Northern NSW Football will host a Level 4 Referee Course to help its Premier Youth Competitions players become match officials and gain a better understanding of the laws of the game.
The course will be held at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility at Speers Point on Sunday 6 November 2022 from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
More than 75 young players have become match officials thanks to the course over the last three years. It is hoped some of these young referees go on to emulate Australia’s leading match officials who all started officiating by attending a Level 4 Referee Course.
Northern NSW Football Referee Manager Brad Carlin said as well as giving players a better understanding of the laws of the game, course objectives included recruiting more match officials for next season and identifying the rewards and career opportunities available to young referees.
“Refereeing is a great way to make money, get fitter, make new friends, achieve personal growth and have fun,” Carlin said.
“Plus it is incredibly rewarding to be able to give something back to football. Every match benefits from having a qualified official referee in control.”
For an investment of $120 players can attend the course and gain all the training and gear they need to start officiating. Participants will receive a Laws of the Game book, green shirt for their first year of officiating, black shorts, socks, whistle, flag, set of red and yellow cards, notebook and their full referee registration for the 2023 season.
“Our New Starter Referee Package makes it significantly less expensive to start refereeing and is quickly recovered with match fee payments,” Carlin said.
Spaces for the upcoming course are limited and participants must register HERE prior to Monday 31 October 2022. An invoice will be sent to participants upon registering for the course and payment is required prior to the day.
Participants need to be at least 13-years-old. They must complete Football Australia's online Laws of the Game modules and exam in advance of the course, which can be done HERE. Participants must provide a copy of their Certificate of Completion with their result.
“I am hoping to see young female and male players from all of our NNSWF premier clubs in attendance at this year’s course," Carlin said.
"We need as many new match officials as possible for premier and community football matches right across the state."
More information about refereeing in northern NSW is available HERE
