Hartley Wintney JFC hosts Referee Course

Hartley Wintney JFC today hosts its first ever Referee Course, led by the Hampshire FA.

The Referee plays an integral role in ensuring all participants enjoy their match day experience, helping create a competitive, fair, safe and enjoyable playing environment. Today, 14 students are embarking on the referee course - and their new career in refereeing. The FA Referee Course is designed to equip new referees with the key skills and knowledge they will need to be able to referee grassroots football matches safely and effectively.

The course content helps you to learn the Laws of the Game and involves several online modules, then a full day and a separate evening session, addressing how to recognise and deal with fouls, off-sides, inappropriate behaviour, communicating decisions and how to caution/send players off. It is run by Hampshire FA Referee Development Manager, Andy Moisey.

One of those participating on the course is Cameron Swan. Cameron has a rich pedigree of refereeing in the family, as his Great-Great-Grandfather, John McAleer used to referee in the old football First Division about 100 years ago! You can read his full story, and learn how to become a referee, on the Hampshire FA website.

Chairman of Hartley Wintney JFC, Duncan Swan, who is also partaking in the course, comments "it is fantastic to have so much interest in this referee course. It will provide the local area with valuable referee resources as we approach the new season. The content of the course is superb and all of us on the course will agree that we have learnt a new appreciation of and respect for referees and the Laws of the game!

As part of their development, the club will ensure mentoring support to the new referees, when they start putting the theory into practice.

If you are interested in enroling on a future course hosted by the club, and you have passed your 14th birthday, contact us.