Raffi Coverdale, the Norfolk County FA’s Child Protection Officer, has been explaining various matters arising from the subject matter, to members of the Norwich Branch of the Norfolk Referees’ Society.

“It was very well received,” she says. “They came up with some in-depth and valuable questions, and I think it gave them all a new perspective on the emotive subject of child protection.

“I feel we have been particularly pro-active in this area, because going right back to the start of the workshops, Nigel Worthington set a great example by bringing the whole of his Norwich City first and second team players along, and we had a great reaction when we went to King’s Lynn FC.”

Secretary of the Norwich Branch of the Norfolk Referees’ Society, Richard Pace, says that a number of areas were covered, which his members found most informative.

“It was an inter-active session and used various scenarios we might come across as referees. There was certainly a lot of great value to our members, and we appreciated Raffi’s advice a lot.

“She has a very good manner in dealing with people, and certainly the topics covered sparked some serious discussion.

“Child protection can be a very difficult subject, but she certainly gets her audience galvanised and thinking matters through. I’m sure that everybody will have benefited from what we were told.

“We went through numerous items from how you deal with the situation if a young referee is receiving abuse, to combating the behaviour of some parents.

"One suggestion has been made about having a line marked out two metres away from the touchline so that the crowd is not as close to the field of play.

"This may reduce the likelihood of encroachment and potential intimidation of young players through parents being too close to the touchline,” he adds.

Tony Pickerin, The FA’s Head of Child Protection, has emphasised that it is important for all officials to know that The FA’s Child Protection training is mandatory

He said:  “We think it’s something officials should want to do anyway, to make them more aware of what’s appropriate to safeguard children and themselves.

"It’s important to stress that that the whole CRB process is confidential and that only relevant and significant offending is taken into account.”