Refereeing

Joint publication of FA Learning and The Referees ASSOCIATION

Volume 16 APRIL 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

FINAL FRONTIER
refereeing the big games
Howard Webb: The Road to EURO 2012
10 Point Plan to Referee Assessment

the

Referees
Association

CONTENTS
4-7
CARLING CUP FINAL

Contributors
David Elleray, Mark Clattenburg,
Howard Webb, Helen Byrne,
Ian Blanchard, Neale Barry,
Roger Vaughan, Declan Bourne,
James Whittaker, Mike Coen,
Dean Mohareb, Colin Harris

RefeReeing

the

referees
association

Joint publication of fa learning and the referees association

Volume 16 mAY 2012

in THiS iSSUe

final frontier
refereeing the big games
Howard Webb: The Road to eURO 2012
10 Point Plan to Referee Assessment

Editorial Team
David Elleray, Ian Blanchard,
Peter Glynn, Neal Barry
Design
Andy Simmons
Image recognition
Getty Images
Acknowledgements
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.

8-11
THE ROAD TO
EURO 2012

22-25
GETTING THE BIG
DECISIONS RIGHT

The views of this journal

are not necessarily those
of The Football Association.

Introduction

David Elleray

Carling Cup Final

Mark Clattenburg

The Road to EURO 2012

Howard Webb

Pre-match Instructions

Helen Byrne

Published by:
FA Learning, The Football Association,
Wembley Stadium
Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 0WS.
Postal address:
FA Learning, The Football Association,
Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London,
SW1P 9EQ.
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

the

Referees
Association

12

Rob Clare: ex-professional becomes referee Ian Blanchard

14

Law changes for 2012-13 Neale Barry

16

10 point plan to referee assessment

18

Roger Vaughan

Independent Schools FA: England v Australia U18 Declan Bourne & James Whittaker

20

Kevin Friend: Getting the big decisions right

Mike Coen

22

Women Referees - changes

David Elleray

26

Social Networking websites Neale Barry

30

Wearing spectacles a reminder

31

The Online experience

32

Dean Mohareb

Join the Referees Association

34

RA Eve-of-Final Rally

35

RA Conference 2012

36

Colin Harris

Introduction

Welcome
A

pril and May are exciting times

for football as so many issues are
resolved and the hopes and dreams
of players, spectators and referees are
either realised or dashed.
We all know that the coming weeks will be
very significant and these are times when
decisions and match control of referees
and assistants will be under great scrutiny
regardless of whether they are Howard
Webb and his team in the EURO Finals or the
hundreds of referees and assistants taking
control of finals and key league matches from
the grassroots through to The FA Cup Final.
In this edition we hope to give you a flavour
(and some advice) for those of you involved
in Cup finals with accounts from contrasting
finals: a County FA Final and the Carling Cup
Final. At the international level we also contrast
and compare the thoughts of a team of young
officials taking control of an U18 schools
international with Howard Webbs thoughts
and preparations for the EURO Finals.
There has been a lot of attention on
footballers in recent weeks and I am sure
everyone in the refereeing family joins me in
wishing Fabrice Muamba a full and speedy
recovery. Talking of professional footballers,
we hope you will be interested in an account
of a former England U20 and U21 player who
has successfully taken up refereeing.
As you may already be aware, there have
been some important changes to the Laws
of the Game which come into effect on the

May is an exciting time for football as many

issues are resolved and the hopes and
dreams of players, spectators and referees
are either realised or dashed

1st June (in time for the EURO Finals).

Neale Barry outlines the key changes,
along with an announcement about a
change in the Level 4 fitness test and a
sobering reminder of how misuse of social
networks can damage a referees career.
As the season ends, The Referees
Association has its key events:
t he Eve of the Cup Final Rally (where the
Guest Speaker will be the former Executive
Director of The FA, David Davies) and
t he Annual Conference where the
presenters will include the English
EURO referee team: Howard Webb,
Martin Atkinson, Mike Mullarkey, Mark
Clattenburg and Peter Kirkup, along with
a number of our top men and women
officials: Chris Foy, Michael Oliver,
Sian Massey and Sarah Garrett.
If you have not been to either event before
then please come this year you will have a
great time and learn a great deal.
On behalf of The FA and the RA, I wish you
all an enjoyable end to the season and some
exciting football watching with the EURO
Finals, where we hope either the England
football team or the England referee team
will reach the final, and a restful close season.
David Elleray
Chairman, FA Referees Committee
President, Referees Association

Manchester City manager,

Roberto Mancini, celebrates
during last years FA Cup Final
versus Stoke City

Feature

Reflections
on the 2012
Carling Cup Final
Mark Clattenburg, FIFA and Select Group Referee

Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard,

leads the celebrations as Liverpool
beat Cardiff in the 2012 Carling
Cup Final

Feature

was sitting on a plane waiting to take

off from a snow covered Istanbul
airport on 30 January 2012 when
I received a call from David Allison,
Football League Referee Officer, inviting
me to referee the Carling Cup Final 2012
between Cardiff City and Liverpool.
I was informed that because the fourth
official had not been contacted about the
appointment I could not inform anyone for
two days until the press announcement by
the Football League. This brought mixed
emotions from the excitement of the
appointment and also disappointment that
I could not tell anyone for a few days.
The build up to the Final was very hectic with a
Europa League match in Romania, an
important Football League match as well as an
Additional Assistant Referee duty in Madrid all
in just over a week. In a way this was good as I
did not have time to get nervous or to even
think too much about the Final as I only think
about one game at a time and concentrate

fully on that role and what is required of me

either as the leader of the team or as an
Additional Assistant Referee.
I arrived back into England on the Friday
evening from Madrid and went straight to an
Olly Murs concert as he had kindly given me
and my wife tickets to see him perform in
Newcastle. On the Saturday morning, I left
home with my family to drive to London to
meet up with the team at Hendon Hall Hotel
and it was on this drive down that the
thoughts of the final started. The excitement
of the match was starting to build but also
some nerves, as its such a hugely important
match that you do not want to let anyone
down by making a mistake.
I arrived in London at 1pm and in the
afternoon we went to Wembley to go
through all the pre-match activities and be
briefed about what was expected of us before
and after the match. This gave us a chance to
see the stadium and visualise our tasks on the
following day.

The one thing

I focused on with the
team was teamwork
and looking after
each other
The evening was spent with all the families
of the team as well as David Allison and this
was an important time for the team to relax
and help them switch off before the events
of the big day.
The day of the game started off with
breakfast and then we relaxed around
the hotel until we left for the stadium
at 1pm. This was the last time we would
see our families until after the match now all the focus was on the importance

of delivering such an important match

and the first major final of the season.

management and the rest of the match

finished without any problems.

The one thing I focused on with the team was

teamwork and looking after each other; but
the final thing I said was to be switched on
from the first whistle as in the last two finals
there had been some major decisions for the
referee team to deal with. Sure enough,
4.02pm, Glen Johnson of Liverpool shot from
outside the penalty area and hit the
underside of the crossbar. I looked across and
was delighted to see my assistant referee
directly in line, shaking his head. What a start
but nothing that we had not prepared for.

After the penalties, when the match had

finished, I looked around and realised that my
team and I had played a big part in this
fantastic final. I felt close to tears as it was also
a relief to finish the match without problems.
I walked up the steps to collect my medal to
be met with many supporters congratulating
us on our performance which made us
satisfied and happy.

For the first twenty minutes I struggled to run

and found my legs feeling extremely heavy
but as the first half wore on I started to relax
and this helped me run more freely. The first
half went well for the team but it was
important to keep the focus and
concentration and we started to feel that this
match would go all the way to penalties.
The players responded to my style of

When the match finished

I looked around and
realised my team and I had
played a big part in this fantastic final
Captain and manager show their
delight at the end of the game

Mark Clattenburg in action in the

2012 Final at Wembley

I was
told there
would be
bloodshed
in the
streets.

Feature

The Road
to Euro 2012
Howard Webb, Referee: 2010 FIFA World Cup Final and UEFA Champions League Final

t 6pm on 8 June 2012, at the

recently refurbished and newly
re-opened National Stadium in
Warsaw, Poland and Greece will raise the
curtain on the UEFA European
Championships 2012.
For the final time, 16 teams will compete
for the Henri Delaunay Trophy (24 teams
will compete for the trophy at France 2016).
There will, of course, be an additional team.
An important team who will represent UEFA,
and whose preparations have already started.
Details of the 12 referees who will take charge
of games in Euro 2012 were announced in
mid-December last year following an ongoing selection process over the previous
few months. The selection was based not
only upon current performance but also on
levels of experience. In several countries,
including England, the decision as to who
would be their representative went right to
the wire, and some excellent candidates just
missed out this time. Its interesting to note
that from the final list of 12 referees who have
been selected, only I was at the previous
European Championships, held in Austria and
Switzerland in 2008, clearly illustrating the
turnover of referees in Europe at Elite level in
recent years.
In the past few weeks, details of the assistant
referees who will accompany the referees
have been announced and of course at this
years Finals, for the first time, we will see the
use of additional assistant referees stationed
behind the goal-lines. The names of these
officials have been recently announced.
Reserve assistant referees have also been
identified and will remain a part of the
preparations until the tournament starts,
stepping-in in the case of illness or injury to
one of the two assistants.
The team representing England at Euro
2012 includes Mike Mullarkey and Peter

Kirkup as assistant referees, Steve Child

as reserve assistant referee and Martin
Atkinson with Mark Clattenburg as additional
assistant referees. We will be sending three
referees from UEFAs Elite Category, which
im delighted about and is indicative of the
excellent relationships the referees have at
the top level here in England .Should a referee
become injured during a match at the
tournament, it will be the additional assistant
referee number one who would take over; in
my case, this would be Martin Atkinson.
Preparation started immediately. The teams
of selected officials worked together in UEFA
club competitions throughout the spring, as
happened in the UEFA Champions League
Round of 16 match at Benfica recently when
I was appointed with my team. Additionally,
Martin Atkinson and Mark Clattenburg
received extra experience as additional
assistant referees working for each other in
Europa and Champions League matches.
I fully anticipate that the officials selected for
the tournament will also work predominantly
together in domestic matches.
Throughout the build-up to the tournament,
there is a requirement for the referees to
send a training log-book and heart-rate data
to Professor Werner Helsen, the Belgian
sports scientist who works for UEFA. Helson
monitors the training load of the 12 selected
referees. Guidance will be given to ensure
that all officials arrive at the tournament in
peak condition, even though for many of us
this will come at the end of a long domestic
season. I am fortunate here in England
that I have the day-to-day guidance and
expertise of Simon Breivik, the PGMOL
sports scientist, who works closely with
Professor Helsen. Simon will assist in the
preparation and testing of all the officials
going to the tournament.

In the first week of May, all 76 officials (12

referees, 24 assistant referees, 12 reserve
assistant referees, 24 additional assistant
referees and 4 dedicated fourth officials)
will meet together in Warsaw for a four
day pre-tournament course. During our
time together, topics will be discussed
and instructions given ensuring a uniform
approach from all the officials at the
tournament. Consistency will be expected.
All referees are members of
UEFAs Elite category, regularly partake
in the Champions League and attend
the bi-annual UEFA Elite referee courses
where similar discussions take place and
instructions are given.
The pre-tournament course will be
particularly useful to some of the assistant
referees and additional assistant referees,
who dont have the opportunity to attend
UEFA seminars.
During a number of pre-tournament visits
members of the UEFA referees committee
will inform the competing nations of the
conclusions from the Warsaw course. There
are obvious advantages in everybody being
fully aware of what has been emphasised to
the match officials. Its possible to anticipate
that the main focus will be on protecting
the players and protecting the image
of the game. The assistant referees will
also undertake filmed practical exercises
organised by the 2002 World Cup Final
assistant, Philip Sharp.

We will be sending
three referees from UEFAs
Elite Category, which is indicative of the
excellent relationships the referees have at
the top level here in England

During the course, the 76 match officials will

be required to pass the standard FIFA fitness
test which involves six 40 metre sprints.
Referees are expected to complete each
run in 6.2 seconds, with assistant referees
set a target of 6 seconds. This is followed
by 10 laps of a 400 metre running track.
For referees, additional assistant referees
and fourth officials, each lap consists of 150

Feature

At this years Finals, for the first time, we will

see the use of additional assistant referees
stationed behind the goal-lines
metres in 30 seconds, followed by 50 metres
recovery in 35 seconds, twice over.
For assistant referees, the recovery time
extends to 40 seconds.

Howard Webb is the only referee

to be selected from those
who officiated in Austria and
Switzerland in 2008
Euro 2012 referees must
complete a thorough fitness
test on selection

The course will also provide an opportunity

for UEFA to supply Adidas kit, equipment,
tournament branded leisurewear and suits
to the match officials, with size exchanges
being possible. The new communication
systems which will be used at the Finals
have already been supplied to the referees,
providing sufficient time to become familiar
with their use. This latest version is the
smallest and most lightweight yet, providing
excellent clarity and quality of transmissions.
This is so important - when using six officials.
The radio system is crucial to effective
teamwork as this is the only means of
communication that the additional assistant
referees have.
At the course, we will meet other members
of our support team, which will include
physiotherapists, sports masseurs, a sports
psychologist and audio visual technicians,
amongst others.
Accreditation details have already been
forwarded to the local organising committee.
Everything is in place to ensure we arrive at
the tournament fully prepared physically,
technically and mentally, both individually
and as a team. Naturally we feel honoured
and delighted to have been selected and will
strive to contribute greatly to a successful
European Championship from a refereeing
point of view.

10

There are obvious

advantages in
everybody being fully
aware of what has
been emphasised to
the match officials

11

Feature

Pre-match
instructions
Helen Byrne, Level 4 Referee Liverpool County FA

Helen Byrne outlines a set of guidelines to help get the best out neutral assistant
referees ensuring effective co-operation and teamwork.

1.

Any pre-match preparation should be conducted on the field of play allowing the
assistants the opportunity to visualise different situations. Try to do this at least 45 minutes
before kick-off.

7.

Offside decisions are left to the assistants for the duration of the match, unless a wrong
application of the law is observed. If this happens the referee should ask the assistant to
drop their flag. If there is a stoppage in play the referee may come over and explain the
reason. Take your time with all offsides, the only time a quick flag is encouraged is if there is
the possibility that the attacker and goalkeeper may collide.

2.

The most senior assistant should operate on the side of the field with the dugouts/technical
areas for both halves. The senior assistant should keep a full match record (taking note
of cautions/red cards/substitutions), whilst the other assistant should take the role of the
referees eyes and ears.

8.

3.

Substitution

Substitutions should be made cleanly from the half-way line, with the exiting player
leaving the pitch before the substitute player goes on. The time of the substitution
should be recorded.

The area in which I would expect assistants to flag for a free-kick is in the area from
the edge of the 18-yard area to the halfway line, as this gives the assistant the most
credibility. When doing so it is important to take into account the proximity of the referee;
the necessity of assistance increasing the further the referee is from the incident. When
giving free-kicks it is important to keep on the move and not be caught static, if there is an
opportunity to play advantage then the referee should do so.

9.

With penalty-kicks there are four possible situations:

The referee knows that it is a penalty and gives the decision.

4.

Assistant referees take the outside rights. On arriving on the pitch the team should
break, check nets (also after half time) and then reconvene to witness the coin-toss.

Pre- match

Who is
senior?

Concentration

5.

Goal kicks
and
corner kicks

6.

Throw ins

12

Offside

Free-kicks

Penalty Kicks

T
 he referee is unsure whether it is a penalty and will be looking at the assistant inviting
them in, if the assistant thinks it is a penalty they should put their flag across their chest,
the referee will give the penalty and should curve their run in front of the assistant to help
prevent any players disputing the decision.
T
 he ball has been played forward and the referee is not up with play. If the referee
indicates a foul, clarity will be required from the assistant to indicate whether the offence
is inside or outside the area. The referee will look to the assistant for the appropriate
signal. Following this the assistant should act as the goal judge.

All goal-kicks and corner-kicks should be correctly flagged. Monitor all goal-kicks from the
18-yard area and then adjust your position in-line with the second rearmost defender.

To ensure the correct award of throw-ins the pitch should be divided it into thirds: the
referee taking one third, and the assistants taking one third each. The referee will look to the
assistants for all decisions in their own third. When decisions are being made in the middle of
the pitch eye-to-eye contact is a necessity. Discrete signals which point in the direction of the
throw can be given by the referee and assistants are encouraged to look at the referee before
signalling. If the assistant sees something the referee has missed then the assistant should
lead the referee in. If for any reason there is a difference of opinion, the assistant should drop
their flag and go with the referees decision. In front of the dugouts/technical areas,
the referee and assistant should be patient, make eye-contact and get the decision correct to
make sure complaints from both dugouts do not follow.

T
 he referee knows it is not a penalty and will be cutting the grass to let everyone know
that they will not be giving the decision (no input is required here).

When the penalty is being taken the assistant should observe the goalkeepers
movement, if there is concern and reason for a retake the assistant should stand their
ground, ensuring the referee knows they are not happy. In this scenario it is important
to be consistent and sensible.

10.

Mass
confrontation

Mass confrontation could occur in any game and it is difficult to dictate exactly where an
assistant should stand. It is important for the assistants to get into a position that allows
maximum view ideally the officials will from a triangle with the confrontation wedged in
between. If the officials are stood together then it is obvious that this is the wrong position.
In this situation it is important to be patient, deal with any red card offences initially, then
any cautions and finally ensure play is restarted correctly.

13

Feature

CROSSING
THE DIVIDE...

I also felt that because I was still very

young - I was only 25 when I took up the
whistle - I had time to progress up the
referee promotion ladder

...from Professional Footballer to Referee

Ian Blanchard talks to Rob Clare

mongst the 29,000 referees in

England there are a few who have
previously played at a professional
level. Rob Clare, a former professional
footballer at Stockport County FC, tells
Ian Blanchard how an ex-professional
footballer came into refereeing and what
he now wants to achieve in the game.
Q: Rob can you tell me a bit
about yourself.
I have been the Commercial Manager at
Stockport County for the past two years,
which means I am responsible for marketing
the club, attracting new sponsors and
looking after our current commercial
partners. I have a busy life, because I am
also married with four children (three boys
and a girl). I was born in Belper in Derbyshire,
so I was always a big Derby County
supporter, but County come first these days,
of course. I did pretty well at school and left
at the age of 16 with nine GCSEs at grades A
to C, but it was always my ambition to play
professional football.

Clare during his Stockport County days

14

Q: How did you get into football?

My earliest recollection is starting to play
at U7s. After a few years I was scouted by
the Derby County School of Excellence
and I played at Derby from the age of ten
through to sixteen years of age. Like a lot of
budding hopefuls I was released at sixteen
but I managed to get a position at Stockport
County on YTS terms, living in digs with some
of the other younger players.

Q: How did you progress into the

professional game?
On my seventeenth birthday I was offered
professional terms at Stockport County and
I remember making my debut away at
Fulham when I had the unenviable task of
marking John Collins a tricky, skilful winger.
We lost 0-4. But I went on to play about 230
games for County as well as spending one
season at Blackpool in 2004 where I played
30 games. My heart was always at Edgeley
Park though, so I returned to County in 2005
until I was forced to retire in 2008. I was
hugely disappointed to give up playing but
I suffered badly with tendonitis in my knee,
coupled with a stress fracture of the shin.
Both injuries proved difficult to shake off and
in the end I was unable to regain full fitness
and was left with no option but to retire.
Q: Whilst playing what were your
highlights?
I captained the England U20 team when we
played Italy away and I was in the squad for
the U21s to play Ukraine; however I never
got off the bench. My biggest highlight
during my time with County was beating
Manchester City 2-1 at Edgeley Park when
they were at the top of the Championship.
I also played every minute of every game in a
Football League record of 9 consecutive wins
without conceding a goal in 2007, something
of which Im extremely proud.
Q: How did you get into refereeing?
After retiring from playing I took my FA Level
2 coaching badge and I was desperate to
stay involved. I could see the attraction of
refereeing as I had been a pretty fair player,
and was always respectful and pretty lenient
towards referees. Whilst playing I obviously
saw the other side when team mates were
disrespectful and in some cases made

the referees life difficult. I could see that

refereeing would be a difficult job but a terrific
challenge for me, as well.
I also felt that because I was still very young I was only 25 when I took up the whistle - I had
time to progress up the referee promotion
ladder. That was one of the motivating factors
which prompted me to take up refereeing.
So towards the end of 2008, I took the next
available course at Altrincham. Since then, I
have refereed as much as I can, operating in
local leagues on a Sunday, such as the East
Cheshire Sunday League, whilst still working
at Stockport County on home matches.
Q: What do you think are the key skills you
possess as a former player that you have
been able to use in refereeing?
Needless to say a high level of fitness helps.
The game is physically demanding and as a
referee being in the right place at the right
time is essential.
You need to know football. Not just the Laws
of the Game but have a breadth of knowledge
and understanding about football, and seeing
things from a players perspective is definitely
an advantage.
I really do feel that a key skill is developing
empathy. As a player you expect a yellow
card to be shown if someone makes a late
reckless challenge on you; and you would be
disappointed if it wasnt - disappointed that
the referee didnt see it that way, but also
disappointed that the referee was failing to
protect players.

I also think that as a referee you need to

remember to treat players as you would
want to be treated yourself. In general terms
you can go about refereeing in a calm,
controlled and quietly confident manner,
however, there are times when a referee has
to take control, show his or her authority, be
assertive and strong.
I am also a great believer in common
sense. Not to the extent of ignoring the
Laws but certainly recognising that in a
lot of cases the Laws and the management
of the game allow the referee flexibility
and an opportunity to demonstrate
common sense.
Q: What are your aims or goals in
refereeing?
I want to get as far as I can but I am realistic.
I have already achieved Level 4 and I am
enjoying refereeing very much. My aim is to
reach the Football League, either as a referee
or an assistant.
I appreciate that the higher up the ladder
you go the better you have to be, because
the competition is greater. Common sense
suggests that as you progress the chances of
success diminish, but the rewards once you
get there are worth working for.

Q: What have been your refereeing

highlights so far?
Achieving Level 4, refereeing in the Cheshire
League and being an assistant referee on the
Contributory League system have all been
highlights so far.
Last year I refereed the Cheshire League
Reserves Final which I found challenging but
enjoyable and this season I was on the line for
the Chester v Chorley game in front of 3400
fans which was brilliant.
Q: In refereeing who do you admire the
most and why?
I admire every single referee who
takes the basic course and decides to
officiate. For me, the outstanding referee
is Howard Webb - his calmness under
pressure and ability to control a football
match has earned him great respect over the
past few years. I also admire Trevor Massey,
a former Premier League assistant who has
now retired. He is inspirational in and around
Cheshire, he puts a tremendous amount of
time and effort back into refereeing and new
referees really look to him as a role model.

Its important for me to challenge myself and

get as high up the ladder as possible. I would
also like to see more ex-players become
referees, because the experience we can
bring to the game can only be of benefit
when refereeing.

15

Laws of the game

The Laws of the Game

Dr Webb,
I presume?

Amendments 2012-2013
Neale Barry, Member, IFAB Technical Sub-committee

At the International Football Association Boards 126th AGM, held in London on the
3rd March 2012, the IFAB approved the following amendments to The Laws of the
Game which come into effect on the 1st June 2012.
Law 3 The Numbers of Players
(submitted by FIFA, with amendments by the Scottish Football
Association)

Law 4 The Players Equipment

(submitted by FIFA)

Present text

Proposed text

Present text

Proposed text

Present text

If a named substitute enters the

field of play instead of a named
player at the start of the match
and the referee is not informed
of this change:
the referee allows the named
substitute to continue the
match
no disciplinary sanction is
taken against the named
substitute
the number of permitted
substitutes allowed by the
offending team is not reduced
the referee reports the
incident to the appropriate
authorities.

Other Equipment
()
The use of radio communication
systems between players
and/or technical staff is not
permitted

Other Equipment
()
The use of electronic
communication systems
between players and/or
technical staff is not permitted

Reason
It is not rare that a substitution is made prior to the start of the match
and after the referee has been informed of the names of the players
and substitutes. This is normally due to an injury of a player during
the warm-up. If the referee is informed of the substitution, this is
permitted but it is necessary to clarify how to proceed if the referee is
not informed of the change.
Law 4 The Players Equipment
(submitted by The Football Association)
Present text

Proposed text
stockings - if tape or similar
material is applied externally it
must be the same colour as that
part of the stocking it is applied to.

Reason
An increasing number of players are using excessive amounts of tape
externally on their socks. This can be a multitude of colours and can
completely change the look of the sock. This can cause confusion
particularly for assistant referees who may need to look at the sock to
determine who last played the ball before it has gone out of play.

16

Reason
The current wording does not reflect technological advances
Law 8 The Start and Restart of Play
(submitted by The Football Association)
Present text

Proposed text

Infringements and sanctions

The ball is dropped again

Infringements and sanctions

The ball is dropped again:

If the ball enters the goal:

if a dropped ball is kicked
directly into the opponents
goal, a goal kick is awarded
if a dropped ball is kicked
directly into the teams own
goal, a corner kick is awarded to
the opposing team

Reason
There have been a number of occasions where goals have been
scored from uncontested dropped balls. This has put a great deal
of pressure on the referee as he has to allow the goal to stand.
We then have the unseemly situation where the opposition allow
the team to score from the kick off without any players trying to
stop them in order to rebalance the game.

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct

(submitted by FIFA)
Present text

Proposed text

Disciplinary sanctions
There are circumstances
when a caution for unsporting
behaviour is required when a
player deliberately and
blatantly handles the ball,
e.g. when a player:
deliberately and blatantly
handles the ball to prevent an
opponent gaining possession

Disciplinary sanctions
There are circumstances
when a caution for unsporting
behaviour is required when a
player deliberately handles the
ball, e.g. when a player:
deliberately handles the ball
to prevent an opponent gaining
possession

Reason
It is more important to punish the consequence that the hand ball
created rather than the fact that it was blatant. In fact, a hand ball
could be inconspicuous but certainly very important. Furthermore,
it is difficult to define what is meant by blatantly and therefore to
have a uniform interpretation, especially by referees from different
countries or continents, with very different experiences. Deleting the
word blatantly, and providing that if the hand ball prevented the
opponent from gaining possession the player must be cautioned,
makes the interpretation easier.

Congratulations to Howard
Webb who, following his MBE,
was awarded an honorary
D. Univ by Sheffield Hallam
University in November in
recognition of his outstanding
achievements.
The photography shows
Howard in his doctoral
robes with Professor Ian
Maynard (Professor of Sports
Psychology at SHU) and
David Elleray, who was also
awarded an honorary D. Univ
by Sheffield Hallam University
in November 2010.

17

3
5
107
6
4 2
Feature

10 POINT PLAn
to Referee Assessment

Roger Vaughan, National List Assessor and National Referee Manager

You should be looking to give positive,

developmental feedback

The role of an assessor is extremely important for the development of referees at all levels. Each time you go to
watch a referee you are acting as the Guardian of Standards within refereeing but also someone who can help them
grow as a referee. Within this you should be looking to give positive, developmental feedback on the performance
you have witnessed and give advice on how the referee can improve their performance in the future.
To help you in doing this I suggest you consider the following 10 points:

1.

Before the Match

Ensure you are fully aware of the game you have been appointed to. Assess and
make contact with the referee if appropriate (CFA/Competition Rules) to confirm
your attendance and the time you will be there to hear their pre-match brief of club/
neutral assistants.

6.

Ensure you get a good view of the game and if at all possible, an elevated one.
When assessing at grassroots level it is advantageous to be able to move around the
field to obtain different views.

2.

As the guardian of standards you must have a good, up-to-date knowledge of the
Laws of the Game and should take a copy with you each time you are assessing.

7.

When the game has finished it is important to gather your thoughts and collate your
notes prioritising what is important to cover at the referees level of development.
You need to plan to cover the major points.

3.

Sometimes you will see things in the game differently from the referee but you should
always have an empathy with what they may have seen from their position and any
decisions they may take. This doesnt mean you will always agree but remember that it
is always easier to watch a game than it is to referee it.

8.

Allow the referee enough time to leave the field, return to the dressing room, shower and
change and be fully prepared to speak to you. Be friendly, your tone and manner need
to encourage the referee to listen to you. However, you need to be firm and honest, do
not duck issues. In your debrief ensure you maintain balance by starting and ending
with positive messages with any shortcomings in between. The overall delivery and
content must be educational and beneficial it is easy to criticise but what is needed is
constructive advice.

9.

I suggest you initially complete your reports in draft ensuring you have used spell-check.
Make sure you make reference to actual situations and times in the game to illustrate
points you are making both positive and for development. For any development
points ensure there is always a route out for the next time. Finally, ensure you send
your report in having checked it is accurate, and correct in law, within the appropriate
timescales.

10.

Ensure you maintain your knowledge by attending any training that your County FA or
The FA organise to improve you as an assessor. This will also ensure that, if appropriate,
you are able to progress as an assessor to higher levels of football and broaden your role
to assessing neutral assistant referees as well as the referee.

Knowledge of
Current Law

Ability to view a game

through the eyes
of the referee

4.

Ability to analyse
a referees
performance

5.

Record match details

You need to analyse a referees performance in line with the competencies outlined in
the assessors form and handbook. In doing this you must identify strengths and offer
praise and encouragement as well as seeing shortcomings and offering sound practical
advice and solutions to overcome them. The key to this is maintaining a fair balance.

During the game you must record the important details e.g. it is important to record
the time of the incident, what happened and if it was a strength or development area.
It is important to be able to watch the game as much as possible so your notes should
be limited but easy to understand. All assessors have their own systems of recording
information; it is sometimes good to observe other assessors and see their systems.

You should always have an empathy

with what may have been seen
from the referees position

Move around the

field of play

Gather your thoughts

before making
post match contact

The Verbal Debrief

Completing
the Report

Continuous
Development

Your role is extremely valuable for each referee and the overall standard of
refereeing you are a very important part of the refereeing family.
Good Luck

18

19

Refereeing at The FA

England v Australia

Independent Schools FA U18 v Australia Schools U18

Holmes Park, 30th January 2012
Declan Bourne and James Whittaker

xcitement, nervousness, happiness

and shock; many of the feelings one
would associate with the arrival of
Christmas. Yet, these were the feelings
we felt 10 days prior to that day when
we received an email from the Chairman
of The Independent Schools Football
Association, David Elleray, informing
us that we had been chosen to act as
assistant referees to Stuart Attwell
for a friendly between ISFAs
England U18 v Australia Schools U18.
The programme certainly captured the
imagination of the refereeing fraternity, as
over 150 applications were received ranging
from Level 1 to Level 7 officials; consequently,
competition for places was extremely tough.
We couldnt believe our eyes and couldnt
be sure that David had sent the email to the
right people. Confident that nobody could
have as ridiculous email addresses as us,
the answer became a resounding yes and
so with great haste and delight we accepted
the appointment.
There followed the longest six weeks of our
refereeing careers where we became extra

cautious of every step we took and every

turn we made to ensure that no injury befell
us. As in standard refereeing protocol Stuart
emailed both of us a week before the game
to synchronise our arrival times and what kit
we would be wearing. Upon arrival at Holmes
Park we were immediately made to feel
welcome by the officials of Leicestershire and
Rutland FA and ISFA. It was also at this point
we met Stuart and our fourth official Tom
Beeton. After partaking in some very
pleasant chat about how our seasons were
progressing and generally getting to know
each other, our preparation for the game
began in earnest with a few surprises in store.
Our first surprise was when we realised how
similar Stuarts pre-match talk was to what
we say to our assistants at Supply League
level. Admittedly, we werent sure what we
were going to hear but it clearly shows the
continuity of instructions given to a team
throughout the refereeing pyramid.
The second surprise was when we were
asked if we were ready for the warm-up;
our hearts were racing as it was, we definitely
didnt need a warm up for that reason.
Nevertheless, and as we always do, we went
through a concise warm-up and returned to

the dressing room where we encountered

our third and final surprise. Stuart had left his
spare FIFA badges at home. Looks like we
will have to wait a few more years until we
rise to an international assistant referee
ranking, we thought. After making our last
equipment checks we shook hands and
joined the two teams to walk out onto the
field of play.
It was at this point we encountered the
proudest moment of our refereeing careers
to date; standing and listening to both
national anthems in front of a healthy sized
crowd. After the handshakes, photos and
toss of the coin the game began. It was a
flowing, competitive and well-spirited affair
which flew by in the quickest 90 minutes of
our lives. Our actual memory of the game is a
blur. Following the game, which Australia
won 3-2, we were congratulated by both
teams on how well we had performed,
ensuring that the game came to a successful
and safe conclusion.
We learned many things that evening,
especially from Stuart, which we can use in our
future games and share with other referees.
It would be unfair not to mention how much
Stuart made us all feel part of the team that
evening and how he breathed confidence into
us which allowed us to perform to that
high-standard. We also learned how effective
communication can be before, during and after
the game to ensure the successful conclusion
of the game and event.
We would like to thank David Elleray and
Mark Dickson (ISFA CEO) for giving us this
amazing opportunity to work with and learn
from such a great team and to partake in
such a prestigious event.

The County FA Cup

Final Experience
Sam Ogles, Level 4 Referee

eceiving a letter from Hampshire FA

inviting me to attend their Cup Final
Celebration Evening was a pleasant
and very welcome surprise. In my six years
of refereeing, this would be the third
County FA Cup Final appointment I would
receive - a credit to the hard work the
County FA put in to the development of
young and aspiring referees.
In the days building up to the evening it
seemed natural to begin self-speculation as
to what my appointment would be. Whilst it is
also natural to want to referee the top game,
I would have been genuinely delighted with
any appointment whether this was referee,
assistant referee or fourth official. Being part
of a team on a big game is an experience that
doesnt come along every week.
After a few welcoming words by the Referee
Development Manager, the appointments
were unveiled, and to my delight I was
informed that I would referee the Under
18 Midweek Floodlit Cup Final. We were a
relatively young team of four aged 19, 18,
17 and 23 respectively.
I began looking forward to the Final, which
was to be played just a month later. I spoke
with my fellow team members on the night
mainly to congratulate them, but also to
get to know a little bit about them before
the day of the game. The chemistry between
us was instantly evident, so there was
much anticipation.

Due to the nature of

refereeing and the
split-second
decisions required,
it is difficult to
remember a game
in real time instead
only recalling
snippets of the action
I believed that for such a big game we should
treat it like any other match we would
referee, trying not to put too much pressure
on our shoulders. However, with it being a
special day, we were also able to soak up
the atmosphere, and in doing so remind
ourselves that this was not an ordinary
football match. We arrived at the ground
around two hours before the game, yet
despite our early arrival, the time until kickoff passed in an instant.
It is a shame that I do not vividly remember
the 90 minutes on the field of play it seems
that, due to the nature of refereeing and the
split-second decisions required, it is difficult
to remember a game in real time instead
only recalling snippets of the action. The

game was contested by two academy

sides, Havant & Waterlooville and Aldershot
Town, and played at a furious pace. Aldershot
emerged as 3-1 winners. The game passed
without controversy, despite a red card
I had to issue to an Aldershot Town
defender, for deliberately handling the ball
on the goal-line.
The next thing I knew we were back in
the changing rooms, having watched the
winning team lift the trophy, received our
medals and left to a warm reception from the
crowd of approximately 200.
When I reflect on the evening, the feeling
is rather bittersweet knowing that I have
successfully refereed one of the biggest
games of my career so far, but at the same
time knowing that it could be a lengthy
period before I referee another game of that
calibre. However, with this in mind, it gives
me the confidence and motivation to take
the next step in my refereeing career, and
strive to equal this achievement in the future.
My advice to anybody who is lucky enough
to referee a County Cup Final is to enjoy the
day and soak up the atmosphere of an event
but at the same time, remember that it is
still all about the twenty-two players, the
ninety minutes and the challenge of scoring
more goals than their opponents.
Sam Ogles, 19, is a Level 4 referee

Declan Bourne, James Whittaker

and Tom Beeton with
Stuart Attwell

20

21

Feature
Kevin Friend refereeing a Premier
League fixture between Chelsea
and Fulham

GETTING

the big decisions

RIGHT

Kevin Friend, Premier League Referee, spoke to fellow officials about accurate
decision-making at The RA-FA Have your say event at Leatherhead, in March.
Mike Cohen, Level 5 referee in Surrey, provides an insight

22

23

Feature
It looked like Kevins refereeing career was
over. However, his dad explained that he
had been trying to act on others advice thus
forgetting to enjoy his refereeing. He was not
acting on his gut instinct. He needed to be
relaxed and calm. Finally, he started to get it
right and soon found himself refereeing on
the Football League.

Kevin Friend started

refereeing aged 13

After a good season he was appointed to

referee the Championship play-off semifinal first-leg between Watford and Hull and
was determined to be focused from the first
minute and to get the big decisions right.
In the fourth minute, Watfords Danny Shittu
rose to meet a cross and powered a header
into the back of the Hull net. Kevin disallowed
the goal, having seen a foul by another
Watford player. A video of the incident
showed clearly that any contact had been
minor, there had been no foul. Kevin had
disallowed a perfectly good goal.
At the end of the season, Kevin was invited
for interview to become a Premiership
referee but despite feeling he was ready, he
was unsuccessful. Keith Hackett advised him
that the high profile error had cost him dear.
His reaction was to redouble his efforts and
sure enough he was successful and made it
to the Premiership.

round 70 referees, mentors and

coaches met at Leatherhead FC on
Monday, 27 February for the
Surrey RA-FA Have Your Say Event. The
guest speaker for the evening was
Premier League Referee, Kevin Friend.
Kevins presentation, titled Getting the
big decisions right, provided an insight
into his early days as a referee and how
support and assistance helped him
progress up the refereeing ladder.
Starting on the parks at the age of 13, Kevin
soon found that refereeing was something
he enjoyed and was good at. His father was
also a referee and provided help and advice
when needed. Having moved up a number
of levels, Kevin found himself refereeing an
FA Vase game. With one team a goal up, the
assistant flagged for a substitution and the
replacement was duly made. Before they
could restart, the assistant flagged again.
Having checked, there was a realisation
that the losing team had now made four
substitutions when only three were allowed.
The game finished 1-1 but, in a final twist,
the home chairman spoke with Kevin as he

24

left the field and informed him that the away

side had, in fact, made four substitutions.
Kevin was forced to phone The FA and
confess the error.
A few days later, he was informed that he
would not be handling the replay and was
suspended from all FA competitions for the
rest of the season. At first he pondered the
unfairness of the situation but his father
reminded him that the referee is the captain
of the team and is ultimately responsible.
That experience taught Kevin an important
lesson and, since that day, he has always
made a note of substitutions. Continuing to
progress, Kevin found himself refereeing in
a tough supply league and his marks for his
first season put him in Band C. Searching
for ways to improve, he was advised that he
did not caution enough. Season two saw his
card count rocket and he ended it in Band D.
Disaster. He was relying too much on cards
and not man-managing situations. Once
again, the pendulum swung to the other
extreme: no cards at all and he ended the
season in Band E.

A turning point during his first Premier League

season was his appointment as fourth official
to Steve Bennett for Aston Villas game
against Chelsea. Steve was taken ill during
his warm-up and Kevin found himself in the
middle for a game between the sides who
occupied first and sixth positions respectively.
It went extremely well and subsequently
Kevin went on a long run of games.
There were, however, further problems
following an incident in a game between
Portsmouth and Sunderland. With only ten
minutes played and Sunderlands Darren
Bent through on goal, Portsmouths, Ricardo
Rocha, caught his heels. A penalty and
a red card followed. Portsmouth players
immediately remonstrated with Kevin. Once
he had ushered them away, he realised he
had lost the offending player and couldnt be
clear as to which of the four players near him
should be dismissed. His assistant couldnt
identify the offender either. Inevitability
the game couldnt continue with eleven
Portsmouth players on the field, so a decision
was made to dismiss the most vociferous
player, despite the protestations of innocence.
The ploy worked, Rocha held his hand up
and the correct player left the field. After
such an incident, any referee would lose the
respect of the players and in turn there was an
expectation for Kevin to referee without error
during the remaining 80 minutes.

Throughout the remainder of the game, there

were nine key incidents and Kevin called the
correct decision on eight of them. Since that
day, Kevin says that he constantly talks to
himself throughout each match; as an attack
develops and defenders are shaping for
challenges, he is saying Yellow card, yellow
card, red card so if a foul is committed, he
already knows the punishment and he makes
sure to keep his eyes fixed on the relevant
player. It was stressed that referees must
never lose focus for the full duration of the
game and if your gut instinct is telling you red
card, then its a red, regardless of the grief that
that decision may cost you.
In summary, Kevin said that everyone makes
mistakes at every level. The thing is to learn
from such mistakes and change your game
to minimise the chance of a repeat:
The four key points when making any
decision are:
SEE:
Fitness: both mental and physical
Viewing Position: angles
Dropping zones: 9 on 5 situations and
corner-kicks. Be proactive and sort out
issues before the ball comes back into play
Scanning radar: the so called lazy eye
dont just follow the ball. Take a second to
catch any follow-through challenges
Read and anticipate play
RECOGNISE:
Messages from the players: who or what
are they looking at?
Speed and distance of a challenge
Fair or foul?
Player reaction

Friend in action in the Premier League

Everyone makes
mistakes at every
level. Learn from
such mistakes and
change your game to
minimise the chance
of a repeat
THINK:
Take your time
Severity of challenge: where did the player
catch their opponent?
Next phase of play
Advantage: when is it best to play it? Never
in the defensive third, more rarely in the
middle third, best in the attacking third
Credibility
Its all about your control
ACT:
Whistle (tone), arms and voice: always
positive
Calm approach
Air of confidence: never arrogant, but
show that you know that youre a good
referee
Firm but fair
Correct application of law
Finally: remember that offences may be
Careless - in which case punish with a
free-kick
Reckless - which results in a caution
With excessive force - for which the only
punishment is to send the player off

Future of Grassroots Football

The second half of the evening was
presented by Ian Blanchard, FA Senior
National Game Referee Manager who
covered the Future of Grassroots Football.
It was explained that the new target for the
current phase of the grassroots plan (201215) is 100% coverage of 11 a-side games by
the end of 2015.
The importance of having referees involved
in the process was stressed, encouraging the
opportunity for referees to:
- Be heard and make a difference
- Engage with colleagues
- Develop as referees
A brief presentation covered the main points
of focus:
- Shaping referee development for the future
- Meeting the needs of the workforce
- Identifying a need to consult
- Building on the relationship with the
Referees Association
The main group then broke into several
discussion groups encouraging discussion
and debate. The titles for the group
discussion were:
- Referee recruitment and retention
- The National Referee Development
Programme
- Referee Development Officers
- The Referees Association
- Administration
In the group discussion covering The
Referees Association the general feeling
was that there are many benefits (insurance,
physiotherapy, comradeship) but more
needs to be done to attract younger
members, primarily by reducing the business
element of meetings and increasing the
focus on football and refereeing. There
was general agreement that the Referee
Development Officers had made a significant
impact on referee recruitment and retention.
Attendees were asked to complete a survey
which offered England tickets, referees kit
and other gifts as prizes. For anyone wanting
to complete the survey, access to which
requires your name and FAN number, please
use the following link:
http://surveys.thefa.com/TakeSurvey.
aspx?SurveyID=76M09o6

25

Womens Refereeing

Significant
CHANGES FOR
WOMEN REFEREES
David Elleray, Chairman, FA Referees Committee

26

n recent years, much has been

done to develop Women referees*
in England and the creation of the
Womens Referee Development Pathway
has been a significant step forward.
The attitude of, and to, Women officials
has steadily become more focussed
and professional. The next stage is
to improve the organisation structure
for Women referees and refresh the
ambassador scheme to give it
greater focus and effectiveness.
* In most cases, the term Women referees
refers to referees and assistant referees

These changes, which have been approved

by FA Referees Committee and the
Women Referee Working Group, have been
welcomed and supported by the
FA Womens Football Committee.
They should ensure that Women referees
are developed and directed effectively
and, in return, they will be expected to
prepare and conduct themselves in a
professional manner, as is expected of
their men colleagues.

Senior Women officials

Women referees are the responsibility
of the FA Referees Committee which
delegates authority (subject to regular
oversight) to the Chairman (David
Elleray) and the Head of Senior Referee
Development (Neale Barry).
To ensure that our senior Women
officials are developed, prepared and
can perform to the best of their abilities,
they need and deserve a development
and oversight structure which reflects
that of their men counterparts.

27

Womens Refereeing
To reflect the mens system the following
structure and processes will operate now for
Women officials:
International
- David Elleray (UEFA Referees Committee
and FIFA Refereeing Technical Advisor) will
be responsible for all FIFA officials and for
all international football matters.
Senior Women officials
- Women officials on the WSL and WPL,
and those at Level 4 and above in mens
football, will be responsible to Neale Barry
for their domestic refereeing.

The attitude of, and

to, Women officials
has steadily
become more
focussed and
professional

WSL + WPL
- Neale Barry will oversee the training/
development of referees on the WSL and
WPL.
- Promotion and retention criteria will be
introduced for the WSL for Season 2012
and such criteria will be extended down the
pyramid in due course.
Development
- Senior Women officials will, where
appropriate, be invited to Level 4, Level 3
and/or Level 2 training events to ensure
that they receive the same development
opportunities and information as their men
counterparts.

- To assist their development, the FA

will investigate the possibility of a
coach/mentor scheme for selected
senior officials.
Promotion and demotion
- David Elleray and Neale Barry will be
responsible for all decisions relating to
promotion/demotion for Levels 3, 2, 1
and FIFA.
Fitness
- to ensure proper physical preparation, all
FIFA officials and potential FIFA candidates
will be required, in accordance with the
UEFA Convention, to take and pass at least
2 FIFA fitness tests each calendar year.
- FIFA officials and potential FIFA officials
who are not PGMOL officials will come
under the guidance and direction of the
PGOML Sports Scientist who will report
regularly to David Elleray and Neale Barry.

Women Ambassador skills and qualities

To be effective, a Women referee
ambassador must:
Be or become a qualified referee tutor
(minimum Level 2)
Have the ability to interact electronically
with other ambassadors (and others) to
share information and good practice
Have an on and off field profile which acts
as a role model and inspiration for other
officials, especially Women officials (actual
and potential)
Roles and Responsibilities of Women
Referee Ambassadors
The work of the ambassadors will be local/
county based but related to national initiatives
and strategies. In particular, they will:
Assist The FA Referee Department and
RDOs in the recruitment, retention and
development of Women referees.

B
 e assigned a number of CFAs in order to
build up a regional network of co-ordinators
Support development and education
events involving the whole refereeing
workforce
The vision is to work with The FA Referees
Department and County FAs to increase
significantly the number and quality of
Women referees.
I am confident that all these changes
will greatly enhance Women refereeing
in this country.

The vision is to work with The FA Referees

Department and County FAs to increase
significantly the number and quality of referees

- Annual fitness tests will be introduced at

Levels 2 and 1.
L evel 1 test - 12 minute continuous run
with a minimum distance of 2400m plus
2 x 50m sprints in under 7.5 secs.
L evel 2 test - 12 minute continuous run
with a minimum distance of 2200m.
plus 2 x 50m sprints in under 7.5 secs.
L evel 3 referees wishing to be
considered for promotion to
Level 2 must pass a pre-nomination
fitness test before the start of the
promotion season.
Women Referee Ambassadors
The concept of Women referee ambassadors
is a good one. There has been some excellent
work but the overall effectiveness of the
scheme has been variable for a number of
reasons, not least that some of the senior
officials are very busy with their officiating
and can not devote the time needed.
There is clear value in having a group of high
profile Women officials if they have clearly
defined roles, responsibilities and working
parameters and are effectively supported
and managed.
Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game
Referee Manager, will be responsible for
the scheme (assisted by some senior
Mentors) and will make it more effective
and enjoyable. It is anticipated that, in
addition to a small number of busy senior
referees who will assume some role model
ambassadorial roles, the scheme will develop
largely as follows:

28

29

Refereeing at The FA

Feature

Would I say that in a

press conference?
Social Networking Websites

he Football Association has sent

several reminders to referees over
the past 12 months regarding the
dangers of making inappropriate
comments on social networking websites
such as Facebook and Twitter.

Referees should act with caution when publishing

comments on social-networking sites

In serious cases the penalty can be severe

The FA recently suspended a referee for
100 days.

Registered referees at all levels of the game,

however, have a great responsibility to be
extremely careful about any comments that
could be construed as critical or inappropriate.

Spectacles

In the Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees it states:

Unfortunately these reminders have not

been taken seriously enough by some
referees and The FA is having to suspend an
increasing number of officials who have made
inappropriate comments regarding colleagues,
assessors, County FAs and clubs/players.

We appreciate that social networking

websites have become a part of everyday
modern life and are accessed by many
people from all walks of life. It is an
individuals right to use such sites, but only
within the bounds of legal acceptability.
Already, there are cases of legal action
(criminal and civil) being taken against
people who have made offensive or
inflammatory comments.

Wearing

In view of the new technology that has made

sports spectacles much safer, both for the
wearer and for other players, referees should
allow tolerance when authorising their use,
particularly for younger players

T
Registered referees,
at all levels of
the game, have a
responsibility to
be careful about
comments that
could be construed
as critical or
inappropriate

So we make the plea again: please be

extremely careful with any comments
posted on these sites as The FA Referees
Committee is taking an increasingly strong
line when offensive comments come to light.
These days, players and referees are
recommended to ask themselves the
following question before posting their
thoughts on a Social Network site:
Would I say that in a press conference?
In reality, what you publish on such a site is
as public as saying the same thing to a TV,
radio or press reporter. It is a good question
to ask yourself before you publish your
thoughts and opinions.

here is no definition of what

constitutes younger players
although this would refer to
players under the age of 11, raising to
under 13 by 2015.
Below are descriptions of what
sports spectacles should be made of and
how they should be worn. They were sent
to a Referee Society by an optician who had
concerns with injuries with players wearing
spectacles during matches.
F lying footballs and close physical contact
make football a moderate risk sport for
eye injuries. Spectacles or goggles may
provide protection from injury and can
also be worn with those who need to wear
prescription lenses.
P
 olycarbonate Lenses: This is the
most important property of all
protective spectacles or goggles.
Good polycarbonate is virtually
unbreakable, and will sustain the
impact of a ball or finger.

S ports Band: an elasticised band and not

temple pieces should secure the frame.
Players must have something that will
be secured tight to the head so that the
spectacles or goggles wont fall off.
A frame with temples will not hold tight
enough and a jab from a finger could
lift the frame off and potentially damage
the eye.
A
 lthough sports eyewear is intended to
offer the best protection available, there
is always the possibility that the wearer
may sustain an eye or facial injury due to
severe impact or because of the nature of
the athletic activity.

It should be remembered that many players

(and referees) have been wearing contact
lens for over 40 years - anyone with time
and patience will soon come to accept the
massive benefits that come from wearing
contact lens. They come at a cost which is
not always easy to calculate when dealing
with opticians, but at less than 1 per pair
of daily disposable lens are well worth the
expense for the freedom to be active and see
what you are doing.

R
 eferees should ensure that a request has
been made to wear glasses/goggles, and
they must not be a danger to the wearer
or to any other player.

Level 4 Fitness tests

The FA Referees Committee has decided that the continuous 12 minute run part of the
fitness test for Level 4 will increase to 2600m with immediate effect.
Neale Barry, FA Head of Senior Referee Development

30

31

Refereeing at The FA

THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE

Dean Mohareb, FA National Referee Development Manager

or the
too second
many years
year in
now,
succession,
refereesthe
annual
have had
Sussex
to register
RA-FA using
Development
a paper
Event,
form and
held
cheque
in Hove,
book,
recorded
which
itsleads
largest
to many
ever
people
audience
forgetting,
with 330
misplacing
referees or
and
being
guests
unable
in attendance.
to re-register in time for the
new playing season.
The reason behind the record breaking
attendance
At the beginning
was the
of 2011,
presence
The FA
of guest
launched
speaker,
Online Referee
2010 FIFA
Registration,
World Cupa Final
service
referee,
Howard
which County
WebbFootball
MBE. Howard
Associations
provided
cana
use to register
their match
By the
thoroughly
gripping
tale ofofficials.
his international
career
1st January
to date,
2012,
focussing
nearly 8000
on hisreferees
experiences
at
had
last
used
years
theWorld
onlineCup
service
Finals
and
in the
South Africa.
results were impressive. As with any new
He
IT system,
began describing
although there
his World
wereCup
initially
journey
with
somegroup
resistance,
matches
a few
between
IT bugsSpain
and an
and
Switzerland,
unfamiliarityand
about
Italy
theversus
process,
Slovakia.
it has now
Both
games
been embraced
were thankfully
and is working
lacking in
smoothly,
any real
controversy,
ensuring a paperless
something
andthat
easywas
way
proving
to keepto
be
your
somewhat
referee registration
of a downfall
upof
tomany
date. of his
international counterparts.

As of 1st January
2012, nearly 8000
referees have
used the online
service and the
results have
been impressive

After easing into the World Cup with games

between European sides, Howard found
his next appointment in the round of 16
provided a somewhat unfamiliar challenge.
A match contested by Brazil and Chile
was expected to provide plenty of South
American flair and he sought guidance
from 2006 FIFA World Cup Final referee,
Horacio Elizondo from Argentina, in hope of
gaining a better understanding of the South
American style of football. The advice proved
invaluable to him during the game. Further
advice in his use of yellow cards came to the
fore in the Final.
Howards speech culminated in a blowby-blow account of that night in Soccer
City, Johannesburg, in a hotly contested
World Cup Final between the Netherlands
and bookies favourite and 2008 European
Champions, Spain. Howard commented that
without the excellent performances of his
two assistant referees, Mike Mullarkey and
Darren Cann, throughout the tournament, he
would never have made the Final. Speaking
frankly, he discussed his feelings during the
match, in which he showed a record-breaking
14 cards, including a much-debated yellow

32

card for Nigel de Jong, during what turned

out to be arguably the most hostile World
Cup Final in history.

Here is a simple guide to Online Referee Registration:

The
concluded with
a number
presentation
Log in to Member
Services
via
of questions on all things football, before
your Parent County FA website
Howard went on to urge all referees to
become members of their Referees
Association
local Society.
Oncethrough
loggedtheir
in click
on The
traditional charity raffle took place after the
Register for new season
speech, raising 500 for the Chestnut Tree
theHospice,
alerts with
section
this
Houseunder
Childrens
prizesbeing
donated
by
the
Sussex
County
Referees
then prompts an easy 6 step
Association, its nine member Societies, the
process
toand
re-registration
Sussex
County FA
Howard himself.
Throughout
the evening and after the
1. Step 1
event Howard spent hours willingly signing
autographs
for photographs,
Refereeand
canposing
update
personal
giving each person a piece of his valuable
details and review guidance
time to take away and treasure.

notes

2. Step 2
Referee can update his or her
availability for the new season
3. Step 3
Referee selects the type of
football they wish to officiate in
for the new season

4. Step 4
Referee inputs the details
of the Leagues they will be
officiating on
5. Step 5
Referee can select and purchase
any products the County FA wish
to offer for sale
6. Step 6
Payment of registration fee
with a valid debit or credit card
and receive your FA registration
number automatically
If you have not already
re-registered for next
season, please log-on to
your County FA website and
re-register through Member
Services at your earliest
convenience.

This article appeared in the previous edition of

Refereeing and is intended as a reminder as we
enter the registration period.

33

The Referees Association

The Referees Association

the

the

Referees

Referees

Association

Association

Are you
Fulfilling your Potential?
Become a full member of the Referees Association.

Eve-of-Final Rally
Friday 4 May 2011

Doors open @ 6.30pm

One Great George Street, London. SW1P 3AA (Between St. Jamess Park and Parliament Square)

As a registered referee, you are automatically an Associate Member of

The Referees Association, this entitles you to:
Invitations to RA-FA Training Events
Refereeing Magazine
Information about dates and content of local RA meetings
You should become a Full Member of
the RA, which for the cost of approximately
one match fee a year will enable you
to enjoy the full range of additional
benefits including: Personal Accident Insurance.
M
 embership of a local Referees group who
have regular meetings, guest speakers and
advice available from officials at all levels.
F ree attendance at the annual RA
Conference, attended by many of
the countrys top referees who make
presentations and lead workshops
T
 op quality refereeing equipment and
supplies at competitive prices from
www.rashop.co.uk
R
 A-FA Incentive Scheme membership
- where referee related items can be
obtained in exchange for points gained
from refereeing activities
T
 he RAs bi-monthly electronic
News Digest
Service awards

Guest Speaker: David

Davies OBE

A
 nnual RA quiz at local, regional and
national level

David spent 13 years

with The FA between
1993 and 2006 and
led the organisation
through several turbulent periods as
Executive Director and as Acting Chief
Executive following the resignations of
Graham Kelly, Adam Crozier and Mark Palios.

Representation at The FA and County FA

S upport and advice if assaulted or involved
in disciplinary proceedings
Benevolent Fund
F or a further 5 p.a, inclusion in a
Physiocare scheme
How do I become a Full Member of the RA?
Either:
Go to www.footballreferee.org to find your
local RA group
e-mail to: ra@footballreferee.org
or just ring RA Head Office on 02476 420360
Annual subscriptions are due on 1 April, so
existing members are asked to pay as soon as
possible to ensure they continue to receive
insurance cover and all other benefits.

Howard Webb, FIFA World Cup Final and

Euro 2012 referee, Rotherham RA:

Throughout my career,
The Referees Association has
been a constant source of
advice, guidance and support.
Membership has been an
essential part of my development
and I struggle to see how any
aspiring referee can achieve their
goals without the support offered
by The RA.
I would strongly advise all referees
to take up full membership.

34

Among his responsibilities were international

relations and as footballs representative on
the British Olympic Association in the period
leading up to Londons successful Bid for the
2012 Summer Games.
Prior to his FA career, David spent 23 years
as a presenter and correspondent with BBC
Television. He is the only BBC correspondent
to have had senior roles in the coverage of
successive World Cups and General Elections.
On leaving The FA he co-wrote the book
FA Confidential with Henry Winter. David
has resurrected his broadcasting career, by
standing in occasionally on the Radio 5 Live
Sunday morning show Sportsweek. He was a
personal advisor to Danny Jordaan, Chairman
of the 2010 World Cup Finals Committee.

A very enjoyable
evening is assured
in the company
of many other
experienced top
referees. You will
receive a souvenir
Rally Programme,
autographed by the
match officials.
Tickets are now
available from RA
Head Office priced
at 12.00 each for
adults and 6.00 for
U18s. Telephone the
Supplies Department
on 02476 420364.

Phil Dowd
Come and meet
Phil Dowd and his team
and hear what Phil
has to say about their
preparations for the
big match. A number of former FA Cup Final
officials will also be in attendance as well as
senior FA personnel.
Martin Atkinson, FA Cup Final Referee 2011,
spoke enthusiastically about the event.
I really enjoyed the Eve-of-Final Rally
and I thought it was pitched just right.
We werent there long into the night which
is vital for preparation, but long enough
to enjoy the whole event. It was very well
organised and all the members were great,
really respectful and the good wishes we
received made the team feel very proud
and honoured.
Julie and I will cherish forever memories of
a fantastic weekend and one that we will
all remember forever. The game worked
out perfectly and no one was talking about
refereeing after the game.

35

The Referees Association

the

Referees
Association

Annual Conference

Theme: Working Together

Saturday 14 July, 9.00 a.m. 5.30 p.m

Around 500 referees of all levels and ages will be gathering from all over
the country to take part in another action-packed Conference. There is
no charge for Full Members of the RA to attend and there will be lots to
learn from those at the top and something for everyone.

RA-FA Liaison Committee

Chairman

Presenters

(Subject to availability)
Martin Atkinson
Stuart Attwell
Ian Blanchard

Mark Clattenburg
Chris Foy

Sarah Garrett

Peter Kirkup

Sian Massey
Laura May
Daniel Meeson
Mike Mullarkey
Michael Oliver
Ray Olivier
Natalie Walker
Adam Watts
Howard Webb

36

The Interactive
Workshops

Incidents in and around

the penalty area
Mass (player) confrontation
Dissent from players and
team officials
Judging bad tackles
Free Kick and Penalty
kick management
Offside
Achieving high quality
teamwork and co-operation

In addition to Saturdays main event, all Full

members of the RA are welcome to the AGM,
the Friday evening social function and the
Saturday evening dinner-dance. Awards
are presented for Life Membership, Long &
Meritorious Service and to those who have
represented the RA at the top FA Finals.
The final of the RA National Quiz will take place
on Sunday morning.
To find out how to reserve your place at the
Conference, or any part of the weekends
festivities, contact your local RA Secretary;
go to www.footballreferee.org or telephone
024 7642 0360.

David Elleray
Chairman - FA Referees Committee
President, The Referees Association
The FA Referees Committee
David Horlick
The FA Refereeing department
Neale Barry

FA Head of Senior Referee Development

Ian Blanchard

FA Senior National Game Referee Manager

Janie Frampton

FA National Referee Manager Education & Training

Dean Mohareb

FA National Referee Manager Workforce Development

Roger Vaughan

FA National Referee Manager Recruitment, Retention & Development

The Referees Association

Colin Harris

RA Acting Chairman

Nigel Genner

RA External Affairs Committee

Bart OToole

RA External Affairs Committee

Arthur Smith

RA General Secretary; (also on the FA Referees Committee)

FA Learning
The Football Association
Wembley Stadium
Wembley
Middlesex
HA9 0WS
Postal address
FA Learning
The Football Association
Wembley Stadium
PO Box 1966
London
SW1P 9EQ
T: 0844 980 8200
F: 0844 980 8201
E: info@TheFA.com
TheFA.com/FALearning
FA Learning Hotline: 0870 8500424
The Referees Association
Unit 12
Ensign Business Centre
Westwood Way
Westwood Business Park
Coventry
CV4 8JA
T: +44 (0)2476 420 360
F: +44 (0)2476 601 556
E: ra@footballreferee.org
www.footballreferee.org

the

Referees
Association