How do I become a referee?

 

In order to become a referee, you must undertake a Basic Referee Course. These are run by the County FAs and involve some study, examinations, refereeing six matches and a Next-Step workshop. A Child Protection Workshop and CRB check are also mandatory elements of the course.

 

 

When are courses / seminars / exams / Child Protection Workshops next held?

 

To find out when and where these courses are next taking place, get in touch with your local County FA and view the links on The FA web pages for more details. If you do not know the contact details for your County FA, you can request them from FAMOA by telephoning 0207 745 4651 or by email to famoa@TheFA.com.

 

 

What is FAMOA?

 

On passing your Basic Referee Course, you automatically become registered with The FA's Match Official Association (FAMOA). FAMOA is a direct link between The Football Association and all connected with refereeing. It exists to support, inform and develop match officials at every stage in their careers. Local activities will be promoted and co-ordinated by the Regional Manager (Referees).

 


What are the benefits of being part of FAMOA?

  • Incentives to act as a match official, assessor, mentor, instructor, fitness leader and for introducing friends to refereeing.
  • Active Referees will receive a badge to wear on their referees’ kit.
    Newly trained referees will receive this badge free of charge after officiating six games of 11-a-side football which is an element of the Basic Course.
  • Regular in-service training at all stages of your career.
  • Organised physical training activities and advice on fitness and diet.
  • Up-to-date information on the laws of the game and advice on their application.
  • Open Learning Courses on The FA website.
  • A Record of Achievement, in which to keep awarded certificates.
  • Continuous Service awards.
  • Copies of ‘Refereeing’ magazine, free of charge.

 

What is my FAMOA number?

 

On passing your basic course, you will become a member of FAMOA and be assigned a FAMOA number. You will be informed of this number on the letter which will be sent out to you along with your Record of Achievement, certificate and FAMOA three lions referee badge on submission of your six-match application form. Alternatively, email famoa@TheFA.com or call 020 7745 4651 to find it out.

 

 

How can I get a new FAMOA membership card? Mine has expired.

 

FAMOA membership cards are no longer being produced. You will remain a member of FAMOA but the cards are now redundant.

 

 

What is the FAMOA Incentive Scheme?

 

The scheme is a free initiative which aims to encourage newly qualified and existing referees to officiate on games and gain experience. The scheme works on a points system. On joining, you will receive a log book in which to record any games you officiate throughout the season and you will collect points for doing so. Points can also be collected for participating in various other activities such as mentoring, attending seminars, training, meetings and for acting as an instructor or assessor. These points can later be redeemed for items of referee kit and equipment.  A letter detailing these products and the necessary points required for obtaining them will be sent out towards the end of the season.

 

 

How do I join the FAMOA Incentive Scheme?

 

There are a number of ways to join the scheme:

 

  • Tick the box at the bottom of your six-match Record of Achievement application form before sending it in.
  • Request to join by emailing famoa@TheFA.com
  • Call 0207 745 4651.


What games count to collect points for on the FAMOA Incentive Scheme?

 

When collecting points, please adhere to the following criteria for what games count:-

 

  • All games officiated must be officially sanctioned competitions and leagues and not friendlies.
  • Only 11-a-side games will count.
  • Football of all ages, genders and abilities are eligible for points collection.
  • Games must be at and below Supply League level.
  • You will collect equal points for acting as a Referee, Assistant Referee, Fourth Official or an Assessor.


When can I redeem my points?

 

It is important that you fill out your log book correctly and keep it in your possession until you are told to submit it. This will happen in February/March each season when you will be sent instructions on how to redeem your points along with an order form to select products to claim. There will be a deadline of 31 July each year to submit log books by. Of course, if you have reached the 1500 point limit ahead of this time, you can send it in once this amount has been reached, but only after you have received the order form.  Points can not be carried over to the next year.

 

You can view most of the items available in the scheme by logging onto www.famoa.com/incentive using your surname and FAMOA number and then selecting the products page.

 

Once you have your logbook completed and ready to send, take photocopies of your book and order form, then if they should get lost in the post you will still be able to make a claim. Make sure you add sufficient postage and send to First Media Solutions Ltd, Tattershall Way, Fairfield Ind. Est., Louth, Lincs LN11 0YZ. 

 

 

I still have my completed log book from last season. Can I redeem my FAMOA Incentive Scheme points now?

 

No. Unfortunately the deadline for logbooks to be sent in each year is 31 July and any books received after this date will not be processed.

 

 

How do I know if my logbook was received?

 

You can check on the website to see if your logbook has been received – www.famoa.com/incentive it usually takes seven days to be added to the site, so if after 10 days it is still not there please contact us on enquiries@famoa.com or 01507 610043.

 

 

When will my order be sent out?

 

Once the order has been added, please allow 21 days for it to be despatched, a little longer if you have ordered embroidered items.  All orders are sent out with Royal Mail second class, so please allow 15 working days for it to be delivered. If you have not received it after this time, please telephone 01507 610043, do not leave it until the end of the season.

 

 

What if I have a problem with the goods I receive?

 

If you have any problems regarding your order or with the goods you receive, please contact First Media on 01507 610043 or email enquiries@famoa.com

 

 

What happens once I have completed my first six games as a referee?

 

Once you have officiated six games as part of your Basic Course, you should fill in the details of each match onto the form ‘The FA Recruitment and Retention Initiative’ which can be found at the back of your ‘Welcome to Refereeing’ booklet in your course folder. This should then be posted to the Referee Development Officer at your local County FA. We will then send out to you a Record of Acheivement folder, a six-match certificate, a FAMOA three lions referee badge to be sewn onto kit and a letter which states your FAMOA number.

 

 

How can I get a new log book / black wallet?

 

Log books are issued at the start of every season. If you were registered on the scheme the previous season, there is no need to re-register, as membership simply rolls over. If you mislay your log book or do not receive one, please contact FAMOA on 0207 745 4651 or email famoa@TheFA.com.

 

Black log book wallets are issued only when you join the scheme for the first time, not every season. They are however available to redeem your Incentive Scheme points for on the order form sent out at the end of the season.

 

 

How can I get a FAMOA referee badge for my kit?

 

FAMOA three lions referee badges which can be sewn onto kits are only issued free of charge as part of your Record of Achievement package. This is issued when you have officiated more than six matches and have submitted to FAMOA a six-match form.

 

The badges can alternatively be purchased from FAMOA at a cost of £5.00 each. Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Football Association’ and posted with a short cover letter (stating your address) to FAMOA, Referees Department, The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA.

 

 

Where can I purchase referees' kit / equipment?

 

The Referees Association (RA) sell a range of kit and equipment via phone and online. Their website can be found at www.rashop.co.uk and their phone number is 02476601701.

 

A & H International is another company who stock a comprehensive collection of refereeing products. They are online at www.referee-equipment.co.uk and are also contactable by telephone on 0800 980 2208.

 

Finally, Official Sports boast an extensive variety. They are to be found at www.officialsports.co.uk and also are available to contact on 08000 96 99 96.

 

 

How do I join the Referees Association?

 

Being a member of the Referees Association has many benefits. The RA is dedicated to helping you develop as a referee through experience-sharing at local society meetings and in protecting you from injustice and unfair treatment. They have on offer an insurance policy, life cover and funeral expenses, a benevolence fund and can organise victim support and counselling. Also something else to take advantage of is the discounted kit available via their shop, as well as other commercial benefits such as hotel and insurance discounts. To join, at a cost generally less than one match fee, call the RA Head Office on 02476 601701, email ra@footballreferee.org or visit the website www.footballreferee.org.