RefeReeingJoint publication of fa learning and the referees associationVolume 16 APRIl 2012

in THiS iSSUe

final frontier refereeing the big gamesHoward Webb: The Road to eURO 201210 Point Plan to Referee Assessment

referees’ association

the

contributorsDavid elleray, mark Clattenburg, Howard Webb, Helen Byrne, Ian Blanchard, Neale Barry, Roger Vaughan, Declan Bourne,James Whittaker, mike Coen,Dean mohareb, Colin Harris

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

designAndy Simmons

image recognitionGetty Images

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

RefeReeingJoint publication of fa learning and the referees associationVolume 16 mAY 2012

in THiS iSSUe

final frontier refereeing the big gamesHoward Webb: The Road to eURO 201210 Point Plan to Referee Assessment

referees’ association

the

referees’ association

the

1

introduction David elleray 2

Carling Cup final Mark Clattenburg 4

The Road to eURO 2012 Howard Webb 8

Pre-match instructions Helen Byrne 12

Rob Clare: ex-professional becomes referee ian Blanchard 14

Law changes for 2012-13 neale Barry 16

10 point plan to referee assessment Roger Vaughan 18

independent Schools fA: england v Australia U18 Declan Bourne & James Whittaker 20

Kevin friend: getting the big decisions right Mike Coen 22

Women Referees - changes David elleray 26

Social networking websites neale Barry 30

Wearing spectacles – a reminder 31

The Online experience Dean Mohareb 32

Join the Referees’ Association 34

RA eve-of-final Rally 35

RA Conference 2012 Colin Harris 36

4-7CARlING CuP FINAl

22-25GeTTING THe BIG DeCISIoNS RIGHT

8-11THe RoAD ToeuRo 2012

Welcome april and May are exciting times

for football as so many issues are resolved and the hopes and dreams

of players, spectators and referees are either realised or dashed.

We all know that the coming weeks will be very significant and these are times when decisions and match control of referees and assistants will be under great scrutiny regardless of whether they are Howard Webb and his team in the euRo Finals or the hundreds of referees and assistants taking control of finals and key league matches from the grassroots through to The FA Cup Final.

In this edition we hope to give you a flavour (and some advice) for those of you involved in Cup finals with accounts from contrasting finals: a County FA Final and the Carling Cup Final. At the international level we also contrast and compare the thoughts of a team of young officials taking control of an u18 schools international with Howard Webb’s thoughts and preparations for the euRo Finals.

There has been a lot of attention on footballers in recent weeks and I am sure everyone in the refereeing family joins me in wishing Fabrice muamba a full and speedy recovery. Talking of professional footballers, we hope you will be interested in an account of a former england u20 and u21 player who has successfully taken up refereeing.

As you may already be aware, there have been some important changes to the laws of the Game which come into effect on the

1st June (in time for the euRo Finals). Neale Barry outlines the key changes, along with an announcement about a change in the level 4 fitness test and a sobering reminder of how misuse of social networks can damage a referee’s career.

As the season ends, The Referees’ Association has its key events:

• theEveoftheCupFinalRally(wheretheGuest Speaker will be the former executive Director of The FA, David Davies) and

• theAnnualConferencewherethepresenters will include the english euRo referee team: Howard Webb, martin Atkinson, mike mullarkey, mark Clattenburg and Peter Kirkup, along with a number of our top men and women officials: Chris Foy, michael oliver, Sian massey and Sarah Garrett.

If you have not been to either event before then please come this year – you will have a great time and learn a great deal.

on behalf of The FA and the RA, I wish you all an enjoyable end to the season and some exciting football watching with the euRo Finals, where we hope either the england football team or the england referee team will reach the final, and a restful close season.

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

may is an exciting time for football as many issues are resolved and the hopes and dreams of players, spectators and referees are either realised or dashed

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introduction

Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, celebrates during last year’s FA Cup Final versus Stoke City

ReFleCTIoNSoN THe 2012CARlING CuP FINAlmark Clattenburg, FIFA and Select Group Referee

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Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, leads the celebrations as Liverpool beat Cardiff in the 2012 Carling Cup Final

iwas sitting on a plane waiting to take off from a snow covered istanbul airport on 30 January 2012 when

i received a call from david allison, football league referee officer, inviting me to referee the carling cup final 2012 between cardiff city and liverpool.

I was informed that because the fourth official had not been contacted about the appointment I could not inform anyone for two days until the press announcement by the Football league. This brought mixed emotions from the excitement of the appointment and also disappointment that I could not tell anyone for a few days.

The build up to the Final was very hectic with a europa league match in Romania, an important Football league match as well as an Additional Assistant Referee duty in madrid all in just over a week. In a way this was good as I did not have time to get nervous or to even think too much about the Final as I only think about one game at a time and concentrate

fully on that role and what is required of me either as the leader of the team or as an Additional Assistant Referee.

I arrived back into england on the Friday evening from madrid and went straight to an olly murs concert as he had kindly given me and my wife tickets to see him perform in Newcastle. on the Saturday morning, I left home with my family to drive to london to meet up with the team at Hendon Hall Hotel and it was on this drive down that the thoughts of the final started. The excitement of the match was starting to build but also some nerves, as it’s such a hugely important match that you do not want to let anyone down by making a mistake.

I arrived in london at 1pm and in the afternoon we went to Wembley to go through all the pre-match activities and be briefed about what was expected of us before and after the match. This gave us a chance to see the stadium and visualise our tasks on the following day.

The evening was spent with all the families of the team as well as David Allison and this was an important time for the team to relax and help them switch off before the events of the ‘big’ day.

The day of the game started off with breakfast and then we relaxed around the hotel until we left for the stadium at 1pm. This was the last time we would see our families until after the match - now all the focus was on the importance

of delivering such an important match and the first major final of the season.

The one thing I focused on with the team was teamwork and looking after each other; but the final thing I said was to be switched on from the first whistle as in the last two finals there had been some major decisions for the referee team to deal with. Sure enough, 4.02pm, Glen Johnson of liverpool shot from outside the penalty area and hit the underside of the crossbar. I looked across and was delighted to see my assistant referee directly in line, shaking his head. What a start but nothing that we had not prepared for.

For the first twenty minutes I struggled to run and found my legs feeling extremely heavy but as the first half wore on I started to relax and this helped me run more freely. The first half went well for the team but it was important to keep the focus and concentration and we started to feel that this match would go all the way to penalties. The players responded to my style of

management and the rest of the match finished without any problems.

After the penalties, when the match had finished, I looked around and realised that my team and I had played a big part in this fantastic final. I felt close to tears as it was also a relief to finish the match without problems. I walked up the steps to collect my medal to be met with many supporters congratulating us on our performance which made us satisfied and happy.

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

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The one thing I focused on with the team was teamwork and looking after each other

When the match finished I looked around and realised my team and I had played a big part in this fantastic final

Mark Clattenburg in action in the 2012 Final at Wembley

Captain and manager show their delight at the end of the game

at 6pm on 8 June 2012, at the recently refurbished and newly re-opened national stadium in

Warsaw, poland and greece will raise the curtain on the uefa european championships 2012.

For the final time, 16 teams will compete for the Henri Delaunay Trophy (24 teams will compete for the trophy at France 2016). There will, of course, be an additional team. An important team who will represent ueFA, and whose preparations have already started. Details of the 12 referees who will take charge of games in euro 2012 were announced in mid-December last year following an on-going selection process over the previous few months. The selection was based not only upon current performance but also on levels of experience. In several countries, including england, the decision as to who would be their representative went right to the wire, and some excellent candidates just missed out this time. It’s interesting to note that from the final list of 12 referees who have been selected, only I was at the previous european Championships, held in Austria and Switzerland in 2008, clearly illustrating the turnover of referees in europe at elite level in recent years.

In the past few weeks, details of the assistant referees who will accompany the referees have been announced and of course at this year’s Finals, for the first time, we will see the use of additional assistant referees stationed behind the goal-lines. The names of these officials have been recently announced. Reserve assistant referees have also been identified and will remain a part of the preparations until the tournament starts, stepping-in in the case of illness or injury to one of the two assistants.

The team representing england at euro 2012 includes mike mullarkey and Peter

Kirkup as assistant referees, Steve Child as reserve assistant referee and martin Atkinson with mark Clattenburg as additional assistant referees. We will be sending three referees from ueFA’s elite Category, which i’m delighted about and is indicative of the excellent relationships the referees have at the top level here in england .Should a referee become injured during a match at the tournament, it will be the additional assistant referee number one who would take over; in my case, this would be martin Atkinson.

Preparation started immediately. The teams of selected officials worked together in ueFA club competitions throughout the spring, as happened in the ueFA Champions’ league Round of 16 match at Benfica recently when I was appointed with my team. Additionally, martin Atkinson and mark Clattenburg received extra experience as additional assistant referees working for each other in europa and Champions’ league matches. I fully anticipate that the officials selected for the tournament will also work predominantly together in domestic matches.

Throughout the build-up to the tournament, there is a requirement for the referees to send a training log-book and heart-rate data to Professor Werner Helsen, the Belgian sports scientist who works for ueFA. Helson monitors the training load of the 12 selected referees. Guidance will be given to ensure that all officials arrive at the tournament in peak condition, even though for many of us this will come at the end of a long domestic season. I am fortunate here in england that I have the day-to-day guidance and expertise of Simon Breivik, the PGmol sports scientist, who works closely with Professor Helsen. Simon will assist in the preparation and testing of all the officials going to the tournament.

In the first week of may, all 76 officials (12 referees, 24 assistant referees, 12 reserve assistant referees, 24 additional assistant referees and 4 dedicated fourth officials) will meet together in Warsaw for a four day pre-tournament course. During our time together, topics will be discussed and instructions given ensuring a uniform approach from all the officials at the tournament. Consistency will be expected. All referees are members of ueFA’s elite category, regularly partake in the Champions’ league and attend the bi-annual ueFA elite referee courses where similar discussions take place and instructions are given.

The pre-tournament course will be particularly useful to some of the assistant referees and additional assistant referees, who don’t have the opportunity to attend ueFA seminars.

During a number of pre-tournament visits members of the ueFA referees’ committee will inform the competing nations of the conclusions from the Warsaw course. There are obvious advantages in everybody being fully aware of what has been emphasised to the match officials. It’s possible to anticipate that the main focus will be on protecting the players and protecting the image of the game. The assistant referees will also undertake filmed practical exercises organised by the 2002 World Cup Final assistant, Philip Sharp.

During the course, the 76 match officials will be required to pass the standard FIFA fitness test which involves six 40 metre sprints. Referees are expected to complete each run in 6.2 seconds, with assistant referees set a target of 6 seconds. This is followed by 10 laps of a 400 metre running track. For referees, additional assistant referees and fourth officials, each lap consists of 150

THe RoADTo euRo 2012Howard Webb, Referee: 2010 FIFA World Cup Final and ueFA Champions’ league Final

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We will be sending three referees from ueFA’s elite Category, which is indicative of the excellent relationships the referees have at the top level here in england

metres in 30 seconds, followed by 50 metres recovery in 35 seconds, twice over. For assistant referees, the recovery time extends to 40 seconds.

The course will also provide an opportunity for ueFA to supply Adidas kit, equipment, tournament branded leisurewear and suits to the match officials, with size exchanges being possible. The new communication systems which will be used at the Finals have already been supplied to the referees, providing sufficient time to become familiar with their use. This latest version is the smallest and most lightweight yet, providing excellent clarity and quality of transmissions. This is so important - when using six officials. The radio system is crucial to effective teamwork as this is the only means of communication that the additional assistant referees have.

At the course, we will meet other members of our support team, which will include physiotherapists, sports masseurs, a sports psychologist and audio visual technicians, amongst others.

Accreditation details have already been forwarded to the local organising committee. everything is in place to ensure we arrive at the tournament fully prepared physically, technically and mentally, both individually and as a team. Naturally we feel honoured and delighted to have been selected and will strive to contribute greatly to a successful european Championship from a refereeing point of view.

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At this year’s Finals, for the first time, we will see the use of additional assistant referees stationed behind the goal-lines

There are obvious advantages in everybody being fully aware of what has been emphasised to the match officials

Howard Webb is the only referee to be selected from those who officiated in Austria and Switzerland in 2008

Euro 2012 referees must complete a thorough fitness

test on selection

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PRe-MATCH inSTRUCTiOnSHelen Byrne, level 4 Referee – liverpool County FA

helen byrne outlines a set of guidelines to help get the best out neutral assistant referees ensuring effective co-operation and teamwork.

Any pre-match preparation should be conducted on the field of play allowing the assistants the opportunity to visualise different situations. Try to do this at least 45 minutes before kick-off.

1.pre- match

The most senior assistant should operate on the side of the field with the dugouts/technical areas for both halves. The senior assistant should keep a full match record (taking note of cautions/red cards/substitutions), whilst the other assistant should take the role of the referee’s ‘eyes and ears’.

2.Who is senior?

Substitutions should be made cleanly from the half-way line, with the exiting player leaving the pitch before the substitute player goes on. The time of the substitution should be recorded.

3.substitution

Assistant referees take the ‘outside rights’. on arriving on the pitch the team should break, check nets (also after half time) and then reconvene to witness the coin-toss. 4.

concentration

All goal-kicks and corner-kicks should be correctly flagged. monitor all goal-kicks from the 18-yard area and then adjust your position in-line with the second rearmost defender. 5.

goal kicks and corner kicks

To ensure the correct award of throw-ins the pitch should be divided it into thirds: the referee taking one third, and the assistants taking one third each. The referee will look to the assistants for all decisions in their own third. When decisions are being made in the middle of the pitch eye-to-eye contact is a necessity. Discrete signals which point in the direction of the throw can be given by the referee and assistants are encouraged to look at the referee before signalling. If the assistant sees something the referee has missed then the assistant should lead the referee in. If for any reason there is a difference of opinion, the assistant should drop their flag and go with the referee’s decision. In front of the dugouts/technical areas, the referee and assistant should be patient, make eye-contact and get the decision correct to make sure complaints from both dugouts do not follow.

6.throw ins

offside decisions are left to the assistants for the duration of the match, unless a wrong application of the law is observed. If this happens the referee should ask the assistant to drop their flag. If there is a stoppage in play the referee may come over and explain the reason. Take your time with all offsides, the only time a quick flag is encouraged is if there is the possibility that the attacker and goalkeeper may collide.

7.offside

The area in which I would expect assistants to flag for a free-kick is in the area from the edge of the 18-yard area to the halfway line, as this gives the assistant the most credibility. When doing so it is important to take into account the proximity of the referee; the necessity of assistance increasing the further the referee is from the incident. When giving free-kicks it is important to keep on the move and not be caught static, if there is an opportunity to play advantage then the referee should do so.

8.free-kicks

With penalty-kicks there are four possible situations: • Therefereeknowsthatitisapenaltyandgivesthedecision.• Therefereeknowsitisnotapenaltyandwillbecuttingthegrasstoleteveryoneknow

that they will not be giving the decision (no input is required here). • Therefereeisunsurewhetheritisapenaltyandwillbelookingattheassistantinviting

them in, if the assistant thinks it is a penalty they should put their flag across their chest, the referee will give the penalty and should curve their run in front of the assistant to help prevent any players disputing the decision.

• Theballhasbeenplayedforwardandtherefereeisnotupwithplay.Iftherefereeindicates a foul, clarity will be required from the assistant to indicate whether the offence is inside or outside the area. The referee will look to the assistant for the appropriate signal. Following this the assistant should act as the goal judge.

When the penalty is being taken the assistant should observe the goalkeeper’s movement, if there is concern and reason for a retake the assistant should stand their ground, ensuring the referee knows they are not happy. In this scenario it is important to be consistent and sensible.

9.penalty Kicks

mass confrontation could occur in any game and it is difficult to dictate exactly where an assistant should stand. It is important for the assistants to get into a position that allows maximum view– ideally the officials will from a triangle with the confrontation ‘wedged’ in between. If the officials are stood together then it is obvious that this is the wrong position. In this situation it is important to be patient, deal with any red card offences initially, then any cautions and finally ensure play is restarted correctly.

10.Massconfrontation

crossing THe DIVIDe......from professional footballer to referee

Ian Blanchard talks to Rob Clare

amongst the 29,000 referees in england there are a few who have previously played at a professional

level. rob clare, a former professional footballer at stockport county fc, tells ian blanchard how an ex-professional footballer came into refereeing and what he now wants to achieve in the game.

Q: rob can you tell me a bit about yourself.I have been the Commercial manager at Stockport County for the past two years, which means I am responsible for marketing the club, attracting new sponsors and looking after our current commercial partners. I have a busy life, because I am also married with four children (three boys and a girl). I was born in Belper in Derbyshire, so I was always a big Derby County supporter, but County come first these days, of course. I did pretty well at school and left at the age of 16 with nine GCSes at grades A to C, but it was always my ambition to play professional football.

Q: how did you get into football?my earliest recollection is starting to play at u7’s. After a few years I was scouted by the Derby County School of excellence and I played at Derby from the age of ten through to sixteen years of age. like a lot of budding hopefuls I was released at sixteen but I managed to get a position at Stockport County on YTS terms, living in digs with some of the other younger players.

Q: how did you progress into the professional game?on my seventeenth birthday I was offered professional terms at Stockport County and I remember making my debut away at Fulham when I had the unenviable task of marking John Collins a tricky, skilful winger. We lost 0-4. But I went on to play about 230 games for County as well as spending one season at Blackpool in 2004 where I played 30 games. my heart was always at edgeley Park though, so I returned to County in 2005 until I was forced to retire in 2008. I was hugely disappointed to give up playing but I suffered badly with tendonitis in my knee, coupled with a stress fracture of the shin. Both injuries proved difficult to shake off and in the end I was unable to regain full fitness and was left with no option but to retire.

Q: Whilst playing what were your highlights?I captained the england u20 team when we played Italy away and I was in the squad for the u21’s to play ukraine; however I never got off the bench. my biggest highlight during my time with County was beating manchester City 2-1 at edgeley Park when they were at the top of the Championship. I also played every minute of every game in a Football league record of 9 consecutive wins without conceding a goal in 2007, something of which I’m extremely proud.

Q: how did you get into refereeing?After retiring from playing I took my FA level 2 coaching badge and I was desperate to stay involved. I could see the attraction of refereeing as I had been a pretty fair player, and was always respectful and pretty lenient towards referees. Whilst playing I obviously saw the other side when team mates were disrespectful and in some cases made

the referee’s life difficult. I could see that refereeing would be a difficult job but a terrific challenge for me, as well.

I also felt that because I was still very young - I was only 25 when I took up the whistle - I had time to progress up the referee promotion ladder. That was one of the motivating factors which prompted me to take up refereeing. So towards the end of 2008, I took the next available course at Altrincham. Since then, I have refereed as much as I can, operating in local leagues on a Sunday, such as the east Cheshire Sunday league, whilst still working at Stockport County on home matches.

Q: What do you think are the key skills you possess as a former player that you have been able to use in refereeing?Needless to say a high level of fitness helps. The game is physically demanding and as a referee being in the right place at the right time is essential.

You need to know football. Not just the laws of the Game but have a breadth of knowledge and understanding about football, and seeing things from a player’s perspective is definitely an advantage.

I really do feel that a key skill is developing empathy. As a player you expect a yellow card to be shown if someone makes a late reckless challenge on you; and you would be disappointed if it wasn’t - disappointed that the referee didn’t see it that way, but also disappointed that the referee was failing to protect players.

I also think that as a referee you need to remember to treat players as you would want to be treated yourself. In general terms you can go about refereeing in a calm, controlled and quietly confident manner, however, there are times when a referee has to take control, show his or her authority, be assertive and strong.

I am also a great believer in common sense. Not to the extent of ignoring the laws but certainly recognising that in a lot of cases the laws and the management of the game allow the referee flexibility and an opportunity to demonstrate common sense.

Q: What are your aims or goals in refereeing?I want to get as far as I can but I am realistic. I have already achieved level 4 and I am enjoying refereeing very much. my aim is to reach the Football league, either as a referee or an assistant.

I appreciate that the higher up the ladder you go the better you have to be, because the competition is greater. Common sense suggests that as you progress the chances of success diminish, but the rewards once you get there are worth working for.

It’s important for me to challenge myself and get as high up the ladder as possible. I would also like to see more ex-players become referees, because the experience we can bring to the game can only be of benefit when refereeing.

Q: What have been your refereeing highlights so far?Achieving level 4, refereeing in the Cheshire league and being an assistant referee on the Contributory league system have all been highlights so far.

last year I refereed the Cheshire league Reserves Final which I found challenging but enjoyable and this season I was on the line for the Chester v Chorley game in front of 3400 fans which was brilliant.

Q: in refereeing who do you admire the most and why?I admire every single referee who takes the basic course and decides to officiate. For me, the outstanding referee is Howard Webb - his calmness under pressure and ability to control a football match has earned him great respect over the past few years. I also admire Trevor massey, a former Premier league assistant who has now retired. He is inspirational in and around Cheshire, he puts a tremendous amount of time and effort back into refereeing and new referees really look to him as a role model.

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I also felt that because I was still very young - I was only 25 when I took up the whistle - I had time to progress up the referee promotion ladder

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Clare during his Stockport County days

Law 3 – the numbers of Players (submitted by fifA, with amendments by the Scottish football Association)

reason It is not rare that a substitution is made prior to the start of the match and after the referee has been informed of the names of the players and substitutes. This is normally due to an injury of a player during the warm-up. If the referee is informed of the substitution, this is permitted but it is necessary to clarify how to proceed if the referee is not informed of the change.

Law 4 – the Players’ equipment (submitted by The football Association)

reason An increasing number of players are using excessive amounts of tape externally on their socks. This can be a multitude of colours and can completely change the look of the sock. This can cause confusion particularly for assistant referees who may need to look at the sock to determine who last played the ball before it has gone out of play.

Law 4 – the Players’ equipment (submitted by fifA)

reason The current wording does not reflect technological advances

Law 8 – the start and restart of Play(submitted by The football Association)

reason There have been a number of occasions where goals have been scored from ‘uncontested’ dropped balls. This has put a great deal of pressure on the referee as he has to allow the goal to stand. We then have the unseemly situation where the opposition allow the team to score from the kick off without any players trying to stop them in order to rebalance the game.

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laws of the game

THe LAWS Of THe gAMeAMenDMenTS 2012-2013 Neale Barry, member, IFAB Technical Sub-committee

at the international football association board’s 126th agM, held in london on the 3rd March 2012, the ifab approved the following amendments to the laws of the game which come into effect on the 1st June 2012.

Present text Proposed textPresent text If a named substitute enters the

field of play instead of a named player at the start of the match and the referee is not informed of this change:• therefereeallowsthenamed

substitute to continue the match

• nodisciplinarysanctionistaken against the named substitute

• the number of permitted substitutes allowed by the offending team is not reduced

• therefereereportstheincident to the appropriate authorities.

Present text Proposed textstockings - if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to.

Present text Proposed textOther equipment (…)The use of radio communication systems between players and/or technical staff is not permitted

Other equipment (…)The use of electronic communication systems between players and/or technical staff is not permitted

Present text Proposed textinfringements and sanctionsThe ball is dropped again

infringements and sanctionsThe ball is dropped again: … If the ball enters the goal: • ifadroppedballiskickeddirectly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded

• ifadroppedballiskickeddirectly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

Law 12 – fouls and misconduct (submitted by fifA)

reason It is more important to punish the consequence that the hand ball created rather than the fact that it was blatant. In fact, a hand ball could be inconspicuous but certainly very important. Furthermore, it is difficult to define what is meant by “blatantly” and therefore to have a uniform interpretation, especially by referees from different countries or continents, with very different experiences. Deleting the word “blatantly”, and providing that if the hand ball prevented the opponent from gaining possession the player must be cautioned, makes the interpretation easier.

Present text Proposed textDisciplinary sanctions There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour is required when a player deliberately and blatantly handles the ball, e.g. when a player:•deliberatelyandblatantlyhandles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining possession

Disciplinary sanctions There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour is required when a player deliberately handles the ball, e.g. when a player:• deliberatelyhandlestheballto prevent an opponent gaining possession

DR WeBB, i PReSUMe?

congratulations to howard Webb who, following his MBe, was awarded an honorary D. Univ by Sheffield Hallam University in november in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

The photography shows Howard in his doctoral robes with Professor ian Maynard (Professor of Sports Psychology at SHU) and David elleray, who was also awarded an honorary D. Univ by Sheffield Hallam University in november 2010.

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10 point planTO RefeRee ASSeSSMenT Roger Vaughan, National list Assessor and National Referee manager

the role of an assessor is extremely important for the development of referees at all levels. each time you go to watch a referee you are acting as the ‘guardian of standards’ within refereeing but also someone who can help them grow as a referee. Within this you should be looking to give positive, developmental feedback on the performance you have witnessed and give advice on how the referee can improve their performance in the future.

to help you in doing this i suggest you consider the following 10 points:

ensure you are fully aware of the game you have been appointed to. Assess and make contact with the referee if appropriate (CfA/Competition Rules) to confirm your attendance and the time you will be there to hear their pre-match brief of club/neutral assistants.

1.before the Match

As the guardian of standards you must have a good, up-to-date knowledge of the Laws of the game and should take a copy with you each time you are assessing.

Sometimes you will see things in the game differently from the referee but you should always have an empathy with what they may have seen from their position and any decisions they may take. This doesn’t mean you will always agree but remember that it is always easier to watch a game than it is to referee it.

You need to analyse a referee’s performance in line with the competencies outlined in the assessors form and handbook. in doing this you must identify strengths and offer praise and encouragement as well as seeing shortcomings and offering sound practical advice and solutions to overcome them. The key to this is maintaining a fair balance.

During the game you must record the important details e.g. it is important to record the time of the incident, what happened and if it was a strength or development area. it is important to be able to watch the game as much as possible so your notes should be limited but easy to understand. All assessors have their own systems of recording information; it is sometimes good to observe other assessors and see their systems.

When the game has finished it is important to gather your thoughts and collate your notes prioritising what is important to cover at the referee’s level of development. You need to plan to cover the major points.

Allow the referee enough time to leave the field, return to the dressing room, shower and change and be fully prepared to speak to you. Be friendly, your tone and manner need to encourage the referee to listen to you. However, you need to be firm and honest, do not ‘duck’ issues. in your debrief ensure you maintain balance by starting and ending with positive messages with any shortcomings in between. The overall delivery and content must be educational and beneficial – it is easy to criticise but what is needed is constructive advice.

i suggest you initially complete your reports in draft ensuring you have used spell-check. Make sure you make reference to actual situations and times in the game to illustrate points you are making both positive and for development. for any development points ensure there is always a ‘route out’ for the next time. finally, ensure you send your report in having checked it is accurate, and correct in law, within the appropriate timescales.

ensure you maintain your knowledge by attending any training that your County fA or The fA organise to improve you as an assessor. This will also ensure that, if appropriate, you are able to progress as an assessor to higher levels of football and broaden your role to assessing neutral assistant referees as well as the referee.

2.Knowledge of current law

3.ability to view a game through the eyes of the referee

4.ability to analyse a referee’s performance

5.record match details

7.gather your thoughts before making post match contact

8.the Verbal debrief

9.completing the report

10.continuous development

Your role is extremely valuable for each referee and the overall standard of refereeing – you are a very important part of the refereeing family.

good Luck

You should be looking to give positive, developmental feedback

ensure you get a good view of the game and if at all possible, an elevated one. When assessing at grassroots level it is advantageous to be able to move around the field to obtain different views.

6.Move around the field of play

You should always have an empathy with what may have been seen from the referee’s position

england v australia independent Schools fA U18 v Australia Schools U18Holmes Park, 30th January 2012

excitement, nervousness, happiness and shock; many of the feelings one would associate with the arrival of

christmas. Yet, these were the feelings we felt 10 days prior to that day when we received an email from the chairman of the independent schools football association, david elleray, informing us that we had been chosen to act as assistant referees to stuart attwell for a friendly between isfa’s england u18 v australia schools u18. 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.

We couldn’t believe our eyes and couldn’t be sure that David had sent the email to the right people. Confident that nobody could have as ridiculous email addresses as us, the answer became a resounding yes and so with great haste and delight we accepted the appointment.

There followed the longest six weeks of our refereeing careers where we became extra

cautious of every step we took and every turn we made to ensure that no injury befell us. As in standard refereeing protocol Stuart emailed both of us a week before the game to synchronise our arrival times and what kit we would be wearing. upon arrival at Holmes Park we were immediately made to feel welcome by the officials of leicestershire and Rutland FA and ISFA. It was also at this point we met Stuart and our fourth official Tom Beeton. After partaking in some very pleasant chat about how our seasons were progressing and generally getting to know each other, our preparation for the game began in earnest with a few surprises in store.

our first surprise was when we realised how similar Stuart’s pre-match talk was to what we say to our assistants at Supply league level. Admittedly, we weren’t sure what we were going to hear but it clearly shows the continuity of instructions given to a team throughout the refereeing pyramid. The second surprise was when we were asked if we were ready for the warm-up; our hearts were racing as it was, we definitely didn’t need a warm up for that reason. Nevertheless, and as we always do, we went through a concise warm-up and returned to

the dressing room where we encountered our third and final surprise. Stuart had left his spare FIFA badges at home. “looks like we will have to wait a few more years until we rise to an international assistant referee ranking”, we thought. After making our last equipment checks we shook hands and joined the two teams to walk out onto the field of play.

It was at this point we encountered the proudest moment of our refereeing careers to date; standing and listening to both national anthems in front of a healthy sized crowd. After the handshakes, photos and toss of the coin the game began. It was a flowing, competitive and well-spirited affair which flew by in the quickest 90 minutes of our lives. our actual memory of the game is a blur. Following the game, which Australia won 3-2, we were congratulated by both teams on how well we had performed, ensuring that the game came to a successful and safe conclusion.

We learned many things that evening, especially from Stuart, which we can use in our future games and share with other referees. It would be unfair not to mention how much Stuart made us all feel part of the team that evening and how he breathed confidence into us which allowed us to perform to that high-standard. We also learned how effective communication can be before, during and after the game to ensure the successful conclusion of the game and event.

We would like to thank David elleray and mark Dickson (ISFA Ceo) for giving us this amazing opportunity to work with and learn from such a great team and to partake in such a prestigious event.

Declan Bourne and James Whittaker

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refereeing at the fa

Sam ogles, level 4 Referee

receiving a letter from hampshire fa inviting me to attend their cup final celebration evening was a pleasant

and very welcome surprise. in my six years of refereeing, this would be the third county fa cup final appointment i would receive - a credit to the hard work the county fa put in to the development of young and aspiring referees.

In the days building up to the evening it seemed natural to begin self-speculation as to what my appointment would be. Whilst it is also natural to want to referee the top game, I would have been genuinely delighted with any appointment – whether this was referee, assistant referee or fourth official. Being part of a team on a big game is an experience that doesn’t come along every week.

After a few welcoming words by the Referee Development manager, the appointments were unveiled, and to my delight I was informed that I would referee the under 18 midweek Floodlit Cup Final. We were a relatively young team of four – aged 19, 18, 17 and 23 respectively.

I began looking forward to the Final, which was to be played just a month later. I spoke with my fellow team members on the night – mainly to congratulate them, but also to get to know a little bit about them before the day of the game. The chemistry between us was instantly evident, so there was much anticipation.

I believed that for such a big game we should treat it like any other match we would referee, trying not to put too much pressure on our shoulders. However, with it being a special day, we were also able to soak up the atmosphere, and in doing so remind ourselves that this was not an ordinary football match. We arrived at the ground around two hours before the game, yet despite our early arrival, the time until kick-off passed in an instant.

It is a shame that I do not vividly remember the 90 minutes on the field of play – it seems that, due to the nature of refereeing and the split-second decisions required, it is difficult to remember a game in real time – instead only recalling snippets of the action. The

game was contested by two academy sides, Havant & Waterlooville and Aldershot Town, and played at a furious pace. Aldershot emerged as 3-1 winners. The game passed without controversy, despite a red card I had to issue to an Aldershot Town defender, for deliberately handling the ball on the goal-line.

The next thing I knew we were back in the changing rooms, having watched the winning team lift the trophy, received our medals and left to a warm reception from the crowd of approximately 200.

When I reflect on the evening, the feeling is rather bittersweet – knowing that I have successfully refereed one of the biggest games of my career so far, but at the same time knowing that it could be a lengthy period before I referee another game of that calibre. However, with this in mind, it gives me the confidence and motivation to take the next step in my refereeing career, and strive to equal this achievement in the future. my advice to anybody who is lucky enough to referee a County Cup Final is to enjoy the day and soak up the atmosphere of an event – but at the same time, remember that it is still all about the twenty-two players, the ninety minutes and the challenge of scoring more goals than their opponents.

sam Ogles, 19, is a Level 4 referee

Due to the nature of refereeing and the split-second decisions required, it is difficult to remember a game in real time – instead only recalling snippets of the action

THe CouNTY FA CuP FINAl exPeRIeNCe

Declan Bourne, James Whittaker and Tom Beeton with Stuart Attwell

GeTTING the big decisionsRIGHT

22 23

feature

Kevin friend, premier league referee, spoke to fellow officials about accurate decision-making at the ra-fa ‘have your say’ event at leatherhead, in March. Mike cohen, level 5 referee in surrey, provides an insight

Kevin Friend refereeing a Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Fulham

around 70 referees, mentors and coaches met at leatherhead fc on Monday, 27 february for the

surrey ra-fa ‘have Your say event’. the guest speaker for the evening was premier league referee, Kevin friend. Kevin’s presentation, titled ‘getting the big decisions right’, provided an insight into his early days as a referee and how support and assistance helped him progress up the refereeing ladder.

Starting on the parks at the age of 13, Kevin soon found that refereeing was something he enjoyed and was good at. His father was also a referee and provided help and advice when needed. Having moved up a number of levels, Kevin found himself refereeing an FA Vase game. With one team a goal up, the assistant flagged for a substitution and the replacement was duly made. Before they could restart, the assistant flagged again. Having checked, there was a realisation that the losing team had now made four substitutions when only three were allowed. The game finished 1-1 but, in a final twist, the home chairman spoke with Kevin as he

left the field and informed him that the away side had, in fact, made four substitutions. Kevin was forced to phone The FA and confess the error.

A few days later, he was informed that he would not be handling the replay and was suspended from all FA competitions for the rest of the season. At first he pondered the unfairness of the situation but his father reminded him that the referee is the ‘captain’ of the team and is ultimately responsible.

That experience taught Kevin an important lesson and, since that day, he has always made a note of substitutions. Continuing to progress, Kevin found himself refereeing in a tough supply league and his marks for his first season put him in Band C. Searching for ways to improve, he was advised that he did not caution enough. Season two saw his card count rocket and he ended it in Band D. Disaster. He was relying too much on cards and not man-managing situations. once again, the pendulum swung to the other extreme: no cards at all and he ended the season in Band e.

It looked like Kevin’s refereeing career was over. However, his dad explained that he had been trying to act on others advice thus forgetting to enjoy his refereeing. He was not acting on his gut instinct. He needed to be relaxed and calm. Finally, he started to get it right and soon found himself refereeing on the Football league.

After a good season he was appointed to referee the Championship play-off semi-final first-leg between Watford and Hull and was determined to be focused from the first minute and to ‘get the big decisions right’. In the fourth minute, Watford’s Danny Shittu rose to meet a cross and powered a header into the back of the Hull net. Kevin disallowed the goal, having seen a foul by another Watford player. A video of the incident showed clearly that any contact had been minor, there had been no foul. Kevin had disallowed a perfectly good goal.

At the end of the season, Kevin was invited for interview to become a Premiership referee but despite feeling he was ready, he was unsuccessful. Keith Hackett advised him that the high profile error had cost him dear. His reaction was to redouble his efforts and sure enough he was successful and made it to the Premiership.

A turning point during his first Premier league season was his appointment as fourth official to Steve Bennett for Aston Villa’s game against Chelsea. Steve was taken ill during his warm-up and Kevin found himself in the middle for a game between the sides who occupied first and sixth positions respectively. It went extremely well and subsequently Kevin went on a long run of games.

There were, however, further problems following an incident in a game between Portsmouth and Sunderland. With only ten minutes played and Sunderland’s Darren Bent through on goal, Portsmouth’s, Ricardo Rocha, caught his heels. A penalty and a red card followed. Portsmouth players immediately remonstrated with Kevin. once he had ushered them away, he realised he had lost the offending player and couldn’t be clear as to which of the four players near him should be dismissed. His assistant couldn’t identify the offender either. Inevitability the game couldn’t continue with eleven Portsmouth players on the field, so a decision was made to dismiss the most vociferous player, despite the protestations of innocence. The ploy worked, Rocha held his hand up and the correct player left the field. After such an incident, any referee would lose the respect of the players and in turn there was an expectation for Kevin to referee without error during the remaining 80 minutes.

24 25

feature

Throughout the remainder of the game, there were nine key incidents and Kevin called the correct decision on eight of them. Since that day, Kevin says that he constantly talks to himself throughout each match; as an attack develops and defenders are shaping for challenges, he is saying “Yellow card, yellow card, red card” so if a foul is committed, he already knows the punishment and he makes sure to keep his eyes fixed on the relevant player. It was stressed that referees must never lose focus for the full duration of the game and if your gut instinct is telling you ‘red card’, then it’s a red, regardless of the grief that that decision may cost you.

In summary, Kevin said that everyone makes mistakes at every level. The thing is to learn from such mistakes and change your game to minimise the chance of a repeat:

The four key points when making any decision are:

see:• Fitness:bothmentalandphysical• ViewingPosition:angles• Droppingzones:9on5situationsand

corner-kicks. Be proactive and sort out issues before the ball comes back into play

• Scanningradar:thesocalled“lazyeye”–don’t just follow the ball. Take a second to catch any follow-through challenges

• Readandanticipateplay

reCOgnise:• ‘Messages’fromtheplayers:whoorwhat

are they looking at?• Speedanddistanceofachallenge• Fairorfoul?• Playerreaction

thinK:• Takeyourtime• Severityofchallenge:wheredidtheplayer

catch their opponent?• Nextphaseofplay• Advantage:whenisitbesttoplayit?Never

in the defensive third, more rarely in the middle third, best in the attacking third

• Credibility• It’sallaboutyourcontrol

aCt:• Whistle(tone),armsandvoice:always

positive• Calmapproach• Airofconfidence:neverarrogant,but

show that you know that you’re a good referee

• Firmbutfair• Correctapplicationoflaw

Finally: remember that offences may be • Careless-inwhichcasepunishwitha

free-kick • Reckless-whichresultsinacaution• Withexcessiveforce-forwhichtheonly

punishment is to send the player off

future of grassroots footballThe second half of the evening was presented by Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game Referee manager who covered the Future of Grassroots Football.

It was explained that the new target for the current phase of the grassroots plan (2012-15) is 100% coverage of 11 a-side games by the end of 2015.

The importance of having referees involved in the process was stressed, encouraging the opportunity for referees to:

- Be heard and make a difference- engage with colleagues- Develop as referees

A brief presentation covered the main points of focus:

- Shaping referee development for the future- meeting the needs of the workforce- Identifying a need to consult- Building on the relationship with the

Referees’ Association

The main group then broke into several discussion groups encouraging discussion and debate. The titles for the group discussion were:

- Referee recruitment and retention- The National Referee Development

Programme- Referee Development officers- The Referees’ Association- Administration

In the group discussion covering The Referees’ Association the general feeling was that there are many benefits (insurance, physiotherapy, comradeship) but more needs to be done to attract younger members, primarily by reducing the business element of meetings and increasing the focus on football and refereeing. There was general agreement that the Referee Development officers had made a significant impact on referee recruitment and retention.

Attendees were asked to complete a survey which offered england tickets, referees kit and other gifts as prizes. For anyone wanting to complete the survey, access to which requires your name and FAN number, please use the following link:

http://surveys.thefa.com/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=76m09o6

everyone makes mistakes at every level. learn from such mistakes and change your game to minimise the chance of a repeat

Kevin Friend started refereeing aged 13

Friend in action in the Premier League

in recent years, much has been done to develop Women referees* in england and the creation of the

Women’s referee development pathway has been a significant step forward. the attitude of, and to, Women officials has steadily become more focussed and professional. the next stage is to improve the organisation structure for Women referees and refresh the ambassador scheme to give it greater focus and effectiveness.

* In most cases, the term ‘Women referees’ refers to referees and assistant referees

These changes, which have been approved by FA Referees’ Committee and the Women Referee Working Group, have been welcomed and supported by the FA Women’s Football Committee.

They should ensure that Women referees are developed and directed effectively and, in return, they will be expected to prepare and conduct themselves in a professional manner, as is expected of their men colleagues.

senior Women officials Women referees are the responsibility of the FA Referees’ Committee which delegates authority (subject to regular oversight) to the Chairman (David elleray) and the Head of Senior Referee Development (Neale Barry). To ensure that our senior Women officials are developed, prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities, they need and deserve a development and oversight structure which reflects that of their men counterparts.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGeS FoR WOmen referees David elleray, Chairman, FA Referees’ Committee

26 27

Women’s refereeing

To reflect the men’s system the following structure and processes will operate now for Women officials:

international- David elleray (ueFA Referees Committee

and FIFA Refereeing Technical Advisor) will be responsible for all FIFA officials and for all international football matters.

senior Women officials - Women officials on the WSl and WPl,

and those at level 4 and above in men’s football, will be responsible to Neale Barry for their domestic refereeing.

WsL + WPL- Neale Barry will oversee the training/

development of referees on the WSl and WPl.

- Promotion and retention criteria will be introduced for the WSl for Season 2012 and such criteria will be extended down the pyramid in due course.

Development - Senior Women officials will, where

appropriate, be invited to level 4, level 3 and/or level 2 training events to ensure that they receive the same development opportunities and information as their men counterparts.

- To assist their development, the FA will investigate the possibility of a coach/mentor scheme for selected senior officials.

Promotion and demotion- David elleray and Neale Barry will be

responsible for all decisions relating to promotion/demotion for levels 3, 2, 1 and FIFA.

fitness- to ensure proper physical preparation, all

FIFA officials and potential FIFA candidates will be required, in accordance with the ueFA Convention, to take and pass at least 2 FIFA fitness tests each calendar year.

- FIFA officials and potential FIFA officials who are not PGmol officials will come under the guidance and direction of the PGoml Sports Scientist who will report regularly to David elleray and Neale Barry.

- Annual fitness tests will be introduced at levels 2 and 1.

• Level1test-12minutecontinuousrunwith a minimum distance of 2400m plus 2 x 50m sprints in under 7.5 secs.

• Level2test-12minutecontinuousrunwith a minimum distance of 2200m.

plus 2 x 50m sprints in under 7.5 secs.

• Level3refereeswishingtobeconsidered for promotion to level 2 must pass a pre-nomination fitness test before the start of the promotion season.

Women referee ambassadorsThe concept of Women referee ambassadors is a good one. There has been some excellent work but the overall effectiveness of the scheme has been variable for a number of reasons, not least that some of the senior officials are very busy with their officiating and can not devote the time needed.There is clear value in having a group of high profile Women officials if they have clearly defined roles, responsibilities and working parameters and are effectively supported and managed.

Ian Blanchard, FA Senior National Game Referee manager, will be responsible for the scheme (assisted by some senior mentors) and will make it more effective and enjoyable. It is anticipated that, in addition to a small number of busy senior referees who will assume some ‘role model’ ambassadorial roles, the scheme will develop largely as follows:

Women ambassador skills and qualitiesTo be effective, a Women referee ambassador must:• Beorbecomeaqualifiedrefereetutor

(minimum level 2)• Havetheabilitytointeractelectronically

with other ambassadors (and others) to share information and good practice

• Haveanonandofffieldprofilewhichactsas a role model and inspiration for other officials, especially Women officials (actual and potential)

roles and responsibilities of Women referee ambassadorsThe work of the ambassadors will be local/county based but related to national initiatives and strategies. In particular, they will:• AssistTheFARefereeDepartmentand

RDos in the recruitment, retention and development of Women referees.

• BeassignedanumberofCFAsinordertobuild up a regional network of co-ordinators

• Supportdevelopmentandeducationevents involving the whole refereeing workforce

The vision is to work with The FA Referees’ Department and County FAs to increase significantly the number and quality of Women referees.

I am confident that all these changes will greatly enhance Women refereeing in this country.

28 29

Women’s refereeing

The vision is to work with The FA Referees’ Department and County FAs to increase significantly the number and quality of referees The attitude of, and

to, Women officials has steadily become more focussed and professional

there is no definition of what constitutes “younger players” although this would refer to

players under the age of 11, raising to under 13 by 2015.

Below are descriptions of whatsports spectacles should be made of and how they should be worn. They were sent to a Referee Society by an optician who had concerns with injuries with players wearing spectacles during matches.

• Flyingfootballsandclosephysicalcontactmake football a moderate risk sport for eye injuries. Spectacles or goggles may provide protection from injury and can also be worn with those who need to wear prescription lenses.

• PolycarbonateLenses:Thisisthe most important property of all protective spectacles or goggles. Good polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable, and will sustain the impact of a ball or finger.

• SportsBand:anelasticisedbandandnottemple pieces should secure the frame. Players must have something that will be secured tight to the head so that the spectacles or goggles won’t fall off. A frame with temples will not hold tight enough and a jab from a finger could lift the frame off and potentially damage the eye.

• Althoughsportseyewearisintendedtooffer the best protection available, there is always the possibility that the wearer may sustain an eye or facial injury due to severe impact or because of the nature of the athletic activity.

• Refereesshouldensurethatarequesthasbeen made to wear glasses/goggles, and they must not be a danger to the wearer or to any other player.

It should be remembered that many players (and referees) have been wearing contact lens for over 40 years - anyone with time and patience will soon come to accept the massive benefits that come from wearing contact lens. They come at a cost which is not always easy to calculate when dealing with opticians, but at less than £1 per pair of daily disposable lens are well worth the expense for the freedom to be active and see what you are doing.

the football association has sent several reminders to referees over the past 12 months regarding the

dangers of making inappropriate comments on social networking websites such as facebook and twitter.

unfortunately these reminders have not been taken seriously enough by some referees and The FA is having to suspend an increasing number of officials who have made inappropriate comments regarding colleagues, assessors, County FA’s and clubs/players.

in serious cases the penalty can be severe – the fa recently suspended a referee for 100 days.

We appreciate that social networking websites have become a part of everyday modern life and are accessed by many people from all walks of life. It is an individual’s right to use such sites, but only within the bounds of legal acceptability. Already, there are cases of legal action (criminal and civil) being taken against people who have made offensive or inflammatory comments.

Registered referees at all levels of the game, however, have a great responsibility to be extremely careful about any comments that could be construed as critical or inappropriate.

So we make the plea again: please be extremely careful with any comments posted on these sites as The FA Referees’ Committee is taking an increasingly strong line when offensive comments come to light.

These days, players and referees are recommended to ask themselves the following question before posting their thoughts on a Social Network site:

‘Would i say that in a press conference?’

In reality, what you ‘publish’ on such a site is as public as saying the same thing to a TV, radio or press reporter. It is a good question to ask yourself before you publish your thoughts and opinions.

‘WoulD I SAY THAT IN A PReSS CoNFeReNCe?’ Social Networking Websites

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refereeing at the fa

Wearing spectacles

feature

in the ‘interpretation of the laws of the game and guidelines for referees’ it states:

‘In view of the new technology that has made sports spectacles much safer, both for the wearer and for other players, referees should allow tolerance when authorising their use, particularly for younger players’

Registered referees, at all levels of the game, have a responsibility to be careful about comments that could be construed as critical or inappropriate

level 4 fitness testsThe FA Referees’ Committee has decided that the continuous 12 minute run part of the fitness test for level 4 will increase to 2600m with immediate effect.

neale Barry, fA Head of Senior Referee Development

Referees should act with caution when publishing comments on social-networking sites

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.

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. By the 1st January 2012, nearly 8000 referees had used the online service and the results were impressive. As with any new IT system, although there were initially some 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, FA National Referee Development manager

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refereeing at the fa

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.

here is a simple guide to online referee registration:

this article appeared in the previous edition of refereeing and is intended as a reminder as we enter the registration period.

34 35

the referees’ association

eVe-of-final rallY fRiDAY 4 MAY 2011Doors open @ 6.30pmOne great george Street, London. SW1P 3AA (Between St. James’s Park and Parliament Square)

the referees’ association

You should become a full Member of the ra, which for the cost of approximately one match fee a year will enable you to enjoy the full range of additional benefits including:-• PersonalAccidentInsurance.• MembershipofalocalReferees’groupwho

have regular meetings, guest speakers and advice available from officials at all levels.

• FreeattendanceattheannualRAConference, attended by many of the country’s top referees who make presentations and lead workshops

• Topqualityrefereeingequipmentandsupplies at competitive prices from www.rashop.co.uk

• RA-FAIncentiveSchememembership- where referee related items can be obtained in exchange for points gained from refereeing activities

• TheRA’sbi-monthlyelectronic ‘News Digest’

• Serviceawards

• AnnualRAquizatlocal,regionalandnational level

• RepresentationatTheFAandCountyFA• Supportandadviceifassaultedorinvolved

in disciplinary proceedings• BenevolentFund• Forafurther£5p.a,inclusionina

Physiocare scheme

how do i become a full Member of the ra?

either:• Gotowww.footballreferee.orgtofindyour

local RA group• e-mailto:ra@footballreferee.org• orjustringRAHeadOfficeon02476420360

annual subscriptions are due on 1 april, so existing members are asked to pay as soon as possible to ensure they continue to receive insurance cover and all other benefits.

Are youfulfilling your potential?become a full member of the referees’ association.

referees’ association

the

As a registered referee, you are automatically an Associate Member of The Referees’ Association, this entitles you to:

• InvitationstoRA-FATrainingEvents

• RefereeingMagazine

• InformationaboutdatesandcontentoflocalRAmeetings

howard Webb, fifa World Cup final and euro 2012 referee, rotherham ra:

“Throughout my career, The Referees’ Association has been a constant source of advice, guidance and support. Membership has been an essential part of my development and I struggle to see how any aspiring referee can achieve their goals without the support offered by The RA.” I would strongly advise all referees to take up full membership.

referees’ association

the

guest speaker: david davies obe

David spent 13 years with The FA between 1993 and 2006 and led the organisation

through several turbulent periods as executive Director and as Acting Chief executive following the resignations of Graham Kelly, Adam Crozier and mark Palios.

Among his responsibilities were international relations and as football’s representative on the British olympic Association in the period leading up to london’s successful Bid for the 2012 Summer Games.

Prior to his FA career, David spent 23 years as a presenter and correspondent with BBC Television. He is the only BBC correspondent to have had senior roles in the coverage of successive World Cups and General elections.

on leaving The FA he co-wrote the book FA Confidential with Henry Winter. David has resurrected his broadcasting career, by standing in occasionally on the Radio 5 live Sunday morning show Sportsweek. He was a personal advisor to Danny Jordaan, Chairman of the 2010 World Cup Finals Committee.

phil dowd

Come and meet Phil Dowd and his team and hear what Phil has to say about their preparations for the

big match. A number of former FA Cup Final officials will also be in attendance as well as senior FA personnel.

martin Atkinson, FA Cup Final Referee 2011, spoke enthusiastically about the event.

“I really enjoyed the eve-of-Final Rally and I thought it was pitched just right. We weren’t there long into the night which is vital for preparation, but long enough to enjoy the whole event. It was very well organised and all the members were great, really respectful and the good wishes we received made the team feel very proud and honoured.

Julie and I will cherish forever memories of a fantastic weekend and one that we will all remember forever. The game worked out perfectly and no one was talking about refereeing after the game.”

A very enjoyable evening is assured in the company of many other experienced top referees. You will receive a souvenir Rally Programme, autographed by the match officials.

tickets are now available from ra head office priced at £12.00 each for adults and £6.00 for u18s. telephone the supplies department on 02476 420364.

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)

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the referees’ association

in addition to Saturday’s main event, all full members of the RA are welcome to the AgM, the friday evening social function and the Saturday evening dinner-dance. Awards are presented for Life Membership, Long & Meritorious Service and to those who have represented the RA at the top fA finals. The final of the RA national Quiz will take place on Sunday morning.

to find out how to reserve your place at the conference, or any part of the weekend’s festivities, contact your local ra secretary; go to www.footballreferee.org or telephone 024 7642 0360.

annual conferenceTheme: Working Together

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referees’ association

the

Around 500 referees of all levels and ages will be gathering from all over the country to take part in another action-packed Conference. There is no charge for Full members of the RA to attend and there will be lots to learn from those at the top and something for everyone.

saturday 14 July, 9.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m

the interactive Workshops• Incidentsinandaround the penalty area• Mass(player)confrontation• Dissentfromplayersand team officials• Judgingbadtackles• FreeKickandPenalty kick management• Offside• Achievinghighquality teamwork and co-operation

presenters (subject to availability)• MartinAtkinson • StuartAttwell• IanBlanchard • MarkClattenburg• ChrisFoy • SarahGarrett • PeterKirkup • SianMassey• LauraMay• DanielMeeson• MikeMullarkey • MichaelOliver• RayOlivier• NatalieWalker• AdamWatts• HowardWebb

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