Becoming a Referee
Fancy the best seat in the house? Refereeing keeps you fit, keeps you in the game, gets you paid for your Saturday mornings – and the football world needs you. Here's exactly how to get started, from people who've been there.
How to become a referee in England
Everyone starts on The FA Referee Course, run by your local County FA. It covers mini-soccer, 9v9 and 11v11, and it's simpler than you'd think.
-
Book with your County FA
Courses are run locally by your County FA. Find yours, check their course dates and get yourself booked on – they do fill up, especially before the new season.
-
Get your FAN sorted
You'll need an FA Number (FAN) to do the online learning and get registered. Under 18? It needs to be linked to a parent or guardian.
-
Do the online learning
Five short modules on the Laws of the Game – pre-match, signals, fouls and handball, offside, restarts. About 90 minutes, done from the sofa, and it has to be finished before your face-to-face days.
-
Complete your safeguarding
Online safeguarding training is a must before face-to-face. If you're 16 or over and refereeing youth football, you'll need an FA DBS check too.
-
Face-to-face training
Eleven hours of classroom and pitch work: communicating decisions, cautions and send-offs, restarts, positioning and running the line as an assistant.
-
Referee five games
With support from your County FA, take charge of five matches. Submit them. You're officially one of us.
What does it cost?
- Course fees are set by each County FA, so check yours. As a guide it is usually £140.
- If you're 16+ and refereeing youth games, there can be small extra costs for your DBS check and safeguarding course.
- Registration and renewals are handled by your County FA – they'll talk you through it.
- The good bit: once qualified, you get a match fee for every game you referee, set by the league. Those soon add up.
Starting at 14 or 15?
- Brilliant – loads of today's referees started young.
- Until you're 16, you can only referee games where the players are at least a year younger than you.
- Under-18s need a FAN linked to a parent or guardian, and do the online learning on their own account.
- 14 and 15-year-olds don't need a DBS check, but still complete the free online safeguarding course.
- Parents: expect a bit of taxi duty and helping with admin. Your County FA is there to support you both.
What you'll need for your first game
You don't need to spend a fortune to get going. Get the essentials right and you'll walk out looking like you've done it for years.
Match kit
Shirt, shorts and socks. Just black will do. Our A&H Match Kit is the best value
Whistle
A reliable pea-less whistle (plus a spare). Loud, clear and won't let you down in the rain.
Cards & wallet
Yellow and red cards, a wallet and a notebook for goals, cautions and send-offs.
Watch
Two is better than one – a main and a backup, so you're never caught out on time.
Boots
Comfy, broken-in boots that suit the surface. Blisters on debut aren't the one.
Coin & pencil
For the toss and your notes. Small, cheap, and you'll miss them if you forget.
Keep learning, keep improving
Once you're qualified, get in touch with local leagues for games, and keep an eye out for further training through your County FA. There's a full pathway up the referee pyramid if you catch the bug – and we'll be with you every step.
Becoming a referee: FAQs
Am I too old to start refereeing?
Nope. You need to be at least 14, and there's no upper age limit. Plenty of referees start after their playing days, and their game knowledge is a real advantage.
Do referees get paid?
Yes. You get a match fee for each game you referee. The amount is set by the league and depends on the level and age group, so check with the leagues you referee in.
How long does it take to qualify?
The learning itself is about 90 minutes online, plus 11 hours face-to-face. After that it's down to how quickly you get your five games in, and your County FA will help you find them.
Do I need to be super fit?
You'll need to be able to take full part in the practical sessions on the course, and you'll want to keep up with play. But you don't need to be an athlete to start. Most referees find their fitness comes on fast once they're out there every week.
Can I just be an assistant referee?
Everyone qualifies through the same course, which covers both refereeing and running the line. Further up the pyramid, officials can choose to specialise as an assistant referee.
I'm in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Is it the same?
This page covers England. The Scottish FA, FA of Wales and Irish FA run their own referee courses, so get in touch with them for the details. Our kit works the same wherever you are, mind.
What kit do I need for the course itself?
Your County FA will tell you what to bring. As the course includes pitch sessions, bring something you can move about in.
Ready to take the whistle?
We're referees ourselves, and we've been kitting out referees since 1985. Book your course, get your kit sorted, and we'll see you out there.
#WeAreRefereesCourse details from The FA's referee page and County FA websites, checked October 2026. Course content, fees and requirements can change, so always check with your County FA before booking.