Young refs get Festival feeling

Last month saw 20 young referees from Middlesex FA took to the fields of their county to take charge of games in The 2010 FA McDonalds National Football Festival.

The referees, predominantly newly qualified Level 9 referees together with a few more experienced young Level 7 referees, took charge of U10 mini-soccer games during the morning at Northwick Park Playing Fields in Brent before heading to The Venue of Legends...Wembley Stadium...in the afternoon for the final round of games.

All of the Level 9 referees had recently completed their Module 3 on the Basic Referees Course and having the chance to referee games like this was a tremendous opportunity to put into early practice all of their knowledge and learning from the courses, and for it to be on such a world famous stage was something that dreams are made of.

The referees, ranging in age from 14 up to 40, all refereed at least once on the hallowed turf that had been graced by England the previous evening in their pre-Euro 2012 qualification win against Hungary.

“I cannot believe that only a few weeks ago I was learning to referee and here I am refereeing at Wembley – the most famous stadium in the world," said Denis Connolly, 40, from Ealing, who completed the course with his 14-year-old son Michael who also stepped out to referee games at The National Stadium.

“The course and training has been very interesting for both myself and Michael and we have really enjoyed it. The support and assistance we have received from Middlesex FA has been fantastic and to referee here is a dream come true.”

17 year-old Level 7 referee Justine Buckmire added: ”It has been a really great day and as a young Level 7 referee, the experience has really spurred me on to referee as much as I can. I just want to referee more and more and one day, referee a full-size game here!”

Ian Blanchard, The FA's Senior National Game Referee Manager, attended both the morning games in Brent and the final games in the afternoon at Wembley and he was pleased with what he saw.

“I have been really impressed by the ability of these new, inexperienced Level 9 referees," he said. "They have shown that by putting the theory of the course into action as soon as possible after Module 3 of the Basic Course, it is fresh in their minds and so with it comes a better chance to get that early on-field experience which is so invaluable to trainee referees.

"Our challenge and that of County FAs is to convert the Level 9 trainee referees into Level 8 and Level 7 fully qualified referees – this experience can only enhance that goal. These referees are our referees of tomorrow and we must do everything we can to get them out refereeing on games as soon as possible after their courses, supported by structured mentoring schemes.”

“Middlesex FA have a great support mechanism for their new referees that gives them games as soon as they finish their courses…in mini-soccer and 11v11 matches and that really helps keep that initial interest alive.”

Middlesex FA Referee Development Manager Keith Hill added: “The referees have really enjoyed the experience and our job now is to keep that enthusiasm alive and support the referees through their first six 11v11 games, and with it have another fully qualified referee.

"Another fully qualified referee potentially means another 20-25 games a season, or more, with a qualified referee in the middle of it. That is what everyone watching football at local level tells us they really want…a fully qualified, neutral referee and we are working really hard to deliver that for them.”