SURREY COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LTD
Referees' Department
Operation of Fulham Referees Academy
Season 2015 / 16
RDO
Tim Lawrence
Surrey County FA
Connaught House
36 Bridge Street
Leatherhead
Surrey KT22 8BZ
01372 387094
Mobile 07943 848185
[email protected]
Fulham Referee
Match Day Manager
Richard Ireson
07956 509559
[email protected]
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ACADEMY REFEREE GUIDELINES
INTRODUCTION
These guidelines have been produced to help match officials with the requirements
of being involved within the Football Academy structure. Set out below are what
Surrey County FA expect from our referees who officiate within the Academy. These
include Entry Requirements, the Benefits to the Referee, Minimum Standards
Required, the Referees Role, Mentoring and the FA Code of Conduct for Match
Officials.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Referee must

Be parented and registered with Surrey County Football Association

Be an active official on local football leagues, to form part of their
development and future promotion opportunities

Completed to the satisfaction of the Referee Development Officer an
Academy Application Form outlining their objectives for being included in the
Academy

Have signed up to the FA Code of Conduct for Match Officials

Have the appropriate attitude to accept positive feedback from the mentor

Have an FA CRC check if aged 16 and over

Attend the preseason meeting

By being part of the Academy you have agreed to adhere to its principles
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BENEFITS OF A REFEREES ACADEMY – TO THE REFEREE

To enhance their own development and performance, by having the benefit of
instant feedback from a mentor who will advise them on all aspects of their
performance.

Experience the professional aspects of the game, and meet the expectations
placed on them as part of their role within the scheme

To aid retention, as the referee will officiate in an environment which is
controlled by a code of conduct by all participants. This will enable the referee
to develop with confidence, and give them a feeling of value and purpose.

The club will pay the referee for officiating.

Referees within the structure of an Academy would gain experience and
advice, which would assist them on the leagues they officiate on. This
experience would also be useful to them when applying for promotion through
the normal route as laid out in The Football Association’s Regulations for the
Management and Control of Referees.

The referees would be part of a mentor scheme attached to the academy,
which forms part of their support mechanism.

Referees will be offered access to club facilities for practical and theory
training additional support and feedback to be made available by academy
staff. Advice and guidance on diet, nutrition and access to advice from a
qualified physiotherapist. Fulham will provide a physio if there is an injury.

The scheme will provide a closer link between players and referees, where
they can share good practice.

Would be linked to a National Referee Development Programme and the
Surrey County FA Referee Development Group.

Provision of in-service training made available to academy / centre of
excellence players for their development and understanding of the Laws of
Association Football
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MINIMUM STANDARD REQUIRED OF THE REFEREE

Attend training seminars specifically held for their benefit during the season

Co-operate fully and have regular communication the Referees' Co-ordinator,

Provide in advance a list of closed and open dates to the Referees' Coordinator

Confirm appointments in good time - in writing, by telephone or E-mail

Undertake self-evaluation on their performance after each match

Referee on a regular basis, at least once a month, at a level most suitable for
the referee

Be punctual, arrive at the ground at least one hour before kick off

Smartly dressed and presentable - collar and tie (no jeans)

Referees kit is clean and tidy; boots are clean

Undertake a warm up and cool down before and after matches for own health
and welfare

Referee in an age group which is at least one year younger than the referee

Be prepared to act on advice given by the Mentor on previous performances.

The referee must act in a professional manner at all times

Academy appointments are County appointments and therefore take
precedence over all other except FA and SCFA County Cup games
Failure to adhere to appointments/administrative matters/meeting the
standard required will result in you being removed from the Academy by
the Surrey County FA Referees Development Officer.
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REFEREES' ROLE
The referees' role in academy football is vitally important as the players are there to
learn, display their skills and be developed according to their own strengths and
abilities. In order to allow this development to take place, referees awareness must
take on a wider emphasis other than applying law in its entirety.
One of the key areas of the development of referees is to manage players and
situations as not every offence needs further sanction. With academy football, it is
important that we enter into the spirit of development, adopting an approachable
attitude hence developing and nurturing a mutual respect between players, coaches
and referees.
Below are a few areas that we would like our referees to consider when officiating in
an academy environment:

Throw ins – at under 9 and 10 age groups as part of their development, rather
than penalising a foul throw, explain what they did wrong and ask them to
take it again. All other age groups they should have mastered the throw in so
law is applied in its entirety.

Injuries – when a player is injured, stop play and allow the physiotherapist to
come straight on. These are highly qualified people who are charged with
protecting what could be our footballer stars of the future.

Offside – to develop the skills of the attacking players, coaches need to be
able to see phases of play develop, e.g. beating the defence, one on one with
the goalkeeper. If an offside is close, then allow the play to develop; if it is a
clear offside, penalise.

Three officials are appointed to under 12 and under 13 games.

One official is appointed to under 9, under 10 and under 11 games
Experienced referees would be appointed to referee the under 13 to under 15 age
group whilst the younger, less experienced, referees would officiate on the under 9
to under 12 age groups subject to mentors deciding they are ready for older age
groups.
Matches are often split in to three or four periods (i.e. 15, 20 or 25
minutes per period). The intervals, therefore, provide ideal opportunities
for the Mentor / Coach to offer advice on refereeing / lining skills in a
constructive manner.
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MENTORING
To assist each referee's development Surrey County FA will aim to have an FA
Accredited Mentor at every home match (subject to availability). The Mentor will
provide appropriate feedback to the match official/s after each game and during
formal breaks in the game if deemed necessary.
A "Match Observation Sheet – Referee Coach" will also be completed after every
game and given to the match official concerned on the day, with a copy submitted to
the Mentor Co-ordinator or the Referee Development Officer within 3 days after the
match.
The Mentors' Co-ordinator is:
Tim Lawrence
Tel: 01372 387094 Email: [email protected]
In order to assist further with referees' development, the Academy Coach will be
encouraged to fill in their own Academy Report Form after each game. This should
retained by the Club Academy Office for forward transmission to the SCFA Academy
Appointments Officer/Mentor Co-ordinator on an agreed timescale. .
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The Football Association
Code of Conduct for Match Officials
(Referees, Assistant Referees, Fourth Officials and
Substitute Referees)
Under the Laws of the Game the decisions of a referee on points of fact connected
with the play are final as far as the result of the game is concerned. A referee also
has wide-ranging powers defined in Law 5.
The exercising of such power requires a high level of ethics from referees and
assistant referees (referred to in this Code together as "referees").
In addition to the quality of refereeing, the behaviour of the referee has an impact,
either directly or indirectly, on the conduct of all others involved in the game. Respect
for referees and their decision is a fundamental part of the game. A Code of Conduct
for Match Officials is a proper response to those expectations.
While the Code focuses primarily on referees involved in top-class football, with few
exceptions the basic ideas are valid for match officials at all levels, be they on the
National List, or registered with County Football Associations and only involved in
local football.
These Codes are applicable to match officials at all levels of the game.
Obligations towards the Game
The referee has a duty to the game in its widest sense. One of those duties is to help
the game to keep moving, compatible with Fair Play, and to seek to ensure it is
attractive and is not subject to unnecessary halts.
The referee should:
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Make every effort to prepare fully for a match, both physically and mentally. On a
physical level, a referee must be able to keep up with the speed of the modern
game, and be alert and close enough to take correct decisions from credible
locations on the field of play.
Not be afraid to take decisions. A referee should be fair and firm and must resist
any possible influence from protests on the part of players, team officials or
spectators.
Show respect towards players and team officials.
Be honest and completely impartial at all times, irrespective of the teams, players
or team officials involved in the match.
Decline to be appointed to a match if not completely physically or mentally fir to
referee that match (because of illness, injury, or for family or other reasons).
Inform The Football Association and/or County Association and/or league or
competition directly responsible if unable to referee a team or teams for any
reason.
Refrain from requesting hospitality of any kind, or accept any hospitality offered
and considered to be excessive.
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Always have regard to the best interests of the game, including where publicly
expressing an opinion on the game or any particular aspect of it, including others
involved in the game.
9 Not tolerate inappropriate language from players and/or officials.
Obligations towards the Players
The powers of a referee must be used with wise judgement and care. Authority and
a firm approach must be combined with respect.
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A referee should have regard to protecting the players.
A referee should show due respect when speaking with the players, even in the
event of infringements.
3 In reports, a referee should set out the true facts and not attempt to justify any
decisions.
Obligations towards fellow Officials
It is necessary for the referee’s authority to be protected, not only for the sake of the
game, but also in the interest of fellow referees, assistant referees, fourth officials
and substitute referees. This protection should, however, not influence the overriding regard for protection of the players.
1 A referee should refrain from publicly expressing any criticism of fellow referees,
assistant referees or other match officials.
2 A referee should assist with the development of less experienced referees and
assistant referees.
3 An assistant referee should give his total support to the referee, but without
undue interference or insistence.
4 Code of Conduct for Team Officials
5 This Code applies to all team/club officials (although some items may not apply to
all officials).
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