Question Number: 5115

League Specific

RE: Adult

Simon Barker of Maidstone, Kent England asks...

I am hopefully going to pass my referee training exam shortly, I understand that I will become a class 7 referee at end of march. What will my options be as regards promotion? and how quickly can I get to Class 6 and maybe higher?

Answer provided by Referee Powell

Simon,..Best of luck with the exam, Im sure you'll be ok if you've studied the Laws. The examiners will also help you out in the verbal part of the exam...Any way once you have qualified this is how it pans out.....In just under a year you should apply to your County FA and apply for promotion, you will then be assessed by three seperate officials and they will mark you out of 10. you generally need 21 out of 30 but there is no set figure between Counties. You will also need to sit another exam which is a multi choice paper on the Laws of the game. You must also complete 20 games at adult level..If you are successfull you will be promoted to level 6 and then in another year you adopt the same procedure again. This time the exam is a little tougher but still relatively easy if you have prepared correctly..Once you have attained level 5 you should be offered a supply league to referee on a Saturday, possibly subject to passing a fitness test and also if you are below a certain age which is usually 42. I assume you are a younger referee and will take it further for you....Once on a supply league you may also be appointed to the National list of Contributory League Assistant Referees this is subject to passing a fitness test which consists of 2700meters in under 12 minutes followed by a fifteen minute interval and then two 50 meter sprints..To gain promotion from the Supply league into the middle of the Contrib leagues you will need to gain good marks from the clubs you referee on a Saturday in the supply league the top referees in the supply leagues are then invited for an interview and if successfull they referee in the contributory Leagues. If you do well with club marks in those leagues you may be promoted to the Panel leagues as an Assistant and possibly in to the middle from there you can make the Football League Lines and middles then eventually the Premiership and even FIFA..Could I suggest you join your local Referees Association as this will be able to give you advice and support as well as telling you how to go about getting promoted. Also visit WWW.footballreferee.org..Keep Smiling.Steve Powell

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi Simon, .welcome to the ranks of those who patrol the middle. You seem eager and ambitious. As Ref Powell is a UK referee you should be well informed. I hope your career is a long and fun experiance..If we can help you along do not hesitate to drop in from time to time..Cheers