Thanks all! Wasn't expecting such great advice from so many.
The course itself is 4 days spread over two weeks but it appears quite vague online, am I ok to referee on completion of those days?
The course has 4 face to face elements before your exam which will take place some time in the New Year.
You attend an evening (or half day) introductory presentation, an evening (or half day) workshop on Safeguarding and two full days (usually Sundays or midweek days in school holidays) of practical training. During those two days you will receive guidance on preparing for games, the application of the laws most commonly used in football and how to manage frequently occurring situations, such as managing a defensive wall. You will be asked to referee a short period of football during which your application of the laws and game management will be observed by the Referees Development Officer or another suitably experienced person (usually your course's tutors). They will decide if you are ready to referee. If they think you are, you can referee the next day. If they think you aren't ready, they will recommend attending part or all of the course again at a later date.
You have to complete a minimum of 5 games (11v11 or 9v9 with offside) before you can go back to take your law exam. Once you pass the law exam, you are a qualified referee.
Sorry if the information online appears vague. The problem with a lot of the content is that it makes really clear sense to those of us who already know about refereeing. We forget that to those not involved in refereeing don't always understand the terminology or arrangements in place.
I won't be involved in your course however I know those who will be. They are all experienced tutors and referees. They will probably include one or more of the following
- FA Women's Cup Referee
- Former instructor for the Army FA
- A referee who has refereed at at least two international youth tournaments
When you receive your pre-course work, please make sure you do it before you attend the main part of the course. It will make your life so much easier. One last thing, once you complete this course, you will never watch football in the same way ever again. Sorry about that.
Before anyone chips in to say that's not how we do it or how it should be done, my comments relate directly to the delivery of the course by West Riding County FA who are the course providers for the OP.