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Referee levels

Liam Earley

New Member
Hi everyone,
Hope you’re all keeping well. I have been looking at my local County FA website and it says from that course I’ll progress onto either being a Level 8 referee or a Level 7 referee. Does anyone know what sort of games I will be refereeing once I reach either of those levels.
Take care
Liam
 
The Referee Store
Hi everyone,
Hope you’re all keeping well. I have been looking at my local County FA website and it says from that course I’ll progress onto either being a Level 8 referee or a Level 7 referee. Does anyone know what sort of games I will be refereeing once I reach either of those levels.
Take care
Liam
Level 8 is a referee under 16, who can referee youth football, mini soccer, etc.
Level 7 is for a referee aged 16 or older, able to Referee in local youth and adult football.
As a youth referee you would be dealing with players ar least a couple of years younger than the referee.
If 16+ you can officiate in adult football at "parks level" ("Grass roots football)
Enjoy the course when it does happen, and meanwhile learn the laws from the FA or County FA websites.
 
Level 8 is a referee under 16, who can referee youth football, mini soccer, etc.
Level 7 is for a referee aged 16 or older, able to Referee in local youth and adult football.
As a youth referee you would be dealing with players ar least a couple of years younger than the referee.
If 16+ you can officiate in adult football at "parks level" ("Grass roots football)
Enjoy the course when it does happen, and meanwhile learn the laws from the FA or County FA websites.
Thank you I turned 16 on Wednesday so going by what you have just said it looks like I’ll be a Level 7. On Thursday I completed the online referees course where it covered 5 modules on Before the match, Signals and communication, Getting it right, Offside, and the start and restart of play and every test that I did on that I got 100% first time I also have the LOTG app on my phone and I have read up to Law 10
 
Thank you I turned 16 on Wednesday so going by what you have just said it looks like I’ll be a Level 7. On Thursday I completed the online referees course where it covered 5 modules on Before the match, Signals and communication, Getting it right, Offside, and the start and restart of play and every test that I did on that I got 100% first time I also have the LOTG app on my phone and I have read up to Law 10
Well done! Laws 11 to 14 are very important, so study them carefully.
 
Remember also Liam that even with you going straight to Level 7, it'll still be up to you what age group you want to start off at.
Everybody is different, and at 16 years old, you've time on your side.
Maybe start off with a few U14/15 games to get yourself really going. You'll be operating more within your comfort zone and will learn a bit of craft before you step up to open-age football and snarling grizzled old 30/40 somethings. 😉😁
 
Everybody is different, and at 16 years old, you've time on your side.
Maybe start off with a few U14/15 games to get yourself really going. You'll be operating more within your comfort zone and will learn a bit of craft before you step up to open-age football and snarling grizzled old 30/40 somethings. 😉😁

Wise words. I started at 28, and started with u16/15, and did adult lines.

I feel it was a good thing not jumping straight into adult middles.
 
Remember also Liam that even with you going straight to Level 7, it'll still be up to you what age group you want to start off at.
Everybody is different, and at 16 years old, you've time on your side.
Maybe start off with a few U14/15 games to get yourself really going. You'll be operating more within your comfort zone and will learn a bit of craft before you step up to open-age football and snarling grizzled old 30/40 somethings. 😉😁
I never knew that I could choose which age group to start off with so that’s really helpful to know thanks. I also think it would be a good idea to start off with youth games because I don’t think I want to qualify as a referee and then the week after have an open age game and everything go completely wrong because I haven’t got my bearings. 👍😁
 
I never knew that I could choose which age group to start off with so that’s really helpful to know thanks. I also think it would be a good idea to start off with youth games because I don’t think I want to qualify as a referee and then the week after have an open age game and everything go completely wrong because I haven’t got my bearings. 👍😁
As part of the course you should be introduced to the local league appointment secretaries, and given contact details for all the local leagues, both youth and open age.
 
Thank you I turned 16 on Wednesday so going by what you have just said it looks like I’ll be a Level 7. On Thursday I completed the online referees course where it covered 5 modules on Before the match, Signals and communication, Getting it right, Offside, and the start and restart of play and every test that I did on that I got 100% first time I also have the LOTG app on my phone and I have read up to Law 10
A Word of advice from someone who’s had recent experience as a new ref if you are going to do OA early on you may need thick skin I’m a bit older but still found it tough going may be my area though.
 
I suggest not doing adult football in your first year at all. If you feel very confident go up to U18. But ask games as assistant referee for as high as you can get. You can learn a lot from experienced referees.

As mention read the laws to learn them. Do come here if you have any questions about them. A lot of helpful members here. And we may learn a thing or two from your questions as well. Good luck.
 
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I also agree that there is nothing wrong with a season of Juniour footy to cut your teeth before stepping up to OA.
That said other refs have gone straight in at OA and survived.
 
I went straight into OA football. I found it much easier than junior football and enjoyed it far more from the outset.
 
I have seen many young referee's that have fell out of love with the game because they have jumped too far too soon in the men's game.

I'm on my second spell as a Referee and the first time round I jumped at the chance to go men's football and it was a mistake because it's a huge difference from youth.

Since returning I started by lining on the local senior league of which allowed me to see how other officials work with players and I'm now Refereeing games at mens with enjoyment.

It may sound daft but learn to walk before you can run!
 
I did the course at 18, but only started refereeing 'properly' after turning 20, and went straight into doing u18s and adult football. The adults never really caused me any issues, I found the U18 games much harder to manage - after three months one U18 game where I lost all control made me email my RDO that evening to say I was quitting. Ended up just running the line at Step 7 for the rest of the season, and absolutely loved it! Like Jevon said, being able to see how other, more experienced referees dealt with players helped a lot, and being part of a team of three rather than out there all by yourself was a big comfort.
 
I agree with the 'walk before you run' advice in earlier posts. My advice for any young referee is to start at a level you feel comfortable with and work on from there. Being an assistant is often a good introduction but unless you really want to don't get stuck on the line forever - at some point you'll need make the step to the middle. I don't think you can say whether youth or OA age is harder - you can have rewarding games or nightmares at both levels.
 
Have a look at what step 7 leagues are around you. West London, stretching into Berkshire and Surrey, for example is more combined counties. They've just expanded and are in need of even more officials. Doing the line is a great experience for anyone and something I enjoyed massively. You get some good connections, some much more experienced officials to feed off and learn from and you may be lucky enough to have an observer present, who is mainly there for the referee if I'm not mistaken but also do reports on assistants too, so you get feedback from them too and listen to their feedback to referees means you too learn new things.

On top of that, I've met and became friends with so many other referees, many of them higher levels than me, and many I can pick their brains over for some trivial things. They too know of teams/games needing refs at short notice if you haven't got one and can recommend.

Sometimes I feel it isn't what you know, but more who you know, at the lower levels. I mean, progressing through the ranks you do need to know as well, but knowing certain people will give you a nice chance at promotion.
 
Welcome Liam :)

Regarding youth vs OA football: I did youth (U13-U18) in my first year. At the end of my first season I took three adult games "just to see" and found them much easier than youth games. I haven't done youth games since,

But I was 42 years old. I could have been reffing for 20 years for all they knew. It is truly an extraordinary 16 year old who can referee OA football and enjoy it.

I would suggest doing a load of U7-U11 games before you do anything else. The parents and coaches are a lot more indulgent of errors at that age and it gets you used to the odd heckle while building your confidence. Move up a year group every few weeks if you're happy. At that age you can often get 2 or 3 games in a morning session at the same venue.
 
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