Football referees in Essex who are looking forward to the 2022/23 season can access a number of online features during their annual re-registration via the Essex County FA website.

The referee re-registration window for each season opens on 1st June. Referees are required to register with their parent County FA each year in order to be appointed to games by leagues and other competitions. Re-registration is quick and easy, using a simple online system.

Under FA regulations, referees must register in order to officiate in affiliated competitions - and leagues are forbidden from appointing unregistered referees to games under any circumstances. It costs £20 per season to register with The FA.

Since the launch of The FA’s Whole Game System, referees are able to complete re-registration online, which cuts down on unnecessary paperwork and administration. Referees can login with an E-Mail address and password, then follow the instructions.

Pre-Requisites for Referee Registrations

Referees, aged 16+, who’ll be officiating under 18s matches or below must have an in-date FA DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Check and must have completed the Safeguarding Children Course (SCC), Plus, referees aged 14-15 must have completed the Safeguarding For All (SFA) before registering each season.

The DBS lasts for three years from the date of issue, while the SCC and SFA last for two years. On your FA Referees Course, you will have completed a SCC or the SFA qualification. It is required for all referees that you retain your safeguarding qualification. If you are a current referee coach, mentor and/or observer you will need to hold an in-date FA DBS to carry out this role.

Consent for Referees Aged Under 16

For any referees aged under 16 looking to register for the forthcoming season, your parent or guardian will need to provide you with consent. Please see www.essexfa.com for further guidance on providing parental or guardian consent below.

Auto-Renewal

The FA have an optional auto-renewal feature for referees when registering. Referees will need to slide the section from ‘off’ to ‘on’ manually. Should referees choose to do this, they will automatically be re-registered for the following season and their registration fee will be charged from the card provided. All referees can opt out of the auto-renewal at any point.

Browse the 'Referees' menu above to find out more about refereeing, the registration process or how to renew/complete an FA DBS. Details are also shared by @EssexCountyFA and @EssexReferees on Twitter and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ and ‘EssexReferees’ on Facebook.