An entry · Work · Life
Referee
Twenty-two players, an impossible call a second, and one person everyone agrees to obey.
From curious to committed
Your first steps.
A first visit can be enough. It can also be the beginning.
Meet the craft
Grassroots clubs will welcome and train a willing whistle.
Explore experiences →Give it another afternoon
Notice what you want to come back to. Ask the teacher what regular practice would look like, and what support you would need.
Keep a note for next time →See the working day
Your sport's governing body runs entry courses and badges you.
Explore ways into the work →These are starting points. A workshop is not a professional qualification. Entry requirements and recognised training depend on the work and the country.
Before you walk in
A few things worth asking the host before you book.
- Is this session suitable for someone who has never tried it?
- What should I bring, wear or prepare?
- What is included, and are there any extra costs?
- Can you accommodate my access needs?
- What could I try next if I enjoy it?
Teach this craft? Share what beginners ask you →
Work it
Do the work.
Jobs, apprenticeships, and training that put a person in the room.
Places to begin
- Association
National Association of Sports Officials
Become a sports official
United States
The leading US officiating body; training, insurance, and clear steps to start refereeing.
- Course
England Football (The FA)
The FA Referee Course
United Kingdom
The official route to qualifying as a grassroots football referee in England.
Ways in
- Certification
Referee course
Your sport's governing body runs entry courses and badges you.
- Route in
Officiate grassroots
The lower leagues are short of refs and where everyone starts.
- Route in
Work up the grades
Assessed matches move you toward higher levels.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasLive it
Live the hour.
Experiences, classes, and places where the presence is the whole point.
Ways in
- Volunteer
Referee a local match
Grassroots clubs will welcome and train a willing whistle.
- Visit
Watch from behind the ref
Follow the official for a game and see how much they manage.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasWhy the human is the point
A game only works because everyone agrees to obey one person who will be thanked by no one. The referee makes the split-second call with half the crowd against them, holds the line on the rules, and keeps twenty-two competitive people from chaos. It is judgment under pressure and fairness with no reward, the least loved and most necessary job on the pitch. A machine can flag offside. It cannot feel a match tip toward trouble and calm it with a word. A person keeps the game a game.
Kept nearby
