Btec National Referee Qualification

This initiative is fully endorsed and supported by The FA and delivered in partnership with the Hampshire County FA.

As part of the Btec National qualification, South Downs College are the first Further Education College to deliver a full referees qualification as part of unit 20 - ‘Understanding the Rules and Laws of Officiating in Sport’.

Once completed, this will link to the key partners as follows for the retention and development of referees:-

· Hampshire County FA

· South Downs Hawks (Havant & Waterloville FC Academy)

· Portsmouth Referees Association

Once successful, candidates will work right in and amongst the highly rated South Downs Hawks (Havant & Waterloville FC Academy) both in the classroom and on the training ground. They will continue to receive specific football refereeing education delivered by fully qualified FA Tutors and be actively involved in critical aspects of the game including fitness, diet, nutrition, psychology and physiology.

During this time, our new referees will also gain experience officiating in matches on a regular basis as they graduate through the various qualifications in a unique ‘earn-as-you-learn’ environment.

With the first semester having just finished. the first 20 qualified referees will be beginning their refereeing journey and by the end of the first year, it is hoped to have 127 successfully qualified new referees.