The First Year of the National Course was redesigned to incorporate The FA Learning Tutor Training principles recognising that learning takes place in a variety of ways, encompassing previous experiences, building on knowledge, creating effective relationships as well as stimulating and motivating people to learn.

This included new ways of delivering training and included practical training sessions on the field of play for the very first time. We also included the 3-hour Child Protection Workshop for both Year Groups.

The Course members, working in 12 groups, developed their instructional skills in order to deliver quality training to both new and experienced referees. Course members are drawn from almost all The County and Services Football Associations and are divided into two Year Groups.

Year One prepared students to deliver basic training to new referees and ends with a Football Association National qualification as a Registered Referee Instructor.

Year Two develops these instructors so that they are qualified to work on In-Service Courses to active referees, assessors and mentors and, if successful, ends with a Football Association National Qualification as a Licensed Referee Instructor.

Each student had to prepare and deliver a number of teaching sessions and attend all the Course lectures.

Course Staff:

Course Director: John Baker - Head of Refereeing

Deputy Course Director: Ray Olivier

Course Instructors: Joe Guest, Derek Bray, Jim Hill

Year 1 Coordinator: Ian Blanchard

Year 2 Coordinator: Vernon Crew

Group Tutors: Craig Cox, Janie Frampton, Vince Hannon,
Paul Hardie, Eric Hart, Keith Hill, Ray Payne,  Steve Stewart Edward Stone, Alan Wilkie, Roger Vaughan, Dave Young

Technical Assistant: Adam Watts

All the above are either Regional Managers (Referees), Senior Licensed Referee Instructors or highly experienced Referee Instructors drawn from various County Football Associations.

The impressive audio-visual display/equipment was set up by and led by Ian Hargreaves and his team from First Media.

There were several visitors to the Course, including Ray Lewis and John Waterall, FA Referees’ Committee, David Joyce and David Payne from Northants FA and The Referees’ Association.

We are continuously looking to expand the number of experienced referees who wish to become involved in referee instruction. If each instructor in the Country recruits another referee as a County Referee Instructor, we shall have sufficient personnel to share the existing workload with you as well as to cope with the demands of successful recruitment campaigns. Any Instructor who knows of a suitably experienced referee who wishes to join their panel of County Instructors should contact Ray Olivier on 0121 382 4343 or by email ray.olivier@TheFA.com or Louise Abbott on 0207 745 4666 or by e-mail louise.abbott@TheFA.com for further information.

Ray Olivier
National Manager Instructor Training