RefeReeingJoint publication of fa learning and the referees associationVolume 15 JANuARY 2012

in THiS iSSUe

10 point plan to becoming a top assistant stuart attwell at the ueFa u19 Finals getting the best out oF club assistants

referees’ association

the

contributorsDavid elleray, mike mullarkey, Ian Blanchard, Dick Sawdon Smith, Stuart Attwell,Sean Dipple, Gavin Sartain, Colin Harris, Paul Saunders, Phil Heap, lucy may, Janie Frampton, Dean mohareb

editorial teamDavid elleray, Ian Blanchard, Peter Glynn, Neal Barry

designAndy Simmons

image recognitiongetty Images and Sports File

acknowledgementsThe contents of “Refereeing” are copyright of The Football Association. No articles, features or any aspects can be reproduced or photocopied without written permission of The Football Association.

The views of this journal are not necessarily those of The Football Association.

published by:FA learning, The Football Association, Wembley StadiumWembley, middlesex, HA9 0WS.

postal address:FA learning, The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, Po Box 1966, london, SW1P 9eQ.

Website:TheFA.com/Refereeing

email:FAlearning@TheFA.com ra@footballreferee.org

The FA Crest is a registered trademark of The Football Association. © The Football Association 2004

CoNTeNTS

referees’ association

the

1

Welcome David elleray 2

10-point plan to be a top assistant Mike Mullarkey 4

10-point plan - free-kicks near the penalty area ian Blanchard 6

Michael Oliver joins the fifA List David elleray 7

getting the best out of club assistants Dick Sawdon Smith 8

UefA U19 finals: Romania Stuart Attwell 12

futsal Referee Development Programme gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple 16

Leadership through football Janie frampton 19

Webb selected for the eURO 2012 finals David elleray 20

Refereeing Cerebral Palsy football ian Blanchard 22

One down, two to go Janie frampton 23

Women’s trio apear in the Western League Lucy May 24

Howard Webb enthralls in Sussex 25

The Online experience Dean Mohareb 26

Diary notes and news 28

4-510 PoINT PlAN To Be A

ToP ASSISTANT

12-15ueFA u19 FINAlS: RomANIA

8-11GeTTING THe BeST ouT oF CluB ASSISTANTS

Welcome May i start by wishing you all a

‘happy new Year’ and i hope that 2012 will be an enjoyable,

healthy and successful year for you and all those who are important to you.

This is our first e-magazine; budget constraints mean we can only afford two hard copies per season but we felt it was important to have a third and an electronic version was proposed, something which many of the more technologically advanced of you have been suggesting for quite some time! I hope you enjoy reading it.

The end of 2011 was darkened by the tragic death of Gary Speed. Around the same time, a top division referee in Germany and a second division assistant referee in Belgium both attempted to take their lives on the day of a match. Both were saved by the concern and quick thinking of their colleagues.

It is not for us to delve into or speculate about what drove these three men to contemplate, let alone enact, such a drastic step but it brought into focus the demands and pressures everyone faces these days, in football and in the wider world.

Such events remind us of the importance of ‘looking after and looking out for’ other people. At a national level, The FA and the RA are mindful of their role in supporting all those involved in the game in a variety of ways. often, this is by putting in place structures, schemes and regulations/protocols but these need to be enacted on a local and individual level.

When asked by people “What does the RA do that The FA can’t?” one of the clearest answers is that it provides, at a local level, friendship, comradeship and support. This is especially important when times are tough. Through your local RA society or branch you will get to know people who have probably experienced every unpleasantness and challenge that you will face and they will be able to support and advise you. They uNDeRSTAND and they are there to HelP.

However, this support system must work two ways. We know that people are not very good at asking for help or support. It is therefore incumbent upon us all to have our eyes and ears a little more open and if we hear or even suspect that someone is having difficulties then we should see what can be done to help.

everyone rallies round in a crisis or a tragedy but it would be so much better if that energy could be used to prevent the crisis or the tragedy in the first place.

Please make it your (belated) New Year’s resolution to be more aware and more sensitive of others and where you know someone has had difficulties, offer to help.

Have a wonderful 2012 and please help make it a ‘caring’ year in the refereeing world.

david elleray chairman, fa referees’ committee president, referees’ association

Such events remind us of the importance of ‘looking after and looking out for’ other people

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introduction

Leeds United pay tribute to former Elland Road legend Gary Speed

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10 point planTO Be A TOP ASSiSTAnTBy mike mullarkey

Mike Mullarkey, assistant referee at euro 2008, the 2010 uefa champions’ league final and the fifa 2010 World cup final, suggests 10 ways in which an assistant referee at any level can achieve a high quality performance:

i don’t mean your on-field decisions, that is a given. But how honestly do you assess your own performance and how honestly do you discuss your game with your assessor, referee and mentor? Do you ask yourself ‘What do i need to do to be better?’. Do you own up to mistakes you have made, or try to cover them up?

1.honesty

Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve your dreams and goals? Will you give up friday night with your friends to prepare properly? Will you dedicate yourself to have a good diet and to train regularly, not just when the weather is favourable or your fitness test is due?

2.dedication

gone are the days when 30 minutes steady jogging is suitable training. ensure you tailor your training to the demands of the job. You need to include speed work, sideways movement etc into your training to replicate match situations.

3.fitness

Your role as an assistant is like that of a goalkeeper. You may have spells when you are not directly involved in the game but, when needed, you may well be making a decision where a goal is the outcome. Being fully focused and ready is, therefore, vital. Develop techniques to keep focus. This may be breaking the game up into 10 minute blocks, constantly talking to yourself, reminding yourself which players are on yellow cards etc.

4.concentration

Remember, as an assistant, you are there to support and aid the referee, not to try and run the show. Be clear about your duties within the Laws of the game and be certain you fully understand what the referee is asking of you in each particular match. ensure you understand what areas of the field of play the referee is expecting your involvement. Your role is to support the referee in getting as many decisions correct as possible.

5.teamwork

The way in which you move along the touchline and the way you deliver your signals go a long way to selling the decisions you make and the confidence that the referee, players, officials and spectators will have in your ability. Practice your technique in front of the mirror and don’t dismiss feedback on technique as petty or of little value.

6.technique

ensure your preparation leaves nothing to chance. Have you packed your kit in good time? Have you double-checked that you have everything? Are you clear of where you are meeting the other officials, and at what time? Have you considered any travel difficulties and allowed time to overcome them? Have you researched the teams involved and the potential styles of play, which may influence your game, such as offside decisions, corner kick routines etc?

7.Match preparation

Probably the main area where an assistant’s performance is judged. ensure you always remain level with the second rearmost defender, utilising sideways movement wherever possible. fairly obvious, but lose position for a second and you will be unable to accurately judge the offside. ensure you are fully conversant with the requirements for an offence, rather than just an offside position. Attend training sessions to practice offside situations with video playback. Remember that the benefit of doubt should be given to the attacker.

8.offside

Any top sportsperson will tell you that they perform at their best when they are fully confident in what they are doing. The same applies to us and whilst a few butterflies are fine, you should enter the field of play believing you fully deserve to be on this match. The appointment officer has given you that game because you merit it, so walk tall and keep that in mind. Appearing confident, even if you don’t feel it, is vital. Think about your body language and how you can look calm and confident, even when making big, potentially difficult decisions. Controlling your breathing is a good way of remaining calm and composed. A word of caution though, please ensure that confidence is never mistaken as arrogance.

9.confidence

The person who thinks they can reach the top on their own is sadly destined to fail. There will always be support available and the skill sometimes is to recognise that you need some help or support and to ask for it. Look at how your colleagues perform. What can you learn from the things they do well? The Referees’ Association, The football Association, your family and friends are all there for you. Use them, but also remember that there will be times when you need to support others.

10.support/constant learning

How honestly do you assess your own performance and how honestly do you discuss your game with your assessor, referee and mentor?

Mike MullarkeyFIFA and Select Group Assistant Referee

Assistant Referee 2010 UEFA Champions’ League Final and 2010 FIFA World Cup Final

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refereeing at the fa

aattacking free-kicks near to the penalty area can pose great problems for referees with the

potential for much disagreement, unsporting behaviour and unhappiness. they should be an exciting part of football and they require the referees to be confident, efficient and decisive.

ian blanchard suggests a simple 10 point plan to gaining success in this crucial area of the field.

1. identify the offence and make sure of its location

2. indicate the type of offence with a good whistle blast and the correct arm signal

3. Move in take control and remain calm and confident

4. consider is this a direct or indirect free kick 5. position the ball correctly and clearly

6. communicate to the taker that the free kick is to be taken on the whistle .

7. ensure opponents are 9.15 metres from the ball

8. remind defending players not to encroach before the ball is kicked

9. position yourself before restarting play with the whistle

10. concentrate and observe the outcome

10 PoINT PlAN - FRee KICKS NeAR THe PeNAlTY AReA

Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game Referee manager

Michael oliver JOinS THe fifA RefeReeS LiST

Men’s fifa referees

martin AtkinsonStuart Attwell mark Clattenburgmike DeanAndre marrinerMichael oliver - newlee Probert Howard Webb

Men’s fifa assistant referees list - no changes

Simon Beck Stuart Burt Darren CannStephen Child Jake Collin Peter KirkupSimon long mike mullarkeyDave RichardsonAdam Watts

Women’s fifa referees list

Amy Fearn (nee Rayner)sarah garratt - newSasa Ihringova

Women’s fifa assistant referees list -

Natalie Aspinall (nee Walker)Sian masseylisa RashidJane sims - new

Men’s fifa futsal referees list - no changes

marc BirkettGavin Sartain

David elleray, Chairman, FA Referees’ Committee

fifa have confirmed the lists of fifa referees and assistants for 2012.

newly appointed to the male fifA referee list is Michael Oliver, increasing england’s representation to 8. On the women’s fifA referees’ list Sarah garrett has replaced Helen fulcher whilst Jane Sims has replaced emma Hock on the fifA assistants’ list.

The full list of england’s fifA officials for 2012 is:

refereeing at the fa

Attacking free-kicks around the penalty area require

decisiveness from referees

Martin Atkinson Sarah Garratt

GeTTNG THe BeST ouT oF CluB ASSISTANTSDick Sawdon Smith

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referees are often said to be man-managers and there is no doubt that lessons from business can be useful

in refereeing, even when it comes to the everyday things we are faced with on park football, such as the use of club assistant referees.

Referees are often said to be man-managers and there is no doubt that lessons from business can be useful in refereeing, even when it comes to the everyday things we are faced with on park football, such as the use of club assistant referees. Some years ago I was the leadership tutor at the management centre of one of the country’s largest conglomerates. It wasn’t my job to instruct captains of industry how to run their companies; much more modestly I was responsible for instilling leadership techniques into first line supervisors, the sort of person who might be in charge of a crisp packing line. Through a series of exercises I got them to reveal what

gave them their greatest job satisfaction and made them work best. The reason was to show that if these influences motivated them, the same would almost certainly be true of those they had to lead. They always came up with the same stimulants: responsibility, recognition, appreciation and a clear indication of what was expected of them.

So what does this have to do with refereeing and in particular club assistants? The first thing you have to accept is that you have a team, even though you have to work with a couple of people you have probably never seen before and who may well not want to be there! However, you are the team leader, so you have got to begin building the team. Start by getting them together to give your instructions, somewhere away from the players and officials, possibly in the middle of the field of play. Greet them with enthusiasm. one other lesson from industry is that there is only one thing more contagious than enthusiasm – the lack of it.

What is your first requirement from assistant referees? I would suggest it is clear signals but don’t just tell them, show them. Take one of the flags and illustrate how you would like to see it waved and the signals you expect for throw-in, goal-kick and corner-kick. explain that if they flag at stomach height as many club assistants do, you won’t see it from the middle. Then explain that they have two main responsibilities. The first is the ball out of play. Show them what that means. Illustrate with the ball on the line, overhanging and out of play. Their next responsibility is offside. Now you are not going to teach them the offside law in two minutes so stick to two main

points. What matters is where the player is when the ball is played, not where the player is when they receive it and secondly, try to flag only if the player in an offside position actually plays the ball. Tell them that this is not always easy and if they are unsure, they should flag and you will decide whether the player is interfering. This means, of course, you will need to illustrate your signal if you are going to play on. I try to avoid the words ‘over rule you’. There is only one thing club assistants hate more than being overruled and that is being ignored. Tell them, that if they have flagged, and you haven’t blown or acknowledged them, then you haven’t seen their flag, so keep it up until you do.

The final instruction you have to impart is positioning. usually we entrust them with their own left-back, or ‘right-wings’ as we used to call it. Ask them to try and keep level with the last but one defender, remembering the last defender is usually the goalkeeper. I know they won’t all keep- up but at least they know where you expect them to be.

So you’ve given them responsibility, you’ve recognised them as part of your team and they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. What they need now is appreciation. A thumbs-up for a good flag during the match will go down well but always thank your assistants at the end of the game, even if they have been less than useful. If they have done a really good job for you, make sure that they know it with some well chosen words. I know that this is not going to turn your club assistants into Phil Sharps but I think you will be surprised how many will react favourably to your positive leadership and how much more you will get out of them.

“ i was told there would be bloodshed in the streets. ”

i think you will be surprised how many club assistants will react favourably to your positive leadership

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You are the team leader, so youhave got to begin building the team

Effective leadership: start by outlining your expectations to your assistants

Togetherness: greet your team with enthusiasm and you

will reap the rewards

July 2011 saw the city of bucharest host the annual uefa u19 final tournament. seven teams from

across europe joined the host nation of romania for a two week festival of football, which would ultimately see the spanish team add to their recent successes at senior and u21 level, with a thrilling 3-2 victory against the czech republic. as with the 2010 fifa World cup, it was an english referee, stuart attwell, who oversaw the final and he gives a unique perspective on the tournament.

It is a great accolade to be appointed to any international match, but to be involved with a final tournament is even more prestigious. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to get a call from The Football Association in mid-June to tell me that I had been selected as one of the six referees for the tournament. As is normal for this kind of appointment, all of the match officials were informed of the need to complete the FIFA fitness test before the start of July. Fortunately, Simon Breivik, the PGmol Head of Sport Science was on hand to devise a training plan which would enable me to prepare effectively for the test, and travel to the tournament in the best possible shape.

unlike the World Cup, officials are not selected in teams but work alongside colleagues from other nations. This can be challenging both on and off the field, as cultural differences, language barriers, and alternative refereeing philosophies have to be addressed to ensure a successful team performance. However, this is also an extremely positive part of the experience, and can enhance learning and development for all involved.

With the first match day scheduled for Wednesday 20th July, ueFA arranged for

the match officials to arrive in Bucharest on Sunday 17th. As is usual at this level, a fitness check was scheduled for the monday morning, under the supervision of the two sport scientists, who would remain with us for the duration of our stay. Thanks to the preparation work that I had done in the uK, I completed the test comfortably, performing well in the endurance and speed based activities. The profile of the matches necessitated this kind of assessment, and we were clear that anything less than 100% fitness would compromise our involvement in the tournament. This point was underlined later that day, when one of the match officials was forced to return home after suffering an injury during the session.

Whilst the importance of being physically ready cannot be underestimated, we also spent a lot of time working together on technical matters, to ensure a consistent application of the laws and competition rules. By following this process, ueFA were able to generate understanding between the match officials, and also highlight areas of importance, such as protecting the image of the game, simulation and holding in the penalty area. Following this meeting, the appointments for match day 1 were announced, and I was delighted to be refereeing the opening match - Spain v Belgium.

Given that this was the opening game, I was keen to get my tournament off to a good start, and wanted people to be talking about football, rather than refereeing decisions. Fortunately the game settled down quickly, with both teams looking to play football. I was aware from our pre-match briefings from David elleray, Jozef marko and Kyros Vassaras (all from the ueFA Referees Committee) that there were possible problems with electrical storms in the vicinity, but it didn’t appear as if they would cause any problems. After

Spain took a 12th minute lead, I spoke with the fourth official for an updated weather forecast, as the storm was moving closer. Such was the speed of the storm, it was just four minutes later that I took the decision to take the players off the field, as I had significant concerns for their safety. over the next hour, we continued to assess the weather conditions, before taking the step of abandoning the match – quite an unusual occurrence at this level. Following the game, it was clear that ueFA were happy with the way things had been managed, and both teams and the match officials returned to the stadium 24 hours later to complete the game. It went very well with no significant issues.

Following the re-arranged match, I was immediately appointed to referee a very competitive match between the hosts and Greece, which although challenging, went very well from my perspective. I was satisfied with my two performances in the group stage, and was optimistic about the chances of being retained for the knockout stages, a decision that was made following the final round of group matches, where I acted as fourth official to the Norwegian referee, Tom Harald Hagen.

Immediately after the final group matches, we were told which match officials would be staying for the semi-finals, and who would be returning home just 12 hours later. I was pleased to see my name on the ‘retained’ list, and after saying our goodbyes, I started to think ahead to the semi-finals, and how I might be involved. This became clearer the following day, when the appointments for the semi-finals were released. I was appointed as fourth official to the Kazakhstan referee for the Czech Republic v Serbia. Whilst I was keen to referee, I was also aware that the referee for the Final would likely be one of the semi-final fourth officials.

ueFA u19 FINAlS: RomANIA Stuart Attwell – FIFA Select Group referee

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Unlike the World Cup, officials are not selected in teams but work alongside colleagues from other nations

Stuart Attwell in action during the U19 UEFA Final

Copyright Sportsfile

Both semi-finals went well, and as we returned to the hotel after the game, we waited to hear who would be appointed to the Final match, which was to be contested between Spain and Czech Republic. After a short wait, with anticipation building, it was announced that I was to referee the game, assisted by Dmitriy mosyakin (Russia), and lars Hummelgaard (Denmark). The fourth official was to be Artyom Kuchin from Kazakhstan, the referee for my semi-final appointment that evening.

Naturally we were delighted with the news, and after saying our second set of goodbyes, we started to prepare for the final match, which was to be played at Chiajna Stadium in Bucharest. over the next two days we looked at DVD clips of both Spain and Czech Republic, and reviewed key topics that the ueFA Referees’ Committee had highlighted before and during the tournament. This, together with our physical preparation was extremely important, and was to ensure that our performance was as good as it could be.

The match itself was a dream to referee, with both teams showing a high level of respect to each other and the match officials. When speaking to ueFA.com the day before the game, I had stressed that we wanted the players to be the centre of attention, and this was indeed the case. In an entertaining game, Spain overcame their Czech opposition 3-2, with a goal at the very end of extra time. We were delighted with the way that the game had gone, and that the only talking points were the five fantastic goals.

This was a superb finale to a tremendous 17 days, and one of many great experiences that I had whilst in Romania. As a team, we worked hard, and were able to ensure that the whole tournament was remembered for the right reasons.

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i had stressed that we wanted the players to be the centre of attention, and this was indeed the case

Stuart Attwell and team ahead of the UEFA U19 Final between Spain and the Czech Republic

Copyright Sportsfile

in august 2011, the fa selected sean dipple (fa futsal talent group coordinator/uefa futsal delegate)

and gavin sartain (fifa futsal referee) to go to Japan with the fa/Japanese fa partnership, as part of a futsal referee development programme. the relationship between both national associations is excellent with howard Webb and his World cup team - including his Japanese World cup final colleagues, lee probert and bob Madley - officiating there during the summer and Japanese officials coming to england in the autumn. here is their version of an extraordinarily valuable trip.

“In late September, we flew to Tokyo and met the key figures at the Japan Football Association HQ - JFA House. Keith Hill, who is on a two year FA secondment as a Referee Instructor with the JFA and Yashiro ‘Zak’ matsuzaki – FIFA Futsal Instructor and JFA Board member, plus many other experienced and former FIFA referees who are based and work from JFA house, greeted the english team and welcomed them to Japan.Futsal is professionally organised in Japan with a national league (F-league) comprising of ten teams (full-time and

semi-professional) in their Premier Division and an extensive regional set up around the country. Futsal is governed independently by the Japan Futsal Federation; however the JFA are responsible for refereeing appointments and in-service training for regional competitions and the elite Futsal Referees. There are over 21,100 registered Futsal referees and superb facilities. The meetings with Zak were most impressive and a great opportunity to absorb some of his Futsal refereeing experience and knowledge.

The second day was a regional Futsal tournament in Kofu which comprised representative teams selected by their prefectures (like english counties). The standard was very high and an excellent opportunity for Gavin to blend in with referees being assessed for promotion to the F-league Futsal national list. It was an opportunity to engage in the various styles of both referees and observers. Gavin refereed on the Friday and gave an impressive performance, to the commendation of Japanese officials.

Sean attended an Assessors Seminar for new observers at the second class level (first class is the Futsal Referees elite level) and was

asked to say a few words in Japanese! Gavin’s match was chosen for all observers to watch. The following day’s feedback demonstrated that they were very impressed with his performance, particularly his management and communication skills, especially as he was refereeing players of a different culture and language.

Sunday was Final day and Gavin refereed in a superb facility. Again, he produced a high quality performance with another top quality Japanese referee in a match of high skill levels, intensity and speed, which is one of the key differences from english Futsal. Post- match comments were full of praise throughout - it was again mentioned how Gavin produced refereeing skills which were now a benchmark for their development, in particular player management.

Sean remarked at the time, “It has been an excellent learning environment and a totally worthwhile visit for both national associations. It was an honour to work with very experienced observers and Tutors from the JFA, FIFA and AFC, which clearly has helped me professionally. The legacy of this visit to Japan ensures that the Futsal Referee Development structure in england

FuTSAl ReFeRee DeVeloPmeNT PRoGRAmme - eXCHANGe WITH JAPAN Gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple

futsal Refereeing had developed his skills for 11-a-side football on decision-making, alertness/awareness and anticipation of play

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can improve even more and maintain a high standard and look forward to implementing some of the measures and knowledge. It clearly will benefit the development of Futsal Referees and the Futsal Referee Development Programme in england.”

The second week presented Japan’s elite Futsal league, The F-league, followed by two training matches and practical/fitness sessions. The training matches were of a high intensity and Zak matsuzaki provided valuable development points to Gavin to prepare him for the demands of their F-league. Sean and Gavin also had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon and evening in the company of Yuichi Nishimura, fourth official in the FIFA World Cup Final. It was pleasing to hear him assert that his Futsal Refereeing had developed his skills for 11-a-side football on decision-making, alertness/awareness and anticipation of play, due to the speed and intensity. We learned many aspects of refereeing from him in our long conversations, in particular his communication and management skills as a FIFA Referee on the international stage, plus a master class on the use of chopsticks!

The next day we went to osaka on the famous Shinkansen (Bullet Train) as Gavin was to officiate in two matches as third Referee and later, as Referee, which allowed him to work more closely with Zak and his team and move up to a different level with their FIFA officials and experienced referees. In Kobe, we watched Japan play Vietnam in the Kirin Cup. The stadium was full with a 30,000 capacity and a smaller version of Wembley. The support was fantastic and produced a great atmosphere which helped with the home nation taking the win.

The weekend proved to be an eye opener on how well the F-league was promoted

and supported in osaka. Teams usually play home/away matches but on occasion, meet at a central venue, which was this weekend. The games on the F-league were a great experience in so many ways: the teams are well supported and are filmed for a national highlights show. For Gavin, officiating on the matches gave him the opportunity to work with other FIFA referees and be a part of a unique trial of an official communication system. Still in its early trial stage by the manufacturer, this was a first in Futsal for Gavin and proved to be a very useful communication tool in the matches.

Refereeing the games proved to be physically challenging as the speed of the game was played at such a high intensity for the whole duration. The players’ fitness and skill levels where very high. Both matches went very well; Gavin was observed by Zak, Sean and two of the AFC’s top observers from Australia and malaysia, who had come to watch one of the Japanese referees in a final assessment for the AFC elite futsal referee list.

After the games, we attended a seminar on tactics at set-plays by the Japanese Futsal team Head Coach miguel Rodrigo. He explained how players are coached to manipulate and manage their space on the field by use of their bodies and arms and how the game is managed by referees in Spain and Brazil. miguel was sharing the information to make the referees more aware and help improve the standard of refereeing as the league is gaining in strength and attracting top players from all over the world.

The next day we attended the National Futsal Referees meeting where physical, theory and analysis sessions were delivered. The topics came from the previous month’s issues on the F-league.

The trip was extremely hard work but vastly rewarding. We undoubtedly left Japan with

more knowledge and experience, pleased that we had been able to contribute to strengthening the development of refereeing in Japan and england.

Gavin, when asked what he had gained from his experiences in Japan, replied, “I have certainly come away a better referee as a result of the visit to Japan. I was able to focus on refereeing for those two weeks and worked hard on the feedback, knowledge and advice to take into the next game from some of the key figures involved at the JFA and FIFA. The advice was invaluable and having the opportunity to referee with some of the elite officials was fantastic.

The JFA staff were absolutely wonderful and words cannot express how grateful we are for their efficiency, planning and courtesy with the visit to their wonderful country. Keith Hill was excellent in the details/liaison of the exchange and accompanying us to Kofu. He was without question a fine ambassador for the english FA in Japan.

The two weeks in Japan were very beneficial and we learned and shared many experiences from veteran personnel. We would also like to sincerely thank The FA, particularly David elleray, Ian Blanchard, Roger Vaughan and laura Woolcock for offering us the opportunity to represent english refereeing and to experience Futsal in another continent.”

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The games on the f-League were a great experience: the teams are well supported and are filmed for a national highlights show

leadership THRouGH FooTBAll an exciting opportunity for young officials and referee development officers

Janie Frampton, FA National manager – education and Training

alittle while ago we introduced the leadership through football (ltf) – unit 2, which is designed for 14

to 19 year old candidates. the qualification consists of four modules of which refereeing is one. tutors have been trained from all sectors of football to deliver the full qualification and once they have completed the initial training they will be qualified to deliver the mini-whistlers programme which is embedded in the qualification as a ‘taster’ to refereeing.

earlier this year RDos were invited to attend an induction day at Staverton Park hotel in order to deliver the unit as a ‘stand alone’ unit on the national qualification framework.

overall Aims of unit 2 (Refereeing) Stand Alone Course:

By the end of this unit, young people will have:

• Beenpreparedtorefereefootballactivitysessions and small-sided games for young people

• Refereedfootballactivitysessionsandsmall-sided games for young people

• Reviewedandreflectedontheirrefereeingduring football activity sessions and small-sided games for young people

The development outcomes are: Independent enquirers (Ie); team workers (TW); self managers (Sm); creative thinkers (CT); effective participators (eP). once each session is finalised, outcomes will be referenced and form part of the student workbook reflection activities and self-analysis.

Delivery methods:

• Thisunithasbeenbrokendowninto12x1hour sessions.

• However,otherformatsofdeliveryarepossible e.g. institutions may choose to deliver in blocks of 2-3 hours.

resources:

• TutorPowerPointpresentationandsupporting notes

• ‘Yoursport’toolkitfordeliveringintra-school and college competition (YST / Pe and Sport for Young People)

• FAresourcesprovided• TutorDVD

Through the National Game, a ‘Children and Young People’ offer has been produced in order to obtain clarity on what each sector of the business has in place to meet the needs of our children and young people through schools, colleges and universities.

In refereeing we are aware that the RDos have been put under pressure to deliver full basic referee courses in schools since the introduction of the new criteria for GCSe/Pe which outlines the need to learn the laws of sport and to apply them actively. We know

from experience that this puts pressure on the RDos but there is a very low rate of retention. The lTF unit 2 is designed to tackle these issues and can be delivered as a standalone unit not on the framework and comprises of the following:

• Abasicknowledgeofaminimumof9Laws• Knowledgeandpracticalapplicationof

mini-whistlers• Knowledgeofsmall-sidedfootball

and Futsal• Understandingofdisabilityfootball• Applyknowledgethroughsmall-sided

games

We believe this unit will meet the needs of students as well as alleviate the pressure on RDos to deliver a full basic referee training course with poor retention figures.

once students undertake this unit there may be many who would like to take up refereeing and wish to upskill to the full basic referee training course.

Please look at it seriously and contact me for any further information.

We believe this unit will meet the needs of students as well as alleviate the pressure on RDOs

refereeing at the fa

Gavin Sartain and Sean Dipple with FIFA World Cup Final Fourth official, Yuichi Nishimura

the uefa referees’ committee announced on december 20th the 12 referees who will control the

matches in the 2012 euro finals in poland and the ukraine.

We send our congratulations to Howard Webb who was selected as one of the 12 referees. He will be accompanied by 2 english Assistant Referees and 2 english Additional Assistants.

Subject to approval by IFAB in march, should Howard become injured during a euRo finals game, one of the Additional Assistant Referees will take over as the

4th official will be non-english which could pose communication problems (using the microphones/headsets) should he take over.

let’s hope that if the england football team do not reach the euro 2012 Final then Howard and his colleagues can emulate his previous achievement in being appointed to the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.

Congratulations also to marc Birkett who was selected as one of the referees for the Futsal euRo Finals to be held in Croatia at the end of January.

Webb selected FoR THe euro 2012 finals in PolAND-uKRAINe David elleray, Chairman, FA Referees’ Committee

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Howard Webb, 2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee

Refereeing cerebral palsy football

the fa recently launched a programme to train match officials to officiate in cerebral

palsy football. the programme aims to identify and train a pool of 25 match officials, for whom involvement in the london paralympic games will become a real possibility. The programme certainly captured the imagination of the refereeing fraternity, as over 150 applications were received ranging from level 1 to level 7 officials; consequently, competition for places was extremely tough.

Applications were assessed against a person specification which included criteria relating to an individual’s experience of refereeing, experience and awareness of disability and disability football, communication and people management skills, fitness levels and a commitment to officiate within the FA National Cerebral Palsy Football league.

The programme commenced in November with a training seminar where officials learnt about the differences between CP and mainstream football. The highlight was undoubtedly an exhibition match between

the east and West midlands CP Centre of excellence squads, which brought to life the classroom-based learning.

Armed with a new found knowledge and passion for Cerebral Palsy football, the successful referees will now spend one Saturday a month travelling the country, officiating in the National Cerebral Palsy Football league which comprises 8 Regional Cerebral Palsy Centres of excellence, with separate sections for adult and u16 males.

2012 promises to be an exciting year for the newly formed National Pool of CP match officials. A number will be appointed to officiate in Great Britain warm-up international fixtures, whilst it is likely that CP football will be included in the Paralympic World Cup in may, which will give further opportunities for international appointments.

The Paralympic Games in london commence on 28th August 2012. They represent a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity for our country, our athletes and now, our referees. eleven of the National Pool will be selected to officiate in the Paralympic Games, the world’s second largest sporting event.

Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game manager

referee county Fa

David Davies StaffordshireAndy maperson StaffordshireJohn Taylor Staffordshiremarc Birkett DerbyshireDavid Keenan manchesterGarry Polkey CheshireScott Henry CumberlandStuart Campbell North RidingBarry Polkey NottinghamshireGareth etchells CheshireAlex Kirkley manchesterJayne Hart West RidingJohn Hill liverpoolIan Clarke liverpoolAdam maperson StaffordshireTerry Jeyes NorthamptonshireTom Nield NorfolkHayley Ives BedfordshireChris Henry londonKevin Wright HuntingdonshireAllen lewis DevonJames Taylor Devonmichael Hall SomersetKeith Stroud HampshireRichard Airey Kent

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refereeing at the fa

oNe DoWN TWo To Go

• Sunday12thFebruary2012–DeVereHotel,Cheadle,Cheshire10.30to4pm

• Thursday13thMarch2012–NottinghamForestFC6.30to9.30pm

Female Referee Development events, Janie Frampton

for those of you who missed the first event in november you missed a real treat. Women’s 2011 fifa World cup

referee, bibiana steinhaus (germany), was the guest speaker and what a fantastic role model and inspirational figure she was.

Anyway, let’s look at the future and tell you about the two remaining events we have planned.

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to attend one of the above events designed to focus on the development of female referees at all levels. Building on the success of previous events – which received fantastic feedback - make sure you don’t miss out this year. Sign up NoW for one of the events.

Whilst we are extremely proud that the number of female match officials operating at the higher levels is improving, there are many more who have shown potential and we would like to encourage them to take that next step, along with offering further opportunities to develop those already at the higher levels.

These development events have been designed to look at areas which will help you improve your performance; whichever level you operate at and whatever your ambitions. Topics will include management and communication coupled with highlighting the benefits and opportunities available for female match officials in both the male and female game, and the development pathway to FIFA.

The programme has been designed to maximise your learning experience and we will utilise some of our top female referees, FA Ambassadors and the FA National Referee managers.

We hope the events will encourage networking amongst our females which will help, guide and support you as you strive to achieve the next level. You will discover that you aren’t alone, we all have the same experiences and knowing there is someone to share them with who understands is a vital part of the support mechanism needed to keep you motivated and in the game.

There is an expectation that you will attend one of these events as part of your continued development and commitment, and we hope the events will further enhance the enthusiasm towards refereeing that you have shown to date.

We are extremely proud that the number of female match officials operating at the higher levels is improving

Congratulations to the following officials who have been selected for the programme:

Referees at the CP League Southern Conference

for the second year in succession, the annual sussex ra-fa development event, held in hove, recorded its

largest ever audience with 330 referees and guests in attendance.

The reason behind the record breaking attendance was the presence of guest speaker, 2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee, Howard Webb mBe. Howard provided a thoroughly gripping tale of his international career to date, focussing on his experiences at last year’s World Cup Finals in South Africa.

He began describing his World Cup journey with group matches between Spain and Switzerland, and Italy versus Slovakia. Both games were thankfully lacking in any real controversy, something that was proving to be somewhat of a downfall of many of his international counterparts.

After easing into the World Cup with games between european sides, Howard found his next appointment in the round of 16 provided a somewhat unfamiliar challenge. A match contested by Brazil and Chile was expected to provide plenty of South American flair and he sought guidance from 2006 FIFA World Cup Final referee, Horacio elizondo from Argentina, in hope of gaining a better understanding of the South American style of football. The advice proved invaluable to him during the game. Further advice in his use of yellow cards came to the fore in the Final.

Howard’s speech culminated in a blow-by-blow account of ‘that night’ in Soccer City, Johannesburg, in a hotly contested World Cup Final between the Netherlands and bookies favourite and 2008 european Champions, Spain. Howard commented that without the excellent performances of his two assistant referees, mike mullarkey and Darren Cann, throughout the tournament, he would never have made the Final. Speaking frankly, he discussed his feelings during the match, in which he showed a record-breaking 14 cards, including a much-debated yellow

card for Nigel de Jong, during what turned out to be arguably the most hostile World Cup Final in history.

The presentation concluded with a number of questions on all things football, before Howard went on to urge all referees to become members of their Referees’ Association through their local Society. The traditional charity raffle took place after the speech, raising £500 for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, with prizes being donated by the Sussex County Referees’ Association, its nine member Societies, the Sussex County FA and Howard himself.

Throughout the evening and after the event Howard spent hours willingly signing autographs and posing for photographs, giving each person a piece of his valuable time to take away and treasure.

as i read the appointments list, to check which games i had in november, something struck me:

i was down to referee a Wessex premier division fixture between totton & eling and lymington town. then i saw that my assistants were Miss p Wyatt and Miss a robinson. We were going to be an all-female team and the penny dropped – i knew this was a big occasion.

minutes later, my phone rang. It was Paula Wyatt. As soon as I hung up, it rang again –it was Amy Robinson. Both shared the excitement that we would be officiating together. We’d worked together before, but not as a team. And not only was this the first time we would officiate together, but this would be the first time any all-female team would officiate in the league’s history at a Premier Division match. Coincidentally, the first time the league had appointed an all-female official team to any fixture was three years ago, between Blackfield and langley, when I was also in the middle.

The build up to the game became intense due to the media interest. To us, we were just three officials preparing to do our job, but to the media, this was newsworthy. Before the game, a local newspaper covered the story, which led to additional press attention on the day. We agreed not to talk to journalists at the game until after the final whistle, so we could focus on getting ready for the game.

We got to the ground two hours before kick-off, thinking we’d get there before any media arrived, only to be greeted by a TV camera crew and reporters already waiting for us. In that moment, despite the fact we had been determined to think of this as just another game, we realised that the pressure really was on us to perform. This wasn’t about personal glory, but doing a great job to build on the positive reputation of female referees and we were determined not to let anyone down. Any mistake on any week is hard to bear – but making a mistake in front of the media could have been disastrous.

Pre-match was a bit of a blur, but we were delighted to receive so many supportive comments from officers, managers and clubs from our league as well as fellow officials, friends and family. We wondered whether preparing the teams would be different, given all the fuss, but it wasn’t: the players didn’t react or play up to the media at all and they treated us the same as they would any other week, which gave us an even greater respect for them.

The game itself was like any other game. Four goals and four cautions; it ended with a 3-1 win for Totton & eling, two satisfied teams and with no controversy. The players shook our hands, the managers congratulated us and we looked at one another with huge relief.

Now it was time to share our experience with the waiting media, who were all supportive and positive – both in their questions on the day and in their subsequent reporting of the event, as were the quotes from the club’s managers.

The fuss has died down, the news is old and another “first” for female officials has passed.

one day, female referees won’t even raise an eyebrow, never mind mobilise a TV camera crew. For now, though, we were all honoured to be part of an historical moment, to have been able to do our jobs well and to have added to the reputation of female officials, and we look forward to the opportunity to get together as a team again soon.

WomeN’S TRIo APPeAR IN THe WeSTeRN leAGue lucy may

We were going to be an all-female team – i knew this was a big occasion

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howard Webb enthrals a large crowd in Sussex

Howard’s speech culminated in a blow-by-blow account of ‘that night’ in Soccer City, Johannesburg, in a hotly contested World Cup final

feature

Referee, Lucy May (Centre), with her team

Howard Webb describes his World Cup journey

for the second year in succession, the annual sussex ra-fa development event, held in hove, recorded its

largest ever audience with 330 referees and guests in attendance.

The reason behind the record breaking attendance was the presence of guest speaker, 2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee, Howard Webb mBe. Howard provided a thoroughly gripping tale of his international career to date, focussing on his experiences at last year’s World Cup Finals in South Africa.

He began describing his World Cup journey with group matches between Spain and Switzerland, and Italy versus Slovakia. Both games were thankfully lacking in any real controversy, something that was proving to be somewhat of a downfall of many of his international counterparts.

After easing into the World Cup with games between european sides, Howard found his next appointment in the round of 16 provided a somewhat unfamiliar challenge. A match contested by Brazil and Chile was expected to provide plenty of South American flair and he sought guidance from 2006 FIFA World Cup Final referee, Horacio elizondo from Argentina, in hope of gaining a better understanding of the South American style of football. The advice proved invaluable to him during the game. Further advice in his use of yellow cards came to the fore in the Final.

Howard’s speech culminated in a blow-by-blow account of ‘that night’ in Soccer City, Johannesburg, in a hotly contested World Cup Final between the Netherlands and bookies favourite and 2008 european Champions, Spain. Howard commented that without the excellent performances of his two assistant referees, mike mullarkey and Darren Cann, throughout the tournament, he would never have made the Final. Speaking frankly, he discussed his feelings during the match, in which he showed a record-breaking 14 cards, including a much-debated yellow

card for Nigel de Jong, during what turned out to be arguably the most hostile World Cup Final in history.

The presentation concluded with a number of questions on all things football, before Howard went on to urge all referees to become members of their Referees’ Association through their local Society. The

traditional charity raffle took place after the speech, raising £500 for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, with prizes being

donated by the Sussex County Referees’ Association, its nine member Societies, the Sussex County FA and Howard himself.

Throughout the evening and after the

for too many years now, referees have had to register using a paper form and cheque book, which leads

to many people forgetting, misplacing or being unable to re-register in time for the new playing season.

At the beginning of 2011, The FA launched online Referee Registration, a service which County Football Associations can use to register their match officials. As of 1st January 2012, nearly 8000 referees have used the online service and the results have been impressive. As with any new IT system, although there was some initial resistance, a few IT bugs and an unfamiliarity about the process, it has now been embraced and is working smoothly, ensuring a paperless and easy way to keep your referee registration up to date.

THe online eXPeRIeNCeDean mohareb, National Referee manager

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As of 1st January 2012, nearly 8000 referees have used the online service and the results have been impressive

• LogintoMemberServicesviayour Parent County FA website

• OnceloggedinclickonRegister for new season under the alerts section – this then prompts an easy 6 step process to re-registration

1. step 1

Referee can update personal details and review guidance notes

2. step 2

Referee can update his or her availability for the new season

3. step 3

Referee selects the type of football they wish to officiate in for the new season

4. step 4

Referee inputs the details of the leagues they will be officiating on

5. step 5Referee can select and purchase any products the County FA wish to offer for sale

6. step 6 Payment of registration fee with a valid debit or credit card and receive your FA registration number automatically

If you have not already re-registered for next season, please log-on to your County FA website and re-register through member Services at your earliest convenience.

if you have not already re-registered for next season, please log-on to your county fa website and re-register through Member services at your earliest convenience.

here is a simple guide to online referee registration:

diary notes and news

eve of final rallyfriday 4 May, prestigious new Venue - one great george street, sw1.(Between St. James’s Park and Parliament Square.)

ra conferencesaturday 14 July, barceló hinckley island hotel, leicestershire

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This is an excellent opportunity to come and meet the Cup final Officials and hear from a special guest speaker (to be announced soon).

This is a Bank Holiday weekend with a full programme of Premier league and Football league matches. So even if you cannot get a ticket for the big match at Wembley, why not spend the weekend in london? Take in the Rally, a football match and a West end show.

theMe: WorKing togetherThis event has become bigger and more successful every year, something that no Referee Academy should miss getting their RA full members to attend.

The Conference is part of a great development and social weekend for everyone and includes the RA AGm, FA Forum, Dinner/Dance, Award presentations and the National Quiz Final.

look out for more information about these events in the February issue of the RA Digest and on the website www.footballreferee.org

ra-fa liaison committee chairman

David ellerayChairman - FA Referees’ CommitteePresident, The Referees’ Association the fa referees’ committee

David Horlick the fa refereeing department

Neale Barry FA Head of Senior Referee DevelopmentIan Blanchard FA Senior National Game Referee managerJanie Frampton FA National Referee manager – education & TrainingDean mohareb FA National Referee manager – Workforce DevelopmentRoger Vaughan FA National Referee manager – Recruitment, Retention & Development

the referees’ association

Colin Harris RA Acting Chairman Nigel Genner RA external Affairs CommitteeBart o’Toole RA external Affairs CommitteeArthur Smith RA General Secretary; (also on the FA Referees’ Committee)

the referees’ association - chairman

pink Whistle

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Alan explained that he was standing down “for personal reasons and in an effort to change my lifestyle.”

He added, “To say that i have enjoyed my time on the Board would be an understatement. i have been very lucky to have worked with many good people and met many more.”

On behalf of all RA members, i would like to thank Alan for his exceptional contribution to The Referees’ Association during a period of

significant development which has seen the RA become more modern and outward looking; it has also been a time of increasing benefits to us all. The fact that relations between the RA and The fA are better than ever before is in no small measure due to Alan’s personal and professional qualities and input.

The Board agreed that Vice-Chairman, Colin Harris, will be Acting Chairman until the AgM on 13 July 2012, following which the Board will conduct its annual election of Officers.

The RA Board, at its meeting on Sunday 20 november 2011, accepted with great regret the resignation of Alan Poulain as Chairman and as a member of the RA Board.

Pink Whistle is a facebook group designed solely for female referees by the fA female referee Ambassadors.The page was created to act as a support mechanism for female officials of all levels and experience as well as giving them the opportunity to discuss experiences, ask for advice and share our success.

If you are a member of Facebook why not search and join the group ‘pink Whistle’.

FA learning The Football Association Wembley Stadium Wembley middlesex HA9 0WS

postal address FA learning The Football Association Wembley Stadium Po Box 1966 london SW1P 9eQ

T: 0844 980 8200F: 0844 980 8201e: info@TheFA.com

TheFA.com/FAlearning FA learning Hotline: 0870 8500424

The Referees’ Associationunit 12 ensign Business Centre Westwood Way Westwood Business ParkCoventry CV4 8JA

T: +44 (0)2476 420 360F: +44 (0)2476 601 556e: ra@footballreferee.org

www.footballreferee.org

referees’ association

the