element, i.e. the
automatic suspension following foul
denying an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity in the penalty area

and
Substitution Procedure (p.18)
()
The substituted player takes no further
part in the match, except where return
substitutions are permitted
Irish FA(chair)
Jim Shaw, David
Martin, Jack Grundie,
Leslie Caul, Patrick
Nelson, William
Campbell

FIFA Joseph S.
Blatter, Jim Boyce,
Worawi Makudi,
Jerome Valcke,
Jean-Paul Brigger,
Massimo Busacca

Sending-off offences; triple punishment

FIFA`s legal division to further investigate

and discuss the exact wording as well
as the administrative implementation
options on lower / grassroots level with
the Disciplinary Committee of FIFA

FA of Wales
Trefor Lloyd Hughes,
David Griffiths,
Jonathan Ford,
Ray Ellingham

Scottish FA
Campbell Ogilvie,
Alan McCrea,
Rod Petrie, Stewart
Regan, John Fleming

The Football
Association
Greg Dyke, David
Gill, David Elleray,
Jonathan Hall,
Neale Barry

Decisions /next steps...

Handling the ball Proposal by the FA of Wales

Decisions /next steps...
Further exploration by Advisory Panels

6. Video replay for match officials

Decisions /next steps...
The proposal was not approved
Advisory Panels should explore the matter
The IFAB
Lukas Brud,
Boudien Broekhuis

FIFA Administration
Priscilla Duncan,
Edward Brown,
Brian Alexander

The above all participated

UPDATE
Phil Knight FA Whole Game System Communications Consultant

With season 2014/15 nearing its end and the planning for season 2015/16
already underway, there is a significant amount of referee activity within
the Whole Game System.
The number of referees using Whole Game to report discipline has risen and in
early March the number of yellow and red cards reported through the system
exceeded 8,000 in one week for the first time.

Final version for approval at AGM 2017

As a result, over 70% of all cautions and dismissals nationally are now being
submitted through Whole Game. Any referees requiring assistance reporting
discipline online are asked to contact their local County FA although a series of
training documents can be found on the Whole Game homepage.

9. Any Other Business

Referee registration for the new season is now underway across much of the
country please look out for details from your Referee Development Officer as
to when the window will open in your County FA.

Decisions /next steps...

The use of return substitutions is only

permitted in the lowest levels
(grassroots/recreational) of football
subject to agreement of the member
association concerned

28

Decisions /next steps...

Subsequent amendment to the Laws of

the Game was approved:

Return Substitutions

Advisory Panels to explore the

matter further

The chairman asked David Elleray from the

FA to provide an update on the revision of the
Laws of the Game.

b. Display of messages of any kind

The proposal was approved under the

provision that it is the decision of each
individual member association to
implement and on which competition level

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND

27 FEBRUARY 1 MARCH 2015

a. Electronic performance &

tracking systems (EPTS)

Further exploration by the

Advisory Panels

Decisions /next steps...

Discussion postponed to AGM2016

8. Revision of the Laws of the Game

The proposal was not approved at

this time

b. Return Substitutions Reports by The

FA and The Scottish FA on experiments

Decisions /next steps...

2. Law 4 The Players Equipment

Further research is needed for quality

assessment of the different systems, the
use of data, as well as the licensing process

Decisions /next steps...

7. Sin bins

First draft to be presented at AGM 2016

The meeting remembered William McCrum,

who as a member of the IFA, proposed the
idea of the penalty kick to stop the prevalent
practice at the time of defenders professionally
fouling an attacking player to stop a goal. The
idea was submitted to the June 1890 meeting
of The IFAB and was approved in 1891.

10. Proposals for deliberation

by the two Advisory Panels
Video Assistance for match officials
Electronic Performance and
Tracking Systems (EPTS)

Generally the process has changed very little, although now those match
officials intending to referee youth (Under 18) matches will have to have a valid
CRC in place at the time of registration.
Please contact your Referee Development Officer if you require any assistance
completing your registration for season 2015/16 or applying for a Criminal
Records Check.
Following feedback from match officials last season, the Diversity and Equality
information can now be completed separately from the registration process.
The information collected from the survey is anonymised and helps The FA to
monitor participation levels across the game and informs decision-making on
future initiatives.
Please complete the survey the next time you visit your
Whole Game dashboard.

Law 3 The Number of Players:

4th Substitution in Extra Time
Law 8: The Start and Restart of Play
Sin Bins
Law 11: Offside
Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
handling the ball

Next Meetings

The members were invited by Trefor Lloyd Hughes,

President of the FAW, to the next Annual General
Meeting of The IFAB in Cardiff, Wales from 4 to 5
March 2016.

29

FA News and admin

NEW COUNTY FA

MATCH OFFICIALS

2014/15
FA FINALS
FOR
THE

ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA FC

Wembley Stadium
REFEREE

Jon Moss (West Riding FA)

THE
FA CUP
SATURDAY
30 MAY 2015

ASSISTANT REFEREES
Darren England (Sheff & Hallam FA)
Simon Bennett (Staffs FA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Craig Pawson (Sheff & Hallam FA)
RESERVE ASSISTANT REFEREE
Harry Lennard (Sussex FA)

REFEREE ASSESSMENT FORM

Daniel Meeson FA National Game

Manager (Workforce) outlines the
changes to the documents used to assess
Referee candidates for promotion from
Level 7 to 6 and Level 6 to 5.

WREXHAM FC V
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED FC

As of 1 March 2015 County FA Assessors

have been using two new documents to
assess all referees on the Level 7 to 6 and
Level 6 to 5 promotion schemes.

Wembley Stadium

REFEREE
Michael Oliver (Northumberland FA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Stuart Burt (Northamptonshire FA)
Marc Perry (Birmingham FA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Simon Hooper (Wiltshire FA)

THE FA
TROPHY
SUNDAY
29 MARCH 2015

The new forms, which went live at the start

of the new marking season (1 March), had
been taken through a comprehensive pilot
phase with ten County FAs in 2014.
From the widespread support and positive
feedback from the 10 counties, The FA
was confident of implementing the new
framework to all County FAs.

WHY DID WE MAKE THE CHANGES?

GLOSSOP NE FC V
NORTH SHIELDS FC

MIDDLESEX FA V
CHESHIRE FA

REFEREE

REFEREE
Lee Swabey (Devon FA)

Wembley Stadium

THE FA
CHALLENGE
VASE
SATURDAY
9 MAY 2015

Andrew Madley (West Riding FA)

Barnet FC

ASSISTANT REFEREES
Daniel Cook (Hampshire FA)
Wade Norcott (Essex FA)

ASSISTANT REFEREES
Josh Smith (Lincolnshire FA)
Paul Howard (London FA)

FOURTH OFFICIAL
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire FA)

FOURTH OFFICIAL
John Busby (Oxfordshire FA)

THE FA
COUNTY
YOUTH CUP
SUNDAY
12 APRIL 2015

After a lengthy period of consultation

amongst our County FA Referee
Development Officers, assessors and
referees, the consensus was that the existing
documents were somewhat dated and not
conducive to the modern day approaches to
developing grassroots referees.

It was essential that we got as much

feedback as possible from the Counties,
the Assessors and, most importantly, the
Referees.

According to North Riding FA RDO, Ross

Joyce, the new forms are a welcome
improvement that allow assessors to focus
on the positives in a referees performance.

The FA took the new documents and

resources to 10 County FAs to pilot
throughout 2014 using a variety of assessors.

This really has to be the way forward. We

now see the role of the assessor to be that of
a matchday referee coach, she said.

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?

Like every pilot there was useful feedback
that led to adjustments, but overall the
feedback was overwhelmingly positive and
complimentary, which provided very strong
support for the national roll-out.
The form had been used in over 300
grassroots games, involving 80+ assessors
and over 120 referees.
The referees found the framework more
applicable, appropriate and helpful in their
quest to get better.

THE FA
YOUTH
CUP
TWO-LEGGED
FINAL

REFEREE
R Madley (West Riding FA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Peter Wright (Liverpool FA)
Timothy Wood (Gloucester FA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Ian Hussin (Liverpool FA)

Blackburn Rovers FC

REFEREE
Mark Haywood (West Riding FA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Scott Oldham (Lancashire FA)
Matt Donohue (Manchester FA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Martin Coy (Durham FA)

THE FA
SUNDAY
CUP
SUNDAY
26 APRIL 2015

Many people thought that the forms offered

little tangible impact towards the on-going
development of grassroots referees looking
for promotion.

By 1 April, almost 85% of the County FAs ,

supported by the National Referee Manager
team, had delivered bespoke assessor
training evenings to demonstrate, educate
and upskill the workforce on using the
new form.

The FA WOMENS CUP Final will be on Saturday 1 August and will be held at Wembley Stadium for the first time.
The FA Referees Committee has decided that a women official who has already officiated in a Womens FA Cup Final may,
in principle, be appointed to a Womens Wembley final as it would be unfair that some of the countrys best officials should miss the
opportunity to officiate in a Womens FA Cup Final at Wembley.

30

I have attended and facilitated the training

at the majority of the County FAs and been
very impressed with the positive reception it
has been given by our assessors.

The FA launched a short pilot in 2013, which

delivered mixed results and prompted a shift
in focus, reformation and the delivery of a
new streamlined version of the documents
to pilot in 2014.
Ian Blanchard, Senior National Game Referee
Manager, explains:
We wanted to take the new form through a
rigorous pilot phase, so that we could really
test how successful, robust and effective the
new documents were, he said.
Short pilots never really work, which is
why we decided to run this one over a
12-month period.

Our assessors feel that they can

communicate the key points while it is less
time-consuming to complete and it is a big
hit with our promotion candidates.

Following the unequivocal support and

approval from the National Referee
Managers, the pilot CFAs and The FA
Referees Committee all the new documents,
resources and guidance notes were shared
through the County FAs RDO network.

Two-and-a-half years ago, County FAs

nominated individuals to an FA working
party, which was tasked with updating and
modernising the assessment form.

CAMPFIELD (LIVERPOOL FA)

V OJM (BIRMINGHAM FA)

The new document is easier on the

eye, relevant to the level of referee being
assessed and provides the referee with the
key areas of focus rather than forcing them
to read through lots of unnecessary text.

IMPLEMENTING THE NEW FORM

WHAT DID WE DO?

MANCHESTER CITY FC
V CHELSEA FC

There is a clear emphasis on development

and coaching rather than assessors going
out feeling they need to find faults and
highlight errors.

There is a clear emphasis on

development and coaching
rather than assessors going out
feeling they need to find faults
and highlight errors.

People seem genuinely pleased with the

new forms as they say they will have a great
impact on referee development in their
County, which is what this whole project has
been about.
We are very pleased with the results but we
know that we need to stay close to this as it is
still in its infancy.
We have committed to providing further
help, support and resources where the
County FAs need us to do so but it has
certainly been a very encouraging start.

31

FA News and admin

INSIGHT: COUNTY FOOTBALL

FA REFEREE DIVERSITY
ACTION GROUP (RDAG)

AS A BUSINESS

Ian Blanchard FA Senior National Referee Manager speaks to Roger Reade,

CEO at Sheffield and Hallamshire.
How things have changed in football.

experience on a 3G pitch. It is visionary and

a huge step forward in helping to grow the
game. We are planning several hub sites in
key areas of the city with 3G pitches and
improved grass pitch hub sites, which will
be easily accessible by local clubs
and teams.

I recall many years ago having to go to the

County Secretaries Office to collect resources
prior to running a Basic Referees Course.
Now County FAs, the backbone of football
in this country, are run as a business.
They have a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
ensuring all aspects of the business are
aligned and benefiting the most important
people -those involved in football.

Work on the first two hub sites will be

underway in Sheffield very soon and it will
have a massive effect on how football will
be played.

CFAs are responsible for football, its growth,

its governance and its development. And
so I thought it would be useful to gain an
insight into how a County FA is run, how its
organised and how it operates.

We now have a Referee

Development Officer in every
County. Could you give an insight into
their role and the benefit they have to
refereeing?

To do that, I asked Roger Reade CEO

at Sheffield and Hallamshire FA to give
Refereeing a whistle stop tour of his County.

Roger, please could you give us an

idea of your footballing background?

Roger Reade, pictured back row far right, with the team at Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA

I have been passionate about the game

since I was a small boy, and that passion
continues today.

I was CEO at Manchester FA and now here

at Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA I am
General/Company Secretary.

through our football administration unit, and

marketing and promoting the game and the
development areas in which we are involved.

This is my 40th year in football. I started

at the age of seven as a fan and have
gone on to work at three professional
clubs - Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers and
Manchester City - and with the football
authorities as part of the national Football
in the Community programme.

I am extremely lucky and grateful to so many

people for having had such a long career
connected to the game that I love.

The FA and County FAs have taken

huge strides since I first got involved at
Manchester FA in 2007.

On a day-to-day basis what aspects

of work are you involved with?

I work with a terrific team who are all

experts in their own areas of administration,
marketing and developing the game.
I liaise daily with a very active Chairman,
Brian Jones, and with the Board of Directors.
My work embraces all sorts of involvement in
running a medium-sized company. It ranges
from setting up maintenance contracts
through to raising minutes of meetings.
Theres never a dull day and each one is
usually different.

Can you give an outline of the

structure of your organisation?

There is a Board of Directors overseeing all

that we are involved in.

Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA headquarters

32

Roger Vaughan FA National Referee Manager (Referee Development)

Then we have 17 staff who are actively involved

in three main departments covering the
development of the game, servicing football

What changes have you seen in your

time as a CEO at the Manchester and
Sheffield FAs?

The FA has a great deal to be proud of in terms

of the business support that they now offer.
Indeed, the support is now much broader and
more structured, relevant and welcome.
The introduction of the Whole Game System
and a greater focus on the importance of
technology will both have a huge impact on
the future of the game for everyone. It is so
well structured and relevant for everyone
connected in the game. Its fantastic.

Your County has been identified as

a lead in the new Park Life project.
Could you give an idea what this is and
the impact it will have?
We are all so excited about Park Life.
Within the next ten years, every six-yearold wishing to play organised (affiliated)
football in Sheffield may get his or her first

We have two officers as part of our

refereeing department and they do a great
job in supporting and developing our pool
of refereeing talent.
We have to recognise that its a changing
world for referees (and for players) mainly
because of changes in society.
Our RDOs are doing a great job and we have
recently completed a series of online videos
(also available on YouTube) for all our referees
about online reporting and registration.
https://www.youtube.com/SheffieldFA

Looking ahead five years, how will

the footballing landscape change
in Sheffield & Hallamshire?
We are looking to replicate the Sheffield
Park Life model in our neighbouring towns,
albeit with a reduced amount of funding
so that we can work towards providing the
same opportunities and culture change to
the way in which football is played in
those areas.
We have lots of challenges ahead especially
concerning the adult 11v11 game but we
have ideas about how to address this via
alternative opportunities on a more
flexible basis.
We also need to be more conscious of
the health agenda and of footballs role in
engaging with people - on a diversionary
basis, for example and this is where I hope
we can work even more closely with the five
professional clubs in our area to deliver
football for many more people.

The Referee Diversity Action Group was formed four years ago from the Referee
Equality Advisory Group (REAG) with the intention of supporting The FAs focus on
making football representative of the communities it represents and specifically the
refereeing workforce.
In 2013 The FA, together with other stakeholders, produced and signed up to the Inclusion
and Anti-Discrimination Plan with the following goals:

1
TO WIDEN
THE TALENT
POOL

TO INSTIL
TO CLARIFY
CONFIDENCE
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
IN REPORTING
REGULATIONS &
DISCRIMINATION
SANCTIONS

4
TO INCREASE
KNOWLEDGE
& AWARENESS

Under the first goal, The FA has a target of achieving a 10% BAME* (Black and Asian Minority
Ethnic) representation across the national referee workforce.
The Referee Diversity Action Group will have oversight of the programmes and interventions
impacting on this target.
As a result of this, the group is being reformed with specific focus on this goal as well as
supporting all aspects of diversity in refereeing.
It will comprise key people who can influence change, offer clear direction and develop
guidance, actions and support for those actions.
This group will still be known as the Referee Diversity Action Group (RDAG) and will have
responsibility for supporting The FA Refereeing Department in achieving a widening of
diversity of the referee workforce.
The RDAG group will be led by a Chair independent of The Football Association. The Chair
role has been openly recruited utilising football and sports networks. It is proposed that the
new group will initially meet in June and will represent all areas of diversity and refereeing,
together with The FA and County FAs.
Part of the groups initial work will be the recruitment and retention of referees from underrepresented communities. To support this initiative, ten County FAs are already running or
will run courses before the end of the season.

Part of the groups initial

work will be the recruitment
and retention of referees
from under-represented
communities.

Football is popular across the whole country

and within all communities and the aim of
the new group will be to ensure, by using
current and new initiatives, that refereeing
is fully represented within all communities.
* For the purposes of this group, the definition of BAME
shall include all under-represented ethnic communities
present in England and Wales.

33

RA News

NEWS

LATEST FROM THE REFEREES ASSOCIATION

The Unsung Hero Award goes to

The Unsung Hero Award is
a prize that was created to
recognise an individual who
dedicates themselves to sport in
Peterborough. The idea behind it
was to give those who volunteer
behind the scenes, often with
little recognition, a chance to win
something worthwhile.
This year it went to Peterborough RA
Chairman, Robert Windle, who is one
of footballs long-standing volunteers.
He received the award at the 2015
Peterborough Telegraph Sports Awards
ceremony in January.
Robert has dedicated himself to refereeing and
the development of referees. He has produced
many talented referees, supporting the
younger members to develop and improve.
An FA Level 2 Tutor, he often conducts Basic
Referee Courses to encourage more people
to get involved and, once qualified, he
continues to act as a mentor. He has spent

many hours standing on the touchlines in

the cold mentoring his ex-students.
He was also instrumental in setting up a
Select and Development Group to help the
continuing development of those referees
with the potential to go further.

refereeing community but also a reflection

on the team we have built from scratch and
the strides we have made together.

THE FA CONVERSION
COURSE FOR
FUTSAL REFEREES
Course Description
This course is designed to provide training for those currently registered as
11 a side referees planning to referee Futsal and will focus on four key areas:

As Chairman of the Peterborough RA, he

has brought some of the biggest names in
refereeing to the city to help improve the
standards of officiating.

Understanding the difference between Futsal and the 11 a side game

Understanding the laws of Futsal and their practical application

Roberts efforts have been recognised

before. In 2013 he won both The FA
Carlsberg National Award for Outstanding
Contribution to Refereeing in a Development
Setting presented at Wembley Stadium and
The FA Grassroots Hero Award presented by
HRH Prince William as part of The FAs 150th
Anniversary Celebrations.

The realities of your role dealing with practical situations

including misconduct
Putting your skills and knowledge into practise by refereeing games

Course Aims and Objectives

On receiving this latest award, Robert said:

Being nominated by my Local Referees
Association was much appreciated and in
itself an honour.

Robert Windle, Chairman of Peterborough RA, with his

Unsung Hero Award that was presented to him at the
2015 Peterborough Telegraph Sports Award.

Reaching the last three was a nice feeling,

but to win the award was not only reward
for the ideas and hours placed into our

This was a great achievement for Robert (3rd from left,

front row), to be recognised among the city community
and a great achievement for referees.

To provide learners with an introduction to refereeing Futsal, identifying the

skills required to effectively referee games of Futsal. Following the initial
training the candidates will be expected to referee a minimum of six games
before returning for a review session during which their knowledge of the
laws of Futsal will be assessed.

Course duration

6 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs)

6 Notional Learning Hours

Course pre-requisites
Be an existing 11 a side referee
at level 8-1

Course content
Unit One
Differences between Futsal
and the 11 a side game (3 GLHs)
Introduction to the course
The ethos of Futsal
Practical application of
different laws
The next steps
Practical Experience
Refereeing a minimum of
six games
Putting theory into practice
Unit Two
Reviewing your role as a Referee
(3 GLHs)
Opportunity to reflect on previous
learning and experience
Examination to confirm
competence to qualify as a
Futsal Referee

How to apply
In order to book onto a course,
please contact your local
County Football Association

34

35

RA News

NEWS

LATEST FROM THE REFEREES ASSOCIATION

REPRESENTATION
OF MEMBERS
A VITAL ROLE FOR
THE REFEREES
ASSOCIATION
Bartholomew OToole Chairman of the
Amateur Football Alliance and London
Society of Association Referees, former RA
Board member, and barrister in independent
practice outlines the importance of seeking
RA representation if confronted with any
disciplinary proceedings.

Two Examples of Representation of Members:

Representation happens
in two ways. First, the
Board appoints the RA
Representative to The FA
Council, currently David
Crick, to act as our
spokesman there and at the
Referees Committee.

Three teams awarded him artificially low marks of 0, 1 and 20 out of

100, bringing down his average from nearly 80 to 72.4, placing him
near the lower end of the list of officials on the competition.

Fifteen minutes later, after speaking to both teams, the referee

abandoned the game. The club was later found guilty of causing the
game to be abandoned and was punished.

There were no appeals against any of his disciplinary action nor was
he was disciplined by his County FA in respect of any of his decisions.
None of the bodies involved felt it necessary to have the referee
mentored or given advice.

After the game the club lodged a complaint that Referee B had sworn
at one boy and grabbed and pinched his arm. Referee B was charged
with two misconduct offences - inappropriate language and assault,
contrary to FA Regulation 7(a)(vi).

It also selects several members to attend the RA-FA Liaison

Committee to work with The FA Refereeing Department for
mutual benefit.

The competition deferred to Referee As County FA who advised

incorrectly that it could stop appointing him.

He appeared before a County FA Disciplinary Commission and

was represented. Detailed evidence was heard from two club
representatives, not including the coach, and then from the
referee himself.

Secondly, the least known role of all and subject of this article, the RA
appoints members to advise and represent referees at FA and County
FA disciplinary hearings and to take their appeals to The FA if unfairly
treated by competitions or County FAs.
When we start refereeing we never imagine being in trouble or raising
grievances with the football authorities because our minds are full
only of enthusiasm and optimism, but a small proportion of referees
will at some point in their refereeing careers find themselves charged
or unhappy with their treatment by a competition or County FA.
The RA can help such members enormously by providing advice,
support and, if necessary, representation at hearings.
A referees experience, even of appearing as a witness at a players
disciplinary commission, can be daunting. When appearing as the
accused before a disciplinary panel, the pressure is all the greater.
It can be a lonely place, even for an experienced referee, especially
without advice or support and not understanding the many rules
and procedures.

SOME CONCLUSIONS

36

REFEREE B

One of the most important

yet most easily overlooked
roles of The Referees
Association and affiliated
societies is to represent
members interests to
The FA and the County FAs.

1.

Even well-advised disciplinary panels benefit greatly

if the referee has effective professional representation
to set out their case clearly in advance in writing and to
help the referee understand the issues and feel the
support of somebody acting on his side

2.

The outcome of cases can be significantly affected by

the presence of a representative. Represented referees
have a much better prospect of allegations against them
being dismissed

3.

Well-meaning RA representatives are a great help,

but legally qualified representatives are better placed
to provide effective representation before experienced
panels, especially at The FA, which is served by
professional lawyers. The preparation of one case
takes anything up to 20 hours

REFEREE A

After seven seasons of continuous refereeing with a competition,

Referee A, whose average marks had always been in a respectable
mid-table position, cautioned or dismissed a higher than average
number of players in five of the first 25 games of a new season.

The competition followed their advice, confirming that it would not

appoint him to any further games.

Referee B, a match official of some 15 years experience, was

officiating at an under-11 boys game.
A teams coach removed his players after protesting at the award
of a penalty kick against his team and free-kicks not awarded to
his team.

By doing so it misunderstood Regulation 5(e) of The Football

Association Regulations for the Registration and Control of Referees
of the Rules applicable at the time:

The prosecution witnesses gave accounts which were

inconsistent with one another and with previous written statements
they had made and, as a result, the Commission dismissed
both charges.

A Competition may not cancel or suspend a Match Official from its

List at any time other than at the Annual Review (such power resting
solely with The Association under Regulation 7).

Had the case been decided the other way it would have ruined the
referees amateur refereeing career.

The referee pointed out Regulation 5(e) and asked them to

reconsider. The competition refused, claiming that he had not
been suspended from their list but was simply not being appointed
to games.
The referee appealed to the competitions County FA, whose Appeal
panel, after much argument, acknowledged the clear conflict of
interest and sent the appeal on to The FA.
Detailed Grounds of Appeal were filed with help from his
representative who again appeared with him at the appeal
hearing. The FA Appeal Panel dismissed all of the competitions
arguments, acknowledging that they had been wrongly advised by
the County FA.
In the next close season the competition conducted an Annual
Review and removed Referee A - giving no reason(s).
He inquired politely as to why but the competition refused to enter
into any dialogue. He appealed again to The FA. The competition
then filed documents providing the very information it previously
refused to release.

CONCLUSION
These cases are unusual, but if your rights as a referee are
unfairly encroached upon by a charge or decision by a
competition or football authority, seek help and advice from
your society and from the Referees Association.
The FA Regulations themselves provide good procedures
and remedies.

Represented referees have a much

better prospect of allegations
against them being dismissed

These revealed that it had not removed Referee A on grounds

permitted under the preamble to the FA Regulations for the
Registration and Control of referees, and Regulations 5(e) and 5(g),
which can be read in any County FA Handbook.
The Appeal Panel decided that Referee A had not been removed on
grounds relating to his fitness or performance on the field of play, and
ordered that he be immediately reinstated to the Referees List of
the competition.

Bartholomew OToole has voluntarily advised and represented over

20 RA members since 2006

37

RA News

NEWS

LATEST FROM THE REFEREES ASSOCIATION

PORTSMOUTH
REFEREES SOCIETY
A good example of how to keep a large membership involved and feeling valued.
Founded in 1907, the Portsmouth Referees
Society is one of the largest societies in
Hampshire and the Referees Association.
Membership regularly exceeds 100 and the
society has had members officiate at all
levels of the game from local parks to FIFA,
along with two
FA Cup Final referees.
The aim of the society has always been to
educate referees, provide social activities,
and ensure that joining the society is a great
opportunity to meet other referees and learn
from their experiences.
So how does Portsmouth keep a large
membership involved and feeling valued?
Mark Lucie, Level 3 referee, explains:

QUEST

In 2013, we became the first society in the country to receive

the RAs QUEST silver award.
This demonstrated the high standards that were already in
place within the society as well as providing recognition for the
hard work put in by the Officers and Committee Members to
make the society one of the best in the country.

INCENTIVE SCHEME

A couple of seasons ago we introduced an incentive scheme

to promote the society and reward members who attend our
monthly meetings.
It was aimed at encouraging members to join the society
and attend monthly meetings. Gifts range from a pen for one
meeting, a water bottle for three meetings, a boot bag for six
meetings and an umbrella for twelve meetings.

SOCIAL

One of the best aspects of the society is that we have

a very strong social following with many events held
throughout the season.
A normal season would include a ten-pin bowling
evening in October, a formal Christmas party in
December, an annual skittles evening against
our rivals - we mean friends really - from the
Southampton Referees Society, a Squizzles
(quiz and skittles) evening in March and an end of
season party in June with live music. We also hold
two or three golf days a year.

MENTORING

Continual development is vitally important.

It not only ensures that referees are kept up to date
with Law changes and best practice, but it maintains
a degree of continuity and consistency that exists
between referees at all levels, whether officiating youth
or adult football.
This development needs to start from day one of a
referees career and, as we all know, needs to continue
throughout.
In Portsmouth we start this process at the next step
workshop of the referees course. We let our new
referees know that they will be mentored and that the
mentor is there to offer support and provide guidance,
not to assess or be critical in any way.
This approach means that our new referees are
expecting someone to come along to watch them but
also gives both them and their parents reassurance that
they are not going out on their own.
Being enrolled automatically in the Mentor scheme
allows these new referees to get off to a good start and
support to overcome any initial fear or anxiety that
exists when they first go out and try and control 22
players, team officials and parents.

MEETING STRUCTURE

Emphasis is on learning and development - we have

structured our meetings so that the business part
lasts for no longer than 10 minutes.

In Portsmouth, we hold youth

meetings in a separate room prior to
the main meeting to encourage young
referees to come along and introduce
them to the society and the
Referees Association.
It is hoped that afterwards youth
members then join the main meeting
and listen to our guest speaker.
The aim is to aid the recruitment and
retention of young officials into the
society. We are fortunate that we have
a number of young FA tutors who can
run the sessions with an emphasis on
education and learning in a
fun environment.
It is also pleasing to see that a number
of referees who previously attended
these youth meetings are now taking
up committee roles and having an
influence on shaping the Society in
the future.

We also recommend and positively encourage these

new referees to come along to our society evenings
where our meetings can support their continued
development and give them a chance to meet their
peers and colleagues from the course.
At Portsmouth, the experience they get is relevant to
games they are refereeing with a meeting for youth
referees and one for adults in the main meeting.
This approach gives them the relevant information
and expectations of the leagues and appointment
secretaries for the games that they are refereeing.

We are already working towards QUEST gold award.

YOUTH

The Referee Society also offers mentoring to any

referee at any level up to level 5 who feel they could do
with extra help in improving their ability to referee or
to resolve any issues they are having with promotional
aspirations.
The Mentors we use in Portsmouth are all trained to
the latest FA requirements and the vast majority are full
members of the Referee Society.

THE FUTURE

We are determined not to stand still.

We recognise that change can be needed and
are happy to adapt when necessary
We are working towards the QUEST gold award
and are always looking at ways to improve the
society to ensure that for many years to come
we can continue to retain a large membership,
to make our members feel valued, and serve
football in the area to the best of our ability.

This enables our guest speaker to be on for longer

and allows more time for members to interact
and socialise.
We always aim to make the meetings interactive
and try to attract guest speakers or hold in-service
training that is suited to our members and covers
a wide variety of ages, refereeing levels and
involvement in the game.

38

P
39

PROGRAMME
RA-FA YOUTH
COUNCIL EVENTS
MISSION POSSIBLE
Friday Afternoon
The RA-FA Youth Council will be
hosting a set of outdoor practical
workshops throughout the afternoon.

THE RA CONFERENCE 2015

U N D E R S TA N D IN G F O OT B A L L
RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN - HEATHROW

This year The Referees Association

Conference will focus on the topic of
Understanding Football.
Following the hugely successful 2014
Conference, which focused on getting
the big decisions right, the 2015 event
will feature a host of workshops and
outdoor sessions designed to enhance
your refereeing knowledge.
This year The Referees Association
is again working in partnership with
the RA-FA Youth Council to deliver a
weekend of interactive and engaging
content aimed at up-skilling the
referee workforce.
The FA and the PGMOL, including
senior coaches and Select Group
match officials, will once again be
supporting the event and delivering
content over the weekend.

FRIDAY 3 SUNDAY 5 JULY 2015

These workshops, which will be

delivered by some of the top referees
and tutors in the country, are
designed to enhance your refereeing
skill set including judgement,
decision-making, precision, speed,
agility and communication.
The sessions will also link with the
content being delivered the
following day.

THE RA CONFERENCE
Saturday
With a key note speaker followed
by an opportunity to attend three
specialised sessions on key topics
that are relevant to your refereeing,
the Saturday of the RA Conference
has been planned to provide the
perfect opportunity to learn and
engage on topics key to progressing
your refereeing journeys.
The final presentation of the
conference will also draw together all
of the topics to ensure that you leave
with a greater understanding
of football.

PRESENTERS
FIFA Referees
Andre Marriner
Craig Pawson
Anthony Taylor

FIFA Assistant Referees

Simon Bennett
John Brooks
Stuart Burt
Jake Collin
Darren England
Jane Simms

This year the event will be held at the

Queens Park Rangers training ground,
just five minutes from the main
conference venue.

WORKSHOPS

Friday Evening

Promising attack or DOGSO?

Managing the technical area

After the fantastic success of last

years World Cup themed Friday
evening, there will again be a focused
training and development event
aimed at making your refereeing
mission possible.

When to play advantage

The evening will feature interactive

learning with tutored sessions on
key topics that will assist you in
developing and furthering your
refereeing careers.

Assisting or insisting

How to recognise simulation

Keeping the lid on things
How to plan your fitness training

There will also be a buffet dinner and

prize draw, with an opportunity to win
some great refereeing prizes.
There are a limited numbers of tickets
for the events on Friday 3 July 2015,
so dont delay book now!

Select Group Officials

Harry Lennard
Lee Mason
Jon Moss

FA/PGMOL Personnel
Neale Barry
Ian Blanchard
Simon Breivik
Kevin Friend
Daniel Meeson
Roger Vaughan
Adam Watts
Howard Webb

HOW TO BOOK
Entry to The RA Conference is free on the Saturday for all RA members.
There is also an option to attend the RA Conference dinner on the Saturday evening,
should you wish to attend the whole event.
Tickets for all of the events over the weekend are available to book via the online
booking portal, which is available at:
http://www.participant.co.uk/tra/raconference2015
Once booked, you will be sent a confirmation email detailing your booking details and
the information that you have provided.
You can keep up to date with all of the latest news regarding the event via social media
using #RAConf15

The Referees Association

@RefsAssociation
RA-FA Youth Council
@RAFAYthCouncil

RA-FA Youth Council News

NEWS

ENHANCING THE OFFER THE SOCIAL SIDE

LATEST FROM THE RA-FA YOUTH COUNCIL

COUNTY FA YOUTH COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS 2015

National County FA Youth Council Conference 2015
On Sunday 24 May 2015 the RA-FA Youth Council will deliver the
National County FA Youth Council Conference at St Georges Park.

Tom Bowkett RA-FA Youth Council

Vice Chairman looks at how
Portsmouth RAs social events calendar
is offering invaluable support to its
refereeing community.
In the last edition of this magazine, we
focused on the great work of Peterborough
Referees Association and their Young
Referees Evening, which was designed
to engage with and develop the young
refereeing workforce in their area.

Open to all County FA Youth Councils, who may send up to two

delegates each, the free-to-attend event will focus on three key
themes: Building Bridges, Supporting Young People,
and Developing Refereeing.
Over the course of the day, a number of interactive and practical
workshops will take place and will focus on upskilling attendees as
well as providing the opportunity to share best practice and work
together on a range of projects.

This highlighted just one of the benefits

of joining The Referees Association.
Engaging with match officials is a key
priority at both a local and national level.
However, at times, we can forget about the
off the field benefits that we can provide
and look past offering members something
away from the world of training and
development as officials.

To book your place, please contact your regional representative

for more information and booking details.
County FA Youth Council Regional Seminars
This season the RA-FA Youth Council will be hosting eight regional
seminars across the country that act as a build up to the
National Conference.
These regional seminars are a valuable opportunity for young
people in Youth Councils to build bridges, receive development
training, and work to develop refereeing in their county.
Each event will offer a programme of interactive and engaging
learning workshops and presentations that will provide the
perfect build up to the RA-FA Youth Councils National County
FA Youth Council Conference.

Regional
Seminars
Dates

Hints and tips on how to receive funding from the RA-FA Youth
Council Referee Development Fund will also be shared.

North East

Sunday 26 April

North West

Sunday 19 April

East

Sunday 10 May

East Midlands

Monday 20 April

West Midlands

Monday 23 March

London & Central

Sunday 26 April

South East

Monday 4 May

South West

Sunday 26 April

RA-FA YOUTH COUNCIL REGIONAL CONTACTS

The RA-FA Youth Council has a team of regional representatives who work with County FAs and RAs.

In this article, we will be looking at how

events away from refereeing can help
to build confidence and offer something
different to members.
Portsmouth Referees Society has been
organising social events for their members
for a number of years.
These involve a range of activities, with
some being based around the refereeing
that their members are involved in and
some being organised solely for social
and networking purposes.
In a society with a mixed membership, of
both age and experience, it has proved to
be a great way for members to interact with
one another and engage with colleagues.

A keen supporter of this approach is

Amy Robinson, a member of Portsmouth
Referees Society, who believes that events
such as this offer a great benefit
to members of all ages:
Social events allow younger referees to
mix with more experienced officials which
may not happen outside The Referees
Association meetings, she said.
By linking our society and social events
together, we have the best of both worlds an opportunity to socialise and engage with
colleagues away from refereeing, while at
the same time being able to offer support
and guidance in an informal manner.
Be it a squizzles evening - a quiz and a
game of skittles - bowling nights against
fellow local Referees Associations, golf
days or end of season parties, there is
something on offer to every aspect of
their membership.
And with a specific officer on the committee
who is tasked with organising these social
outings, proper planning is ensured.
When asked about the importance of
the social events that they organise,
Amy believed that they add real value
to the society: Social events are at the
heart of our society, she explained.
In a hobby or career which can sometimes
be challenging and difficult, it is important
to relax and share your experiences with
members of your society in a less formal
and structured manner.
In a world where the way in which we
communicate has become focused on the
internet and social media, Portsmouth
Referees Society utilises their regularly

North West
East
East Midlands
West Midlands
London & Central

Natasha Wilson north.east@rafayc.co.uk

George Lowe east@rafayc.co.uk
Charlotte Sparling east.midlands@rafayc.co.uk
Ollie Williams west.midlands@rafayc.co.uk
Olly Fyfe central@rafayc.co.uk
Jess French south.east @rafayc.co.uk

South West

Josh Ainscow south.west@rafayc.co.uk

For general queries please contact info@rafayc.co.uk

Developing the social bonds between RA members can provide multiple benefits to a referees development.

42

These events also allow us to

celebrate successes throughout
the seasons. Sometimes we need
to be reminded to have some fun.
Social events can also be a fantastic way
to celebrate achievements. Whether its
a cup final appointment, a promotion or a
long service award, they can act as a tool
to bring the membership together for a
common cause.
Amy agrees: These events also allow
us to celebrate successes throughout
the season. Sometimes we need to be
reminded to have some fun.
Amys last point is important. As match
officials our role is not always an easy one
to fulfil.
Refereeing takes time and dedication.
Training and development is key to
upskilling and increasing your knowledge.
However, if Referees Associations are
able to offer a means of detachment,
even if just once a season, we will still be
able to achieve these targets, while at the
same time allowing members to take a
break from the intensity of modern day
refereeing.

Social events should run alongside the

fantastic training and development that
already occurs and act as an add-on to the
existing tutoring on offer. The key point to
remember though is that when planning
ideas, ask for the views of your members
because they are at the heart of what you do
and what you should be striving to achieve.

Adam Davies north.west@rafayc.co.uk

South East

This again helps to open up the offer to

their membership by using a variety of
communication channels.

There are a number of associations and

societies around the country that offer
social events to members and Portsmouth
Referees Society is just one such example.

Should you wish to contact your Regional Representative,

you can do by using the relevant email address below:
North East

updated and easy-to-access website

to convey ideas and information about
forthcoming events, as well as discussing
them at their monthly meetings.

If you would like further information or

some ideas, ask for suggestions at your
County Referees Association meetings or
for further details on social events that your
local Referees Associations could run please
email ra@footballreferee.org for advice.

43

RA-FA Youth Council News

REFEREE DEVELOPMENT FUND

Will Finnie
RA-FA Youth Council Chairman

Leicestershire & Rutland FA

Leicestershire & Rutland RA-FA Youth Council have
announced their intention to use 250 from the Referee
Development Fund to launch a rejuvenated mentor scheme.

Dorset FA

The newly designed mentor scheme will fall into the Support
bracket of their three-stage development programme:
SUPPORT - to engage young people from the basic course and
make them feel comfortable in their new role

On Sunday 26 October 2014, Dorset

FA Youth Referees Committee
hosted their first Young Referee
Development Conference.

The Referee Development Fund was

launched by the RA-FA Youth Council
at the start of season 2014/15, and
in its inaugural year has already seen
nine applicants have their applications
accepted and funding offered.
This means the RA-FA Youth Council will
be investing up to 2500 into empowering
young people with developing young
referees in their local area.
The projects, supported by the Referee
Development Fund, have already seen
a large number of referees engaged and
developed, with some projects growing the
referee development workforce.

The inaugural event involved a series

of practical workshops and guest
speaker sessions aimed at providing
30 Dorset referees aged 14-18 with
the opportunity to develop their
refereeing skills.

PROGRESS - to bridge the gap between promotion-based

development groups and the more junior county levels giving referees greater opportunities
The scheme, which targets referees who have recently
passed their course, aims to create a safe learning environment
where young people can receive best practice advice to develop
their skills.

After an extensive warm-up, attendees

took part in three workshop sessions
with senior referees from the county.

At the same time, it is accrediting young people with a mentor

qualification to establish a level of peer-to-peer support that
offers young people with a comfortable environment to learn in.

Ben Cobb and Alan Hough led an

assistant referee workshop that was
aimed at perfecting signalling and
positioning, as well as demonstrating
the new penalty kick signal and offside judgements.
A player-management session run by Neil Harrison and Mike Ballard followed,
which concentrated on best practice when dealing with misconduct, dissent,
mass confrontations and the technical areas.
To finish, Martin Underhay and Matt Weldon led a workshop on set-piece
management and looked at a series of scenarios that ranged from dealing with
jostling at corner-kicks to how to prepare for resolving confrontation.

And, year-on-year, we are expecting it

to grow even further with applications
continuing to come in for funding.

In between these practical sessions, attendees heard from guest speaker

Paul Knight, Wessex League referee who gave an inspiring and highly motivating
account of being fourth official for AFC Bournemouth v Wigan Athletic.

Below is a full list of County FAs whose

applications have been accepted as of
March 2015.

He also led the group as they discussed the before, during and after matters
of penalty kick decision-making.

Birmingham FA x2
Dorset FA
Gloucestershire FA
Hampshire FA
Herefordshire FA
Lancashire FA
Leicestershire & Rutland FA
Somerset FA
Worcestershire FA
To find out more about the impact the
Referee Development Fund is having on
the ground, we have taken a look at how
three of the Youth Councils who have
benefited from the initiative have used
it to support referees in their area.

44

RETAIN - ensure young referees are given an array of

opportunities to develop into more technically gifted, confident
referees to enhance performance both on and off the field

To close the day, Football League assistant referee and Contributory League
referee Mark Derrien took to the stage to speak about the importance of
bouncing back when things dont go quite right as well as the need to recognise
and acknowledge that mistakes do happen and its how you react that makes
the difference.
In recognition
for their work in
engaging young
referees through
an educational,
enjoyable and
professional
development
event, Dorset FA
Youth Referees
Committee has
been successful
in their Referee
Development
Fund application.

Going forwards, the Leicestershire & Rutland RA-FA Youth

Council hopes that the investment will enable them to offer top
quality training to ensure that the next generations of referees
are passionate and engaged within refereeing.

Somerset FA
The Somerset FA Youth Council has been
successful in their application to set up a
county-wide mentor scheme.

Should you wish to find out more about

the Referee Development Fund, email
info@rafayc.co.uk or use the hashtag
#RefDevFund

The refereeing team on the Youth Council

has delivered five events where new and
current mentors have been trained.

Applications can be submitted until

31 May 2015, and the process is open
to all County FAs and Youth Councils,
so make sure you dont miss out.

These events have developed 62 new

referee mentors across Somerset, with
seven coordinators running the day-to-day demands of the scheme.

The scheme also promotes the benefit

of local Referees Associations.

The focus of the scheme is on retaining referees within the county, particularly those
officials who have recently been part of a course and therefore need support during
their first six games.
The result of this will mean more referees available from Level 8 upwards as well as
an increase in the percentage of officials
who can attend further CPD and training
opportunities.

The ultimate aim of the mentor scheme

is to provide skilled mentors who can
improve the knowledge, skills and
standard of refereeing in Somerset,
meaning the quality of officials in the
county will increase.

The ultimate aim of the mentor scheme,

which also promotes the benefit of local
Referees Associations, is to provide skilled
mentors who can improve the knowledge,
skills and standard of refereeing in
Somerset, meaning the quality of officials in
the county will increase.

45

FA Learning
The Football Association
St. Georges Park
Newborough Road
Needwood
Burton-Upon-Trent
DE13 9PD
T: 0800 085 2012
F: 01283 576 201
E: FALearningSupport@TheFA.com
TheFA.com/FALearning
FA Learning Hotline: 0800 085 2012
The Referees Association
1b Bagshaw Close
Ryton on Dunsmore
Warwickshire
CV8 3EX
T: +44 (0) 2476 420 360
F: +44 (0) 2476 601556
E: ra@footballreferee.org
www.the-ra.org