Refereeing

Joint publication of FA Learning and The Referees ASSOCIATION

Volume 15 JANUARY 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

10
point
plan
to becoming a top assistant
Stuart Attwell at the UEFA U19 Finals
Getting the best out of club assistants

the

Referees
Association

CONTENTS
Contributors
David Elleray, Mike Mullarkey,
Ian Blanchard, Dick Sawdon Smith,
Stuart Attwell,Sean Dipple, Gavin Sartain,
Colin Harris, Paul Saunders, Phil Heap,
Lucy May, Janie Frampton, Dean Mohareb

4-5
10 POINT PLAN TO BE A
TOP ASSISTANT

Editorial Team
David Elleray, Ian Blanchard,
Peter Glynn, Neal Barry

12-15
UEFA U19 FINALS:
ROMANIA

Design
Andy Simmons
Image recognition
getty Images and Sports File
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.
The views of this journal
are not necessarily those
of The Football Association.

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

8-11
GETTING THE
BEST OUT OF
CLUB ASSISTANTS
Welcome

David Elleray

10-point plan to be a top assistant

Mike Mullarkey

10-point plan - free-kicks near the penalty area Ian Blanchard

Michael Oliver joins the FIFA List

David Elleray

Getting the best out of club assistants

Dick Sawdon Smith

UEFA U19 Finals: Romania

Stuart Attwell

12

Futsal Referee Development Programme

Gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple

16

Leadership through football

Janie Frampton

19

Webb selected for the EURO 2012 Finals

David Elleray

20

Refereeing Cerebral Palsy football Ian Blanchard

22

One down, two to go

Janie Frampton

23

Womens trio apear in the Western League

Lucy May 24

Howard Webb enthralls in Sussex

25

The Online experience

26

Dean Mohareb

Diary notes and news

28

Introduction

Such events remind us

of the importance of
looking after and looking out for
other people

Welcome
M

ay I start by wishing you all a

Happy New Year and I hope that
2012 will be an enjoyable,
healthy and successful year for you and
all those who are important to you.
This is our first e-magazine; budget
constraints mean we can only afford two
hard copies per season but we felt it was
important to have a third and an electronic
version was proposed, something which
many of the more technologically advanced
of you have been suggesting for quite some
time! I hope you enjoy reading it.
The end of 2011 was darkened by the tragic
death of Gary Speed. Around the same time,
a top division referee in Germany and a
second division assistant referee in Belgium
both attempted to take their lives on the day
of a match. Both were saved by the concern
and quick thinking of their colleagues.
It is not for us to delve into or speculate
about what drove these three men to
contemplate, let alone enact, such a drastic
step but it brought into focus the demands
and pressures everyone faces these days, in
football and in the wider world.
Such events remind us of the importance
of looking after and looking out for other
people. At a national level, The FA and the
RA are mindful of their role in supporting
all those involved in the game in a variety
of ways. Often, this is by putting in place
structures, schemes and regulations/
protocols but these need to be enacted on a
local and individual level.

When asked by people What does the

RA do that The FA cant? one of the
clearest answers is that it provides, at a
local level, friendship, comradeship and
support. This is especially important when
times are tough. Through your local RA
society or branch you will get to know people
who have probably experienced every
unpleasantness and challenge that you will
face and they will be able to support and
advise you. They UNDERSTAND and they
are there to HELP.

Leeds United pay tribute to former

Elland Road legend Gary Speed

However, this support system must work

two ways. We know that people are not
very good at asking for help or support. It is
therefore incumbent upon us all to have our
eyes and ears a little more open and if we
hear or even suspect that someone is having
difficulties then we should see what can be
done to help.
Everyone rallies round in a crisis or a tragedy
but it would be so much better if that energy
could be used to prevent the crisis or the
tragedy in the first place.
Please make it your (belated) New Years
resolution to be more aware and more
sensitive of others and where you know
someone has had difficulties, offer to help.
Have a wonderful 2012 and please help make
it a caring year in the refereeing world.
David Elleray
Chairman, FA Referees Committee
President, Referees Association

Feature

10 POINT PLAn
TO BE A TOP ASSISTANT

By Mike Mullarkey

How honestly do you assess your own

performance and how honestly do
you discuss your game with your assessor,
referee and mentor?

Mike Mullarkey, assistant referee at EURO 2008, the 2010 UEFA Champions League
Final and the FIFA 2010 World Cup Final, suggests 10 ways in which an assistant
referee at any level can achieve a high quality performance:

1.

I dont mean your on-field decisions, that is a given. But how honestly do you assess
your own performance and how honestly do you discuss your game with your assessor,
referee and mentor? Do you ask yourself What do I need to do to be better?. Do you
own up to mistakes you have made, or try to cover them up?

2.

Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve your dreams and goals?
Will you give up Friday night with your friends to prepare properly? Will you dedicate
yourself to have a good diet and to train regularly, not just when the weather is
favourable or your fitness test is due?

Honesty

Dedication

3.

Fitness

Your role as an assistant is like that of a goalkeeper. You may have spells when you are
not directly involved in the game but, when needed, you may well be making a decision
where a goal is the outcome. Being fully focused and ready is, therefore, vital. Develop
techniques to keep focus. This may be breaking the game up into 10 minute blocks,
constantly talking to yourself, reminding yourself which players are on yellow cards etc.

5.

Remember, as an assistant, you are there to support and aid the referee, not to try and
run the show. Be clear about your duties within the Laws of the Game and be certain you
fully understand what the referee is asking of you in each particular match. Ensure you
understand what areas of the field of play the referee is expecting your involvement.
Your role is to support the referee in getting as many decisions correct as possible.

Teamwork

6.

Technique

Ensure your preparation leaves nothing to chance. Have you packed your kit in good
time? Have you double-checked that you have everything? Are you clear of where
you are meeting the other officials, and at what time? Have you considered any travel
difficulties and allowed time to overcome them? Have you researched the teams
involved and the potential styles of play, which may influence your game, such as offside
decisions, corner kick routines etc?

8.

Probably the main area where an assistants performance is judged. Ensure you
always remain level with the second rearmost defender, utilising sideways movement
wherever possible. Fairly obvious, but lose position for a second and you will be unable
to accurately judge the offside. Ensure you are fully conversant with the requirements
for an offence, rather than just an offside position. Attend training sessions to practice
offside situations with video playback. Remember that the benefit of doubt should be
given to the attacker.

9.

Any top sportsperson will tell you that they perform at their best when they are fully
confident in what they are doing. The same applies to us and whilst a few butterflies are
fine, you should enter the field of play believing you fully deserve to be on this match.
The appointment officer has given you that game because you merit it, so walk tall and
keep that in mind. Appearing confident, even if you dont feel it, is vital. Think about
your body language and how you can look calm and confident, even when making big,
potentially difficult decisions. Controlling your breathing is a good way of remaining
calm and composed. A word of caution though, please ensure that confidence is never
mistaken as arrogance.

10.

The person who thinks they can reach the top on their own is sadly destined to fail.
There will always be support available and the skill sometimes is to recognise that you
need some help or support and to ask for it. Look at how your colleagues perform. What
can you learn from the things they do well? The Referees Association, The Football
Association, your family and friends are all there for you. Use them, but also remember
that there will be times when you need to support others.

Match
Preparation

Offside

Gone are the days when 30 minutes steady jogging is suitable training. Ensure you tailor
your training to the demands of the job. You need to include speed work, sideways
movement etc into your training to replicate match situations.

4.

Concentration

7.

The way in which you move along the touchline and the way you deliver your signals go a
long way to selling the decisions you make and the confidence that the referee, players,
officials and spectators will have in your ability. Practice your technique in front of the
mirror and dont dismiss feedback on technique as petty or of little value.

Confidence

Support/
Constant
Learning

Mike Mullarkey
FIFA and Select Group Assistant Referee
Assistant Referee 2010 UEFA Champions League Final and 2010 FIFA World Cup Final

Refereeing at The FA

Refereeing at The FA

10 POINT PLAN FREE KICKS NEAR THE

PENALTY AREA

Michael Oliver

joins the FIFA Referees list

David Elleray, Chairman, FA Referees Committee

FIFA have confirmed the lists of FIFA referees and assistants for 2012.
Newly appointed to the male FIFA referee list is Michael Oliver,
increasing Englands representation to 8. On the womens FIFA
referees list Sarah Garrett has replaced Helen Fulcher whilst Jane
Sims has replaced Emma Hock on the FIFA assistants list.

Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game Referee Manager

Attacking free-kicks near to the

penalty area can pose great
problems for referees with the
potential for much disagreement,
unsporting behaviour and unhappiness.
They should be an exciting part of
football and they require the referees to
be confident, efficient and decisive.

The full list of Englands FIFA officials for 2012 is:

Ian Blanchard suggests a simple 10 point

plan to gaining success in this crucial area
of the field.

1. Identify


the offence and make sure of
its location

Martin Atkinson

Sarah Garratt

2. Indicate

Mens FIFA Referees

Womens FIFA Referees List

Martin Atkinson
Stuart Attwell
Mark Clattenburg
Mike Dean
Andre Marriner
Michael Oliver - new
Lee Probert
Howard Webb

Amy Fearn (nee Rayner)

Sarah Garratt - new
Sasa Ihringova


the type of offence with a good whistle blast
and the correct arm signal

3.
Move in


take control and remain calm

and confident

4. Consider 

is this a direct or indirect free kick

5. Position


the ball correctly and clearly

6. Communicate


to the taker that the free kick is to be taken on
the whistle .

7. Ensure


opponents are 9.15 metres from
the ball

8. Remind


defending players not to encroach before the
ball is kicked

9. Position


yourself before restarting play with the
whistle

10. Concentrate


and observe the outcome

Attacking free-kicks around

the penalty area require
decisiveness from referees

Mens FIFA Assistant Referees List No changes

Simon Beck
Stuart Burt
Darren Cann
Stephen Child
Jake Collin
Peter Kirkup
Simon Long
Mike Mullarkey
Dave Richardson
Adam Watts

Womens FIFA Assistant Referees List Natalie Aspinall (nee Walker)

Sian Massey
Lisa Rashid
Jane Sims - new
Mens FIFA Futsal Referees List No changes
Marc Birkett
Gavin Sartain

Feature

GETTNG THE
BEST OUT OF
CLUB ASSISTANTS
Dick Sawdon Smith

Feature

eferees are often said to be manmanagers and there is no doubt that

lessons from business can be useful
in refereeing, even when it comes to the
everyday things we are faced with on
park football, such as the use of club
assistant referees.
Referees are often said to be man-managers
and there is no doubt that lessons from
business can be useful in refereeing, even
when it comes to the everyday things we are
faced with on park football, such as the use of
club assistant referees.
Some years ago I was the leadership tutor at
the management centre of one of the
countrys largest conglomerates. It wasnt
my job to instruct captains of industry how
to run their companies; much more
modestly I was responsible for instilling
leadership techniques into first line
supervisors, the sort of person who might be
in charge of a crisp packing line. Through a
series of exercises I got them to reveal what

gave them their greatest job satisfaction

and made them work best. The reason was
to show that if these influences motivated
them, the same would almost certainly be
true of those they had to lead. They always
came up with the same stimulants:
responsibility, recognition, appreciation
and a clear indication of what was expected
of them.
So what does this have to do with refereeing
and in particular club assistants? The first
thing you have to accept is that you have a
team, even though you have to work with a
couple of people you have probably never
seen before and who may well not want to
be there! However, you are the team leader,
so you have got to begin building the team.
Start by getting them together to give your
instructions, somewhere away from the
players and officials, possibly in the middle
of the field of play. Greet them with
enthusiasm. One other lesson from industry
is that there is only one thing more
contagious than enthusiasm the lack of it.

You are the

team leader, so you
have got to begin
building the team
What is your first requirement from assistant
referees? I would suggest it is clear signals but
dont just tell them, show them. Take one of
the flags and illustrate how you would like to
see it waved and the signals you expect for
throw-in, goal-kick and corner-kick. Explain
that if they flag at stomach height as many
club assistants do, you wont see it from the
middle. Then explain that they have two main
responsibilities. The first is the ball out of play.
Show them what that means. Illustrate with
the ball on the line, overhanging and out of
play. Their next responsibility is offside. Now
you are not going to teach them the offside
law in two minutes so stick to two main

points. What matters is where the player is

when the ball is played, not where the player
is when they receive it and secondly, try to
flag only if the player in an offside position
actually plays the ball. Tell them that this is
not always easy and if they are unsure, they
should flag and you will decide whether the
player is interfering. This means, of course,
you will need to illustrate your signal if you are
going to play on. I try to avoid the words over
rule you. There is only one thing club
assistants hate more than being overruled
and that is being ignored. Tell them, that if
they have flagged, and you havent blown or
acknowledged them, then you havent seen
their flag, so keep it up until you do.

So youve given them responsibility, youve

recognised them as part of your team and
they have a clear understanding of what is
expected of them. What they need now is
appreciation. A thumbs-up for a good flag
during the match will go down well but always
thank your assistants at the end of
the game, even if they have been less than
useful. If they have done a really good job for
you, make sure that they know it with some
well chosen words. I know that this is not
going to turn your club assistants into Phil
Sharps but I think you will be surprised how
many will react favourably to your positive
leadership and how much more you will get
out of them.

The final instruction you have to impart is

positioning. Usually we entrust them with
their own left-back, or right-wings as we used
to call it. Ask them to try and keep level with
the last but one defender, remembering the
last defender is usually the goalkeeper. I know
they wont all keep- up but at least they know
where you expect them to be.

I think you will be surprised

how many club assistants will react
favourably to your positive leadership
Togetherness: greet your team
with enthusiasm and you
will reap the rewards

Effective leadership: start by

outlining your expectations to
your assistants

10

I was
told there
would be
bloodshed
in the
streets.

11

Feature

UEFA U19 Finals:

Romania
Stuart Attwell FIFA Select Group referee

uly 2011 saw the city of Bucharest

host the annual UEFA U19 Final
tournament. Seven teams from
across Europe joined the host nation of
Romania for a two week festival of
football, which would ultimately see the
Spanish team add to their recent
successes at senior and U21 level, with a
thrilling 3-2 victory against the Czech
Republic. As with the 2010 FIFA World
Cup, it was an English referee, Stuart
Attwell, who oversaw the Final and he
gives a unique perspective on the
tournament.
It is a great accolade to be appointed to any
international match, but to be involved with
a final tournament is even more prestigious.
It was therefore a pleasant surprise to get a
call from The Football Association in mid-June
to tell me that I had been selected as one
of the six referees for the tournament. As is
normal for this kind of appointment, all of the
match officials were informed of the need
to complete the FIFA fitness test before the
start of July. Fortunately, Simon Breivik, the
PGMOL Head of Sport Science was on hand to
devise a training plan which would enable me
to prepare effectively for the test, and travel to
the tournament in the best possible shape.
Unlike the World Cup, officials are not
selected in teams but work alongside
colleagues from other nations. This can
be challenging both on and off the field, as
cultural differences, language barriers, and
alternative refereeing philosophies have
to be addressed to ensure a successful
team performance. However, this is also an
extremely positive part of the experience,
and can enhance learning and development
for all involved.
With the first match day scheduled for
Wednesday 20th July, UEFA arranged for

the match officials to arrive in Bucharest

on Sunday 17th. As is usual at this level, a
fitness check was scheduled for the Monday
morning, under the supervision of the two
sport scientists, who would remain with
us for the duration of our stay. Thanks to
the preparation work that I had done in
the UK, I completed the test comfortably,
performing well in the endurance and speed
based activities. The profile of the matches
necessitated this kind of assessment, and
we were clear that anything less than 100%
fitness would compromise our involvement
in the tournament. This point was underlined
later that day, when one of the match
officials was forced to return home after
suffering an injury during the session.
Whilst the importance of being physically
ready cannot be underestimated, we also
spent a lot of time working together on
technical matters, to ensure a consistent
application of the laws and competition rules.
By following this process, UEFA were able to
generate understanding between the match
officials, and also highlight areas of importance,
such as protecting the image of the game,
simulation and holding in the penalty area.
Following this meeting, the appointments
for match day 1 were announced, and I was
delighted to be refereeing the opening match Spain v Belgium.
Given that this was the opening game, I was
keen to get my tournament off to a good
start, and wanted people to be talking about
football, rather than refereeing decisions.
Fortunately the game settled down quickly,
with both teams looking to play football. I
was aware from our pre-match briefings from
David Elleray, Jozef Marko and Kyros Vassaras
(all from the UEFA Referees Committee) that
there were possible problems with electrical
storms in the vicinity, but it didnt appear
as if they would cause any problems. After

Spain took a 12th minute lead, I spoke with

the fourth official for an updated weather
forecast, as the storm was moving closer.
Such was the speed of the storm, it was just
four minutes later that I took the decision
to take the players off the field, as I had
significant concerns for their safety. Over
the next hour, we continued to assess the
weather conditions, before taking the step
of abandoning the match quite an unusual
occurrence at this level. Following the game,
it was clear that UEFA were happy with the
way things had been managed, and both
teams and the match officials returned to the
stadium 24 hours later to complete the game.
It went very well with no significant issues.
Following the re-arranged match, I was
immediately appointed to referee a very
competitive match between the hosts and
Greece, which although challenging, went
very well from my perspective. I was satisfied
with my two performances in the group
stage, and was optimistic about the chances
of being retained for the knockout stages, a
decision that was made following the final
round of group matches, where I acted as
fourth official to the Norwegian referee, Tom
Harald Hagen.
Immediately after the final group matches,
we were told which match officials would
be staying for the semi-finals, and who
would be returning home just 12 hours later.
I was pleased to see my name on the
retained list, and after saying our goodbyes,
I started to think ahead to the semi-finals, and
how I might be involved. This became clearer
the following day, when the appointments for
the semi-finals were released. I was appointed
as fourth official to the Kazakhstan referee for
the Czech Republic v Serbia. Whilst I was keen
to referee, I was also aware that the referee for
the Final would likely be one of the semi-final
fourth officials.

Stuart Attwell in action during

the U19 UEFA Final

Unlike the World Cup,

officials are not selected
in teams but work
alongside colleagues
from other nations

Copyright Sportsfile

12

13

Feature

Both semi-finals went well, and as we

returned to the hotel after the game, we
waited to hear who would be appointed to
the Final match, which was to be contested
between Spain and Czech Republic. After a
short wait, with anticipation building, it was
announced that I was to referee the game,
assisted by Dmitriy Mosyakin (Russia),
and Lars Hummelgaard (Denmark). The
fourth official was to be Artyom Kuchin from
Kazakhstan, the referee for my semi-final
appointment that evening.

I had stressed that

we wanted the players
to be the centre of
attention, and this was
indeed the case

Stuart Attwell and team ahead

of the UEFA U19 Final between
Spain and the Czech Republic

Naturally we were delighted with the news,

and after saying our second set of goodbyes,
we started to prepare for the final match,
which was to be played at Chiajna Stadium
in Bucharest. Over the next two days we
looked at DVD clips of both Spain and Czech
Republic, and reviewed key topics that the
UEFA Referees Committee had highlighted
before and during the tournament. This,
together with our physical preparation was
extremely important, and was to ensure that
our performance was as good as it could be.
The match itself was a dream to referee, with
both teams showing a high level of respect
to each other and the match officials. When
speaking to UEFA.com the day before the
game, I had stressed that we wanted the
players to be the centre of attention, and
this was indeed the case. In an entertaining
game, Spain overcame their Czech
opposition 3-2, with a goal at the very end of
extra time. We were delighted with the way
that the game had gone, and that the only
talking points were the five fantastic goals.
This was a superb finale to a tremendous
17 days, and one of many great experiences
that I had whilst in Romania. As a team, we
worked hard, and were able to ensure that
the whole tournament was remembered for
the right reasons.

Copyright Sportsfile

14

15

Feature

FUTSAL REFEREE
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME - EXCHANGE
WITH JAPAN
Gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple

n August 2011, The FA selected Sean

Dipple (FA Futsal Talent Group
coordinator/UEFA Futsal Delegate)
and Gavin Sartain (FIFA Futsal Referee)
to go to Japan with The FA/Japanese
FA partnership, as part of a Futsal
Referee Development Programme.
The relationship between both national
associations is excellent with Howard
Webb and his World Cup team - including
his Japanese World Cup final colleagues,
Lee Probert and Bob Madley - officiating
there during the summer and Japanese
officials coming to England in the
autumn. Here is their version of an
extraordinarily valuable trip.
In late September, we flew to Tokyo and
met the key figures at the Japan Football
Association HQ - JFA House. Keith Hill, who
is on a two year FA secondment as a Referee
Instructor with the JFA and Yashiro Zak
Matsuzaki FIFA Futsal Instructor and JFA
Board member, plus many other experienced
and former FIFA referees who are based and
work from JFA house, greeted the English
team and welcomed them to Japan.
Futsal is professionally organised in
Japan with a national league (F-League)
comprising of ten teams (full-time and

16

semi-professional) in their Premier Division

and an extensive regional set up around the
country. Futsal is governed independently
by the Japan Futsal Federation; however
the JFA are responsible for refereeing
appointments and in-service training for
regional competitions and the elite Futsal
Referees. There are over 21,100 registered
Futsal referees and superb facilities. The
meetings with Zak were most impressive and
a great opportunity to absorb some of his
Futsal refereeing experience and knowledge.
The second day was a regional Futsal
tournament in Kofu which comprised
representative teams selected by their
prefectures (like English counties). The
standard was very high and an excellent
opportunity for Gavin to blend in with
referees being assessed for promotion to
the F-League Futsal national list. It was
an opportunity to engage in the various
styles of both referees and observers.
Gavin refereed on the Friday and gave
an impressive performance, to the
commendation of Japanese officials.
Sean attended an Assessors Seminar for new
observers at the second class level (first class
is the Futsal Referees Elite level) and was

asked to say a few words in Japanese! Gavins

match was chosen for all observers to watch.
The following days feedback demonstrated
that they were very impressed with his
performance, particularly his management
and communication skills, especially as he
was refereeing players of a different culture
and language.
Sunday was Final day and Gavin refereed
in a superb facility. Again, he produced a
high quality performance with another top
quality Japanese referee in a match of high
skill levels, intensity and speed, which is one
of the key differences from English Futsal.
Post- match comments were full of praise
throughout - it was again mentioned how
Gavin produced refereeing skills which were
now a benchmark for their development, in
particular player management.

Futsal Refereeing
had developed his
skills for 11-a-side
football on decisionmaking, alertness/
awareness and
anticipation of play

Sean remarked at the time, It has been

an excellent learning environment and a
totally worthwhile visit for both national
associations. It was an honour to work with
very experienced observers and Tutors
from the JFA, FIFA and AFC, which clearly
has helped me professionally. The legacy
of this visit to Japan ensures that the Futsal
Referee Development structure in England

17

Feature
can improve even more and maintain a high
standard and look forward to implementing
some of the measures and knowledge.
It clearly will benefit the development of
Futsal Referees and the Futsal Referee
Development Programme in England.
The second week presented Japans elite
Futsal League, The F-League, followed by
two training matches and practical/fitness
sessions. The training matches were of a
high intensity and Zak Matsuzaki provided
valuable development points to Gavin
to prepare him for the demands of their
F-League. Sean and Gavin also had the great
pleasure of spending an afternoon and
evening in the company of Yuichi Nishimura,
fourth official in the FIFA World Cup Final.
It was pleasing to hear him assert that his
Futsal Refereeing had developed his skills
for 11-a-side football on decision-making,
alertness/awareness and anticipation of
play, due to the speed and intensity. We
learned many aspects of refereeing from him
in our long conversations, in particular his
communication and management skills as a
FIFA Referee on the international stage, plus
a master class on the use of chopsticks!
Gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple
with FIFA World Cup Final Fourth
official, Yuichi Nishimura

The next day we went to Osaka on the

famous Shinkansen (Bullet Train) as Gavin
was to officiate in two matches as third
Referee and later, as Referee, which allowed
him to work more closely with Zak and his
team and move up to a different level with
their FIFA officials and experienced referees.
In Kobe, we watched Japan play Vietnam
in the Kirin Cup. The stadium was full with
a 30,000 capacity and a smaller version of
Wembley. The support was fantastic and
produced a great atmosphere which helped
with the home nation taking the win.
The weekend proved to be an eye opener on
how well the F-League was promoted

18

Refereeing at The FA

The games on the

F-League were a
great experience:
the teams are well
supported and are
filmed for a national
highlights show

more knowledge and experience, pleased

that we had been able to contribute to
strengthening the development of refereeing
in Japan and England.

and supported in Osaka. Teams usually play

home/away matches but on occasion, meet
at a central venue, which was this weekend.
The games on the F-League were a great
experience in so many ways: the teams are
well supported and are filmed for a national
highlights show. For Gavin, officiating on the
matches gave him the opportunity to work
with other FIFA referees and be a part of a
unique trial of an official communication
system. Still in its early trial stage by the
manufacturer, this was a first in Futsal
for Gavin and proved to be a very useful
communication tool in the matches.

The JFA staff were absolutely wonderful and

words cannot express how grateful we are for
their efficiency, planning and courtesy with
the visit to their wonderful country. Keith
Hill was excellent in the details/liaison of the
exchange and accompanying us to Kofu. He
was without question a fine ambassador for
the English FA in Japan.

Refereeing the games proved to be physically

challenging as the speed of the game was
played at such a high intensity for the whole
duration. The players fitness and skill levels
where very high. Both matches went very
well; Gavin was observed by Zak, Sean and
two of the AFCs top observers from Australia
and Malaysia, who had come to watch one of
the Japanese referees in a final assessment
for the AFC Elite futsal referee list.
After the games, we attended a seminar
on tactics at set-plays by the Japanese
Futsal team Head Coach Miguel Rodrigo.
He explained how players are coached to
manipulate and manage their space on the
field by use of their bodies and arms and
how the game is managed by referees in
Spain and Brazil. Miguel was sharing the
information to make the referees more aware
and help improve the standard of refereeing
as the league is gaining in strength and
attracting top players from all over the world.
The next day we attended the National
Futsal Referees meeting where physical,
theory and analysis sessions were delivered.
The topics came from the previous months
issues on the F-League.
The trip was extremely hard work but vastly
rewarding. We undoubtedly left Japan with

Gavin, when asked what he had gained

from his experiences in Japan, replied, I
have certainly come away a better referee
as a result of the visit to Japan. I was able to
focus on refereeing for those two weeks and
worked hard on the feedback, knowledge and
advice to take into the next game from some
of the key figures involved at the JFA and
FIFA. The advice was invaluable and having
the opportunity to referee with some of the
elite officials was fantastic.

The two weeks in Japan were very

beneficial and we learned and shared many
experiences from veteran personnel. We
would also like to sincerely thank The FA,
particularly David Elleray, Ian Blanchard,
Roger Vaughan and Laura Woolcock for
offering us the opportunity to represent
English refereeing and to experience Futsal in
another continent.

Leadership
Through Football

An exciting opportunity for young officials and Referee Development Officers

Janie Frampton, FA National Manager Education and Training

little while ago we introduced the

Leadership Through Football (LTF)
Unit 2, which is designed for 14
to 19 year old candidates. The
qualification consists of four modules of
which refereeing is one. Tutors have been
trained from all sectors of football to
deliver the full qualification and once
they have completed the initial training
they will be qualified to deliver the
mini-whistlers programme which is
embedded in the qualification as a
taster to refereeing.

Earlier this year RDOs were invited to attend

an induction day at Staverton Park hotel in
order to deliver the unit as a stand alone unit
on the national qualification framework.

We believe this
unit will meet
the needs of
students as well as
alleviate the
pressure
Delivery
Methods:
on RDOs

Overall Aims of Unit 2 (Refereeing) Stand

Alone Course:

T
 his unit has been broken down into 12 x 1
hour sessions.
However, other formats of delivery are
possible e.g. institutions may choose to
deliver in blocks of 2-3 hours.

By the end of this unit, young people will have:

Resources:

B
 een prepared to referee football activity
sessions and small-sided games for young
people
Refereed football activity sessions and
small-sided games for young people
Reviewed and reflected on their refereeing
during football activity sessions and smallsided games for young people

T
 utor PowerPoint presentation and
supporting notes
Your sport toolkit for delivering intraschool and college competition (YST / PE
and Sport for Young People)
FA resources provided
Tutor DVD

The development outcomes are: Independent

enquirers (IE); team workers (TW); self
managers (SM); creative thinkers (CT);
effective participators (EP). Once each session
is finalised, outcomes will be referenced and
form part of the student workbook reflection
activities and self-analysis.

Through the National Game, a Children and

Young People offer has been produced in
order to obtain clarity on what each sector of
the business has in place to meet the needs
of our children and young people through
schools, colleges and universities.
In refereeing we are aware that the RDOs
have been put under pressure to deliver full
basic referee courses in schools since the
introduction of the new criteria for GCSE/PE
which outlines the need to learn the laws of
sport and to apply them actively. We know

from experience that this puts pressure

on the RDOs but there is a very low rate
of retention. The LTF unit 2 is designed to
tackle these issues and can be delivered as
a standalone unit not on the framework and
comprises of the following:
A basic knowledge of a minimum of 9 Laws
Knowledge and practical application of
mini-whistlers
Knowledge of small-sided football
and Futsal
Understanding of disability football
Apply knowledge through small-sided
games

We believe this unit will meet the needs of

students as well as alleviate the pressure on
RDOs to deliver a full basic referee training
course with poor retention figures.
Once students undertake this unit there may
be many who would like to take up refereeing
and wish to upskill to the full basic referee
training course.
Please look at it seriously and contact me for
any further information.

19

Feature

Webb selected
for the
EURO 2012 Finals in
Poland-Ukraine
David Elleray, Chairman, FA Referees Committee

he UEFA Referees Committee

announced on December 20th the
12 referees who will control the
matches in the 2012 EURO finals in
Poland and the Ukraine.

We send our congratulations to Howard

Webb who was selected as one of the 12
referees. He will be accompanied by 2
English Assistant Referees and 2 English
Additional Assistants.
Subject to approval by IFAB in March,
should Howard become injured during a
EURO finals game, one of the Additional
Assistant Referees will take over as the

20

4th Official will be non-English which could

pose communication problems (using the
microphones/headsets) should he take over.

Howard Webb,
2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee

Lets hope that if the England football team

do not reach the Euro 2012 Final then
Howard and his colleagues can emulate his
previous achievement in being appointed to
the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.
Congratulations also to Marc Birkett who was
selected as one of the referees for the Futsal
EURO Finals to be held in Croatia at the end
of January.

21

Refereeing at The FA

Refereeing Cerebral
Palsy Football

ONE DOWN TWO TO GO

Female Referee Development Events, Janie Frampton

Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game Manager

he FA recently launched a
programme to train match
officials to officiate in Cerebral
Palsy football. The programme aims to
identify and train a pool of 25 match
officials, for whom involvement in the
London Paralympic games will become
a real possibility.
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.
Applications were assessed against a person
specification which included criteria relating
to an individuals experience of refereeing,
experience and awareness of disability and
disability football, communication and
people management skills, fitness levels and
a commitment to officiate within the FA
National Cerebral Palsy Football League.
The programme commenced in November
with a training seminar where officials learnt
about the differences between CP and
mainstream football. The highlight was
undoubtedly an exhibition match between

the East and West Midlands CP Centre of

Excellence squads, which brought to life the
classroom-based learning.

Congratulations to the following officials who have

been selected for the programme:

Armed with a new found knowledge and

passion for Cerebral Palsy football, the
successful referees will now spend one
Saturday a month travelling the country,
officiating in the National Cerebral Palsy
Football League which comprises 8 Regional
Cerebral Palsy Centres of Excellence, with
separate sections for adult and U16 males.

Referee

County FA

David Davies

Staffordshire

Andy Maperson

Staffordshire

John Taylor

Staffordshire

Marc Birkett

Derbyshire

David Keenan

Manchester

Garry Polkey

Cheshire

2012 promises to be an exciting year for the

newly formed National Pool of CP Match
Officials. A number will be appointed to
officiate in Great Britain warm-up international
fixtures, whilst it is likely that CP football will be
included in the Paralympic World Cup in May,
which will give further opportunities for
international appointments.

Scott Henry

Cumberland

Stuart Campbell

North Riding

Barry Polkey

Nottinghamshire

Gareth Etchells

Cheshire

Alex Kirkley

Manchester

Jayne Hart

West Riding

John Hill

Liverpool

Ian Clarke

Liverpool

Adam Maperson

Staffordshire

Terry Jeyes

Northamptonshire

Tom Nield

Norfolk

Hayley Ives

Bedfordshire

Chris Henry

London

The Paralympic Games in London commence

on 28th August 2012. They represent a once
in a lifetime opportunity for our country, our
athletes and now, our referees. Eleven of the
National Pool will be selected to officiate in
the Paralympic Games, the worlds second
largest sporting event.

Kevin Wright

Huntingdonshire

Allen Lewis

Devon

James Taylor

Devon

Michael Hall

Somerset

Keith Stroud

Hampshire

Richard Airey

Kent

Sunday 12th February 2012 De Vere Hotel, Cheadle, Cheshire 10.30 to 4pm
Thursday 13th March 2012 Nottingham Forest FC 6.30 to 9.30pm

or those of you who missed the first

event in November you missed a real
treat. Womens 2011 FIFA World Cup
Referee, Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany), was
the guest speaker and what a fantastic role
model and inspirational figure she was.
Anyway, lets look at the future and tell you
about the two remaining events we have
planned.
It is with great pleasure that we invite you
to attend one of the above events designed
to focus on the development of female
referees at all levels. Building on the success
of previous events which received fantastic
feedback - make sure you dont miss out this
year. Sign up NOW for one of the events.

Whilst we are extremely proud that the

number of female match officials operating
at the higher levels is improving, there are
many more who have shown potential and
we would like to encourage them to take
that next step, along with offering further
opportunities to develop those already at the
higher levels.

We are extremely
proud that the
number of female
match officials
operating at the
higher levels
is improving

We hope the events will encourage

networking amongst our females which will
help, guide and support you as you strive
to achieve the next level. You will discover
that you arent alone, we all have the same
experiences and knowing there is someone
to share them with who understands is a vital
part of the support mechanism needed to
keep you motivated and in the game.
There is an expectation that you will
attend one of these events as part of your
continued development and commitment,
and we hope the events will further enhance
the enthusiasm towards refereeing that you
have shown to date.

These development events have been

designed to look at areas which will help you
improve your performance; whichever level
you operate at and whatever your ambitions.
Topics will include management and
communication coupled with highlighting
the benefits and opportunities available for
female match officials in both the male and
female game, and the development pathway
to FIFA.
The programme has been designed to
maximise your learning experience and we
will utilise some of our top female referees,
FA Ambassadors and the FA National
Referee Managers.

Referees at the CP League

Southern Conference

22

23

Feature

Feature

Womens trio appear in

the Western League

Howard Webb enthrals a

large crowd in Sussex

Lucy May

s I read the appointments list, to

check which games I had in
November, something struck me:
I was down to referee a Wessex Premier
Division fixture between Totton & Eling
and Lymington Town. Then I saw that my
assistants were MISS P Wyatt and MISS A
Robinson. We were going to be an
all-female team and the penny dropped
I knew this was a big occasion.
Minutes later, my phone rang. It was Paula
Wyatt. As soon as I hung up, it rang again
it was Amy Robinson. Both shared the
excitement that we would be officiating
together. Wed worked together before, but
not as a team. And not only was this the first
time we would officiate together, but this
would be the first time any all-female team
would officiate in the leagues history at a
Premier Division match. Coincidentally, the
first time the league had appointed an allfemale official team to any fixture was three
years ago, between Blackfield and Langley,
when I was also in the middle.
The build up to the game became intense
due to the media interest. To us, we were just
three officials preparing to do our job, but to
the media, this was newsworthy. Before the
game, a local newspaper covered the story,
which led to additional press attention on the
day. We agreed not to talk to journalists at
the game until after the final whistle, so we
could focus on getting ready for the game.
We got to the ground two hours before kickoff, thinking wed get there before any media
arrived, only to be greeted by a TV camera
crew and reporters already waiting for us. In
that moment, despite the fact we had been
determined to think of this as just another
game, we realised that the pressure really
was on us to perform. This wasnt about
personal glory, but doing a great job to build
on the positive reputation of female referees
and we were determined not to let anyone
down. Any mistake on any week is hard to
bear but making a mistake in front of the
media could have been disastrous.

24

or the second year in succession, the

annual Sussex RA-FA Development
Event, held in Hove, recorded its
largest ever audience with 330 referees
and guests in attendance.

The reason behind the record breaking

attendance was the presence of guest
speaker, 2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee,
Howard Webb MBE. Howard provided a
thoroughly gripping tale of his international
career to date, focussing on his experiences
at last years World Cup Finals in South Africa.
He began describing his World Cup journey
with group matches between Spain and
Switzerland, and Italy versus Slovakia. Both
games were thankfully lacking in any real
controversy, something that was proving to
be somewhat of a downfall of many of his
international counterparts.

Referee, Lucy May (Centre), with her team

Pre-match was a bit of a blur, but we were
delighted to receive so many supportive
comments from officers, managers and clubs
from our league as well as fellow officials,
friends and family. We wondered whether
preparing the teams would be different,
given all the fuss, but it wasnt: the players
didnt react or play up to the media at all and
they treated us the same as they would any
other week, which gave us an even greater
respect for them.
The game itself was like any other game. Four
goals and four cautions; it ended with a 3-1
win for Totton & Eling, two satisfied teams and
with no controversy. The players shook our
hands, the managers congratulated us and we
looked at one another with huge relief.
Now it was time to share our experience with
the waiting media, who were all supportive and
positive both in their questions on the day
and in their subsequent reporting of the event,
as were the quotes from the clubs managers.

We were going to
be an all-female
team I knew this
was a big occasion
The fuss has died down, the news is old and
another first for female officials has passed.
One day, female referees wont even raise an
eyebrow, never mind mobilise a TV camera
crew. For now, though, we were all honoured
to be part of an historical moment, to have
been able to do our jobs well and to have
added to the reputation of female officials,
and we look forward to the opportunity to
get together as a team again soon.

card for Nigel de Jong, during what turned

out to be arguably the most hostile World
Cup Final in history.
The presentation concluded with a number
of questions on all things football, before
Howard went on to urge all referees to
become members of their Referees
Association through their local Society. The
traditional charity raffle took place after the
speech, raising 500 for the Chestnut Tree
House Childrens Hospice, with prizes being
donated by the Sussex County Referees
Association, its nine member Societies, the
Sussex County FA and Howard himself.
Throughout the evening and after the
event Howard spent hours willingly signing
autographs and posing for photographs,
giving each person a piece of his valuable
time to take away and treasure.

Howards speech
culminated in a
blow-by-blow
account of
that night in
Soccer City,
Johannesburg, in a
hotly contested
World Cup Final

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

Howard Webb describes his World Cup journey

25

Feature

THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE

Dean Mohareb, National Referee 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,
which
Howard
County Football
Webb MBE.
Associations
Howard provided
can use toa
register theirgripping
match officials.
of 1st
thoroughly
tale of hisAsinternational
career
January
to2012,
date, nearly
focussing
8000
onreferees
his experiences
have
at
used
lastthe
years
online
World
service
Cup and
Finals
theinresults
South have
Africa.
been impressive. As with any new IT system,
He
although
beganthere
describing
was some
his World
initialCup
resistance,
journey
with
a fewgroup
IT bugs
matches
and an between
unfamiliarity
Spain
about
and the
Switzerland,
process, it has
and
now
Italy
been
versus
embraced
Slovakia.
andBoth
is
games
workingwere
smoothly,
thankfully
ensuring
lacking
a paperless
in any realand
controversy,
easy way to keep
something
your referee
that was
registration
proving to
be
up somewhat
to date. of a downfall of many 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

26

card for Nigel de Jong, during what turned

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

traditional charity raffle took place after the

Here is a simple guide to Online

Registration:
speech,Referee
raising 500 for
the Chestnut Tree
L og in to Member Services via
your Parent County FA website
O
 nce logged in click on
Register for new season
under the alerts section this
then prompts an easy 6 step
process to re-registration
1. Step 1
Referee can update personal
details and review guidance
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

The presentation concluded with a number

of questions on all things football, before
Howard went on to urge all referees to
become members of their Referees
Association through their local Society. The

House Childrens Hospice, with prizes being

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.

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.
donated by the Sussex County Referees
Association, its nine member Societies, the
Sussex County FA and Howard himself.
Throughout the evening and after the

27

Feature

Diary notes and news

Eve of Final Rally

Friday 4 May, Prestigious New Venue - One Great George Street, SW1.

RA Conference

Saturday 14 July, Barcel Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire

(Between St. Jamess Park and Parliament Square.)

THEME: WORKING TOGETHER

This event has become bigger and more successful every year,
something that no Referee Academy should miss getting their RA
full members to attend.
The Conference is part of a great development and social weekend for everyone
and includes the RA AGM, FA Forum, Dinner/Dance, Award presentations and the
National Quiz Final.
This is an excellent opportunity to come and meet the Cup Final Officials and
hear from a special guest speaker (to be announced soon).

Look out for more information about these events in the February issue of the RA
Digest and on the website www.footballreferee.org

This is a Bank Holiday weekend with a full programme of Premier League and Football League matches.
So even if you cannot get a ticket for the big match at Wembley, why not spend the weekend in London?
Take in the Rally, a football match and a West End show.

28

29

Feature

The Referees
Association - Chairman
The RA Board, at its meeting on Sunday 20 November 2011, accepted with
great regret the resignation of Alan Poulain as Chairman and as a member
of the RA Board.
Alan explained that he was standing down for personal reasons and in
an effort to change my lifestyle.
He added, To say that I have enjoyed my time on the Board would be an
understatement. I have been very lucky to have worked with many good
people and met many more.
On behalf of all RA members, I would like to thank Alan for his
exceptional contribution to The Referees Association during a period of

significant development which has seen the RA become more modern

and outward looking; it has also been a time of increasing benefits to
us all. The fact that relations between the RA and The FA are better
than ever before is in no small measure due to Alans personal and
professional qualities and input.
The Board agreed that Vice-Chairman, Colin Harris, will be Acting
Chairman until the AGM on 13 July 2012, following which the Board will
conduct its annual election of Officers.

RA-FA Liaison Committee

Pink Whistle
Pink Whistle is a Facebook group designed
solely for female referees by the FA Female
referee Ambassadors.
The page was created to act as a support mechanism for
female officials of all levels and experience as well as giving
them the opportunity to discuss experiences, ask for advice
and share our success.
If you are a member of Facebook why not search and join the
group Pink Whistle.

Chairman
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

30

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