The FA Referee Course is designed to equip new referees with the key skills and knowledge they will need to be able to referee grassroots football matches safely and effectively. It is for people aged 14 and over who want to referee 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 football. The cost of the course is £130. 

Before attending the face to face training all learners must complete online learning on the Laws of the Game, online safeguarding training and expression of interest. If you are aged 16 or over, you will need to obtain an FA DBS. 

Important information: If your child is under the age of 18, they must have a parent/guardian linked FAN (FA Number) before they will be able to access the steps below.

CREATE A PARENT/GUARDIAN LINKED FAN

Please ensure that the online learning is completed on the child fan account and not the parent/guardian fan.

To gain access to the course, you are required to complete the following steps;

Step 1

CREATE A FAN ACCOUNT

If you are involved in football, either playing, coaching volunteering or are the parent of a player, you will have an FA Number (FAN)

If you are unsure, you can view your FAN number by logging into myaccount.thefa.com You can also try to find your FAN here.

Do not create a new account without confirming with the Referee team at Cambridgeshire FA.

Step 2

COMPLETE ONLINE LAWS OF THE GAME

Step 3

COMPLETE SAFEGUARDING FOR ALL

Step 4

OBTAIN FA DBS (if aged 16 and over)

Select Register from the login screen and enter the information requested, including:

Org Pin: 102249

Org Name: 1Cambridgeshire CFA

Secret Word: Cambs

 You can then arrange to have your documents verified in the CFA Office, we are open Mon, Wed, Thu 9-4pm

Step 5

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Once all of the above are completed, and there are courses available, Cambridgeshire County FA will send you a course booking link. 

Please refer to the FAQ's at the bottom of this page in the first instance if you incur any issues. 

The online learning has five sections (modules) and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. There are lots of videos to demonstrate how the Laws should be applied, activities to help reinforce the important points and, at the end of each module, there are some questions to test what you’ve learned.  

The online learning can be accessed here.

If you are under the age of 16, you might find the information at the refereeing help centre useful when logging in. This includes information about FA Numbers (FAN) for under 16s.

MODULE 1 - BEFORE THE MATCH

This module covers the referee’s pre-match responsibilities and includes ensuring players’ kit is safe, how to carry out the coin toss and what a referee needs to take to a match with them.

MODULE 2 - SIGNALS AND COMMUNICATION

 This module contains short video clips (GIFs) which show every signal the referee and assistant referee might give during a match.

MODULE 3 - GETTING IT RIGHT

 This module deals with foul challenges, violent conduct, handball, unsporting behaviour, denial of a goalscoring opportunity offences and advantage. It uses video clips from football at different levels to show how the referee should manage common scenarios.

MODULE 4 - OFFSIDE

 This module also uses video clips, this time to demonstrate what is and isn’t offside and how the referee should manage offside offences. The clips, like those used in the ‘Getting it Right’ module, are voiced over to explain the decisions the referees make.

MODULE 5 - MANAGING RESTARTS AND SET-PIECES

 This module covers restarts and set-pieces, including goal kicks, corner kicks, throw-ins, free kicks and penalty kicks. It uses both video and illustrations to clarify what players must do at each restart and set-piece and explains what the referee should do if players don’t comply with the Law.

There are 11 hours of face-to-face training (normally one evening, followed by a full day), which mixes training room work with practical activity on a pitch. Key messages from the online learning are reinforced throughout.

The training room work includes:

• Fun, interactive quizzes
• How to establish rapport and build relationships with players and coaches
• Recognising and dealing with foul challenges and handball
• Managing offside
• Dealing with inappropriate behaviour 
• Managing players 

On the pitch, you will have the opportunity to turn your knowledge into skills through refereeing game based scenarios. You will practise:

• Communicating decisions
• Cautioning and sending off techniques
• Managing the kick off, free kicks, penalty kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins 
• Positioning in open play and at restarts
• Being an assistant referee

To qualify as a referee, you must also referee five games after you have attended the face-to-face training. 

You will be supported through those five games by your County Football Association (CFA). As you continue your refereeing career, you will then be able to access further training opportunities, both online and face to face.

After you have completed your five matches and submitted your Match Submission Form, you will then receive your badge.

For adults, please click here

For children, please click here

Typically within 7-10 working days. All prerequisites must be showing as completed on learner FAN.

Learners are provided an online form to submit following their course.

Log on to Whole Game System and check that a unique email address is attached (every FAN needs to have its own email account).

7v7, 9v9, 11v11