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Referees

Promotion

Moving Along the Pathway

a path to the professional game

the next challenge

The promotion season commences on 1st July each year, so if you are looking to move up the ladder of officialdom, the details below might help you.

If you wish to be considered for promotion, you should first ensure that you would be able to meet the criteria laid down by The FA. Browse this page to help you decide...
Apply for Promotion
Referees
male pyramid

All Level 7 to 6 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* attend a recognised in-service training seminar
* successfully complete an examination on the laws of the game
* keep the Referees Department informed of all their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 appointed matches during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the Referee Observations carried out during the promotion season

All Level 6 to 5 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* must have met all of the above Level 7 to 6 criteria
* must have completed five 11v11 matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season at senior level

All Level 5 to 4 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* referee a minimum of 20 adult matches in total during the period 1st July to 30th April
* complete a minimum of ten appointments as an assistant referee on adult matches during the period 1st July to 30th April (it is recommended that as many as possible are at Supply League level) 
* be prepared, and regularly available, to referee Saturday and midweek matches
* attend regional in-service nomination training sessions, delivered by The Football Association
* successfully complete an examination on the laws of the game
* successfully complete an FA Referee Fitness Test prior to nomination. The minimum standard to be attained is: twelve-minute continuous run (minimum distance completed 2,600 metres), two 50-metre sprints (maximum 7.5 seconds for each sprint)
* meet the required performance standard within the Referee Observations carried out during the promotion season

Refereeing Pyramid

female pyramid

All Level 4W to 3W promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* attend a promotion seminar held by the Essex County FA
* successfully pass a laws of the game exam
* keep the Referees Department informed of all of their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 open-age matches (70% must be women’s open-age at tier five, six and/or seven of the women’s football pyramid) during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* must have completed three 11v11 open-age matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the referee observations carried out during the promotion season

* attend a promotion seminar held by the Essex County FA
* attend women’s football training events delivered by The FA
* successfully pass a laws of the game exam
* successfully pass the required fitness test (delivered by The FA)
* keep the Referees Department and The FA informed of all of their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 open-age matches (70% must be women’s open-age at tier five, six and/or seven of the women’s football pyramid) during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* must have completed eight 11v11 open-age matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the referee observations carried out during the promotion season

Refereeing Pyramid

In addition to the above, all promotion applicants must:

* register for next season by the 1st August
* respond to all correspondence in writing efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* maintain a record of all matches, whether as a referee or assistant referee
* be proficient in the completion of all referee administration
* be prepared, and regularly available, to referee Saturday, Sunday and midweek matches

All promotion applications must be received by no later than 30th April each year. Any application for promotion received after this date will not be considered as the promotion season starts from 1st July and will run through to 30th April.

If you are already on the promotion scheme, you should still apply for next season and the relevant action will then be taken once the outcome of your current promotion application is known. Following the closure of the promotion application window on 30th April, all match officials who meet the criteria will then be contacted with confirmation of their place on the promotion scheme, along with the necessary details of the scheduled in-service training seminar dates.

Should you have any questions relating to the promotion scheme, please feel free to contact the Referees Department.

Related Documents

FA Referee Progression Pack 2022-23
1.7MB (PDF)