Dear All
Season 2020/21 – L3 & 4 Fitness Tests
As you may already be aware, the Leagues Department at The FA have indicated that football within the National League System is provisionally dated to restart in September. Please note the situation is fluid and we will update with more details regarding the start of the new season in due course.
With this in mind we would like to update you on the arrangement of fitness tests for season 2020/21.
Over the past few months, the FA Refereeing Department have kept the arrangements required for facilitating pre-season fitness tests for Level 3 & 4 match officials under constant review. The situation regarding Covid-19 has presented challenges when planning the organisation of the 2020/21 fitness tests. These include:
- Providing suitable first aid provision for each test.
- Obtaining blood pressure reading requirements for c1500 referees.
- Current advice from UK Athletics regarding social distancing on running tracks, in particularly the size of groups of runners and the need to maintain 2m social distancing
- The widespread closure of athletics tracks around the country
- The impact of local lockdowns upon achieving a consistent fitness test policy across the country prior to the start of season 2020/21 in early September
- The logistical arrangements for organising fitness tests for circa 1500 match officials within a safe environment
The primary concern of The FA is the safety and health of the match officials participating in the fitness tests and of the volunteers who administer the tests on behalf of The FA.
Having reviewed the above considerations and taken further advice from our medical team we can advise the following:
- Pre-season fitness tests will not be required for season 2020/21 for Level 3 & 4 match officials who passed the 2019/20 pre-season fitness tests
- Newly promoted Level 4 officials who completed a L5-4 nomination fitness test in season 2019/20 will be permitted to officiate in season 2020/21 (as a Level 4) without passing a further fitness test
- Level 3 & 4 match officials who did not successfully complete a fitness test in 2019/20 will be required to complete a fitness test, organised by The Football Association at venues across the country
- Newly promoted Level 4 officials who did not complete a nomination fitness test is season 2019/20 due to Covid-19 disruption will be required to complete a nomination fitness test, organised by their County Football Association, as previously instructed in their promotion email
All Match Officials who did not complete a fitness test in 2019/20 will be contacted by The FA Refereeing Department in the week commencing 10th August with further information regarding the dates for fitness tests. Subject to government and medical guidelines, these are likely to be scheduled in September. This may be after the date when competitions start the new season.
The Football Association reserves the right to call for a mid-season fitness test any match official who is repeatedly marked below the standard expected for Fitness, Workrate and Positioning within the Observer Schemes as a Level 3 or 4.
Match Officials are also reminded that the new Observer scheme, which comes into use from the 2020/21 season, places far greater emphasis on Fitness, with the competency for Fitness, Workrate and Positioning weighted as the second highest marking competency, behind Decision Making Accuracy, Application of Law and Match Control.
For further information on the new Observer scheme, please visit the Level 3 or Level 4 Hive Learning community as appropriate.
Additionally, for the first time Level 3 and 4 Referees will be provided by The FA with a physical training plan designed and compiled by our Sports Scientist Callum Hutton from Loughborough University. This is a guide compiled by an accredited expert who is used as part of the extended PGMOL sports science team aimed to support and compliment the physical training that Referees will be undertaking at this level
The FA understands that this has been a difficult time for match officials and we would like to place on record our appreciation of your patience and understanding of the situation and we have endeavoured to give every opportunity to run fitness tests as normal. However, in order to make sure match officials, appointments officers, County FAs and The FA can prepare for the new season we have had to take the decisions as outlined.
If you have any questions regarding the above please email
FACompReferee@TheFA.com
On behalf of the FA can I wish you all the best for season 2020/21
Regards
Neale