Becoming a referee with the MWFRA
Each year the MWFRA trains around 100 new junior and senior referees who undertake the nationally accredited FFA Level 4 Referee courses. Refereeing is a rewarding and enjoyable pastime which will allow you to actively contribute to improving the standard of local football, develop management and communication skills, and be paid while enjoying football. We look forward to seeing you at a field shortly.
If you have any questions about becoming a referee or the registration process, please contact the MWFRA’s Course Coordinator, Robert Iacono, by emailing [email protected].
Our Expectations (of Ourselves and You)
As part of this process, you can expect the MWFRA to:
- Deliver nationally certified training delivered by FFA qualified instructors with a follow up practical session before the season starts;
- Provide you with a Junior Coordinator who will meet with you, endeavour to come to some of your games and be available for any questions you may have;
- Provide ongoing support through formal practical training sessions and technical information sessions;
- Endeavour to mentor all first year juniors as either a referee or assistant referee;
- Offer opportunities to progress to higher levels of refereeing such as through higher level local matches, advanced courses or FNSW’s Referee Development Program (subject to referee age, experience and performance).
To become a qualified referee will need to:
- Be at least 14 years old on 31 December 2023;
- Submit an application to referee, including a completed Laws of the Game Certificate;
- Enrol in and attend a course on either Saturday 19th February or Sunday 6th March
- Attend a practical training day on either Sunday 20th March or Monday 28th March (only Junior Referees are required to attend the practical session)
- Register to referee and pay the registration, uniform costs ($220.00) through PlayFootball;
JUNIOR AND SENIOR REFEREES ONLY
During the season we expect that you will:
- Make yourself available on our appointments system, MatchRef, on a weekly basis;
- Referee at least 1-2 sessions per week (night game, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning). You will need to be available on Saturday and Sunday mornings in order to receive centre referee appointments. Night games and Saturday afternoons you will be appointed as Assistant Referee;
- Undertake as many games as an Assistant Referee as possible to learn from the senior centre referees;
- Attend a training session at least once per month – either a technical session at a General Meeting or a training session at Cromer Park.
Steps to Apply – Juniors
Applying to become a referee takes four simple steps.
Step 1. Junior Referees – Obtain the FFA’s free online Laws of the Game Certificate.
This certificate can be obtained by creating an account (please use your own name even though it may say you need to be over 16 years of age), completing the interactive Laws of the Game workbook and passing an online multiple choice examination here: Laws of the Game | Play Football
After you have done this, save a copy of the certificate
Step 2. Complete the MWFRA Junior Referee Application
The MWFRA Junior Referee application form can be found here: 2023 Junior Referee Application.
Please ensure you upload your Laws of the Game Certificate when completing your application. The date on the LOTG certificate must be 2023.
Step 3. Register for one of the following courses – successful applicants will be forwarded the link to register.
- Saturday 11th February at Curl Curl Sports Main Hall, Abbott Road Curl Curl
- FEMALES ONLY – Saturday 11th March at Curl Curl Sports Main Hall, Abbott Road Curl Curl – FEMALES ONLY
- Sunday 12th March at Lionel Watts Sports and Community Hall, Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest
The course will run from 8.30-3.30pm and you must attend all day.
Step 4. Register with the MWFRA
Log onto PlayFootball and register to referee. Enter ‘Manly Warringah Football Referees Association’ as the club. use your player details to log in and select Package: 01. MWFRA 1st Year Junior Referee Regis. & Uniform. You will need to pay the referee registration fees and uniform costs at this stage. The cost is $180.00 payable at the time of registration.
Steps to Apply – Seniors
(Appointable Referees not Team Referees)
Applying to become a referee takes three simple steps.
Step 1. Obtain the FFA’s free online Laws of the Game Certificate.
This certificate can be obtained by creating an account completing the interactive Laws of the Game workbook and passing an online multiple choice examination here: Laws of the Game | Play Football
After you have done this, save a copy of the certificate and forward to [email protected] and admin@mwfra.org.au. This must be completed 48 hours before the course
Step 2. Register for one of the following courses.
- Saturday 11th February at Curl Curl Sports Main Hall, Abbott Road Curl Curl
- FEMALES ONLY – Saturday 11th March at Curl Curl Sports Hall, Abbot Road Curl Curl – FEMALES ONLY
- Sunday 12th March at Lionel Watts Sports and Community Centre, Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest
The course will run from 8.30-3.00pm and you must attend all day.
Step 3. Register with the MWFRA
Log onto PlayFootball and register to referee. Enter ‘Manly Warringah Football Referees Association’ as the club, use your player details to sign in and select Package: 02. MWFRA New Senior Referee Regis. & Uniform. You will need to pay the referee registration fees and uniform costs at this stage. The cost is $235.00 (TBC) payable at the time of registration.
Steps to Apply – Team Referees
Please note that as of 2022 Team Referees must be a playing member of the team. If you are not a playing member of the team, please contact Sigrid Mulherin at [email protected] for further details.
Applying to become a referee takes three simple steps.
Step 1. Obtain the FFA’s free online Laws of the Game Certificate.
This certificate can be obtained by creating an account completing the interactive Laws of the Game workbook and passing an online multiple choice examination here: Laws of the Game | Play Football
After you have done this, save a copy of the certificate and forward to courses@mwfra.org.au. This must be completed 48 hours before the course
Step 2. Register for the following course.
- Sunday 5th March at Lionel Watts Sports and Community Centre, Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest
- Sunday 19th March at Lionel Watts Sports and Community Centre, Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest
- Sunday 30th April at Lionel Watts Sports and Community Centre, Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest
The course will run from 8.30-3.00pm and you must attend all day.
Step 3. Register with the MWFRA
Log onto PlayFootball and register to referee.
- www.playfootball.com.au
- Click on Coaches, Referees & Volunteers
- Enter ‘Manly Warringah Football Referees Association’ as the club and click on the box that appears
- Click on ‘Get Started’
- Click on Sign in (DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT) and use your player log in details to sign in.
- Check your personal details
- Select the package: 03. MWFRA New Team Referee Rego and Uniform
- Complete the remainder of the registration including answering the questions regarding uniform size, bank details and the team you are team referee for.
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Rob Iacono by emailing [email protected] with any questions about becoming a referee with the MWFRA.