West Ham United Foundation are delighted to launch their innovative new 16-18 year old Referees Academy – creating the next generation of football referees.
Refereeing is a great way to be involved in football. There are opportunities for everyone, whether you only want to referee at your local club or progress to the international stage. It gives you the opportunity to be active in the game away from the playing side, to make new and lasting friends within the game and to play a huge role in ensuring the players enjoy their match day experience.
The Referees Academy will give young people across East London and Essex a fantastic opportunity to be active, healthy and the chance to earn money and forge a potential career.
This full-time, two-year education programme will include:
- FA Referee Course
- FA Level 1 Coaching Qualification
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport
- Opportunity to support and work alongside West Ham United Foundation and Academy fixtures and festivals
- Masterclasses from current and retired industry experts
- Access to local FAs and other grassroots organisations
- Opportunity to attend FA CPD events throughout the course
Cost: Free
Entry Requirements: 3 GCSEs at A-C or 8-4, preferably one Maths or English
Open Day for interested participants to be held at London Stadium during Easter Half-Term.
Janie Frampton, Director at Sports Officials Consultancy who will be working with the Foundation on the Academy, said “Sports Officials Consultancy are delighted to be working in partnership with West Ham United’s Foundation to deliver their Referee’s Academy. This programme is hugely exciting and the first of its kind to link with accredited qualifications and to the wider football industry in order to create individuals with a ‘rounded’ knowledge of football from several perspectives. It is hoped with this innovative style of development; new referees will be better prepared to be promoted through the system and maybe even provide a top referee in the future.”
Bryan Glover, Head of Football Development, said: “Having seen the development needs of refereeing from grassroots level to the professional game, we are launching this programme to help generate the next generation of top-quality referees.”
“I am also excited about the prospect of linking in the FA Level 1 Coaching qualification with this Referees Course. We are confident that this will give future referees that complete this programme the insight into both the playing and officiating side of the game, that will allow them to be effective and quality referees.”
There will also be opportunities for fans to link in with the Referees Academy alongside Football Supporters Federation, Kick it Out and Fans For Diversity later in the year with a ‘From The Refs Eyes’ workshop.