The Ref Stop

CFA registration fees

It’s been a while coming as fees have generally been increasing. But 50% in one hit is a big jump. Some will baulk at it, some will happily pay it.

What I am more interested in is how the funds will be used. For the vast majority of referees, CPD isn’t currently available easily unless in promotion pathway or in specific targeted groups. But the email suggests will be more widely available and I’d like to see more about how that looks.
£10 extra per season is not a big jump. Even more so when you take into account that the registration fee has remained static for over 20 years. Using the Bank of England's inflation calculator, £20 in 2006 would be over £35 now.
 
The Ref Stop
£10 extra per season is not a big jump. Even more so when you take into account that the registration fee has remained static for over 20 years. Using the Bank of England's inflation calculator, £20 in 2006 would be over £35 now.
Exactly that, it is like football fans complaining about season ticket rises when they haven't risen for 10 years. Looking at the leagues I have officiated on referee fees have all gone up by more than 50% over the past 20 years. Once has gone up by very close to 100% in that time, so on that basis a registration fee of £40 wouldn't be inappropriate.

£30 is still considerably less than one match fee, so I'm struggling to see any issue. Bear in mind that observers have to be registered as a referee and £30 is more than they will be paid for a game.
 
Back to one of my questions:

Can you still referee and not register with a CFA?

What have you got to lose by not registering? I get calls every week asking if i can ref.
 
Back to one of my questions:

Can you still referee and not register with a CFA?

What have you got to lose by not registering? I get calls every week asking if i can ref.
The standard code of rules references 'registered referees' being appointed so if you are not registered you cannot be appointed, and only appointed officials are entitled to fees.
 
The standard code of rules references 'registered referees' being appointed so if you are not registered you cannot be appointed, and only appointed officials are entitled to fees.
I'm confused as i know many people "ref" some of the youth league games who are not qualified referees.

Do they ref for free?
 
I'm confused as i know many people "ref" some of the youth league games who are not qualified referees.

Do they ref for free?
Any fees they receive could not be enforced by the competition. If there was an agreement to pay a fee, in the event of non-payment the only recourse would be a court claim. Also the opposing team does not have to accept that individual to referee. The two clubs have to agree on someone but it doesn't have to be that person. The competition could technically appoint a ref at any time up to kick off and the 'agreed' ref would have to make way.
 
Last edited:
Back to one of my questions:

Can you still referee and not register with a CFA?

What have you got to lose by not registering? I get calls every week asking if i can ref.
You would be an unregistered Referee, not covered by the CFA insurance policies and affiliated leagues require registered Referees. If you go down the unregistered route you are likely to be asked to do unaffiliated/unregistered clubs and the challenges that brings with misconduct etc.
 
Whilst clubs in most leagues are allowed to use a non-registered referee if there is not a registered referee available, they are not allowed to appoint non-registered officials in advance.
As DavidObs has mentioned, there is no insurance cover for any non-registered referees.
The inability to report discipline is a further issue.
A minefield!
 
£10 extra per season is not a big jump. Even more so when you take into account that the registration fee has remained static for over 20 years. Using the Bank of England's inflation calculator, £20 in 2006 would be over £35 now.
That BOE calculator says our ref fees should be over £45 a game now but they are not. Plus that does not factor in the loss of petrol money.

I'm not overly impressed with the CFAs.

The CFA bias is now with clubs / players, not referees. This has been the case for over 10 years.

I get more contact and information from my secondary CFA than my parent one.
 
Just on this one, County FAs do administer discipline reports from unregistered refs but reports have to be emailed in as they can't use Referee Portal.
Something else I just thought of is loss of Level if you stay unregistered for too long.
Presumably, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but surely this process can only be in place for those clubs that are registered but have an unregistered Referee because unable to get hold of a Registered Referee? I would be very surprised if the CFA deal with email reports from unregistered Referees involving unregistered clubs?
 
That BOE calculator says our ref fees should be over £45 a game now but they are not. Plus that does not factor in the loss of petrol money.

I'm not overly impressed with the CFAs.

The CFA bias is now with clubs / players, not referees. This has been the case for over 10 years.

I get more contact and information from my secondary CFA than my parent one.
Though that’s not a surprise with secondary CFA. I moved to my secondary CFA in 1992 & I haven’t ever received anything from my parent CFA since then & nor would I expect to. All registrations/DBS/Safeguarding etc are from secondary/current CFA.
 
That BOE calculator says our ref fees should be over £45 a game now but they are not. Plus that does not factor in the loss of petrol money.

I'm not overly impressed with the CFAs.

The CFA bias is now with clubs / players, not referees. This has been the case for over 10 years.

I get more contact and information from my secondary CFA than my parent one.
Absolutely fine that you're not overly impressed with your CFA / CFA's, but some CFA's are very good.
My CFA provide some excellent opportunities and are very well run.
 
Back
Top