Courses for 2025 will be published when dates and venues are finalised. Below is additional information that will be updated once the courses are finalised.
Becoming a referee with the MWFRA
Each year the MWFRA trains around 100 new junior 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].
The Expectations of the MWFRA:
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 endeavor to meet with you, to attend 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;
- Endeavor 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 2025;
- Submit an application to referee, including completing the on-line LOTG certificate;
- Enrol in the online Level 4 course on etrainu and complete all the modules prior to the in-person session.
- Register to referee and pay the registration, uniform and course costs through PlayFootball;
- Attend the 2x in-person sessions to complete your course.
During the season we expect that you will:
- Make yourself available on our appointments system, Dribl, on a weekly basis;
- Referee at least 1-2 sessions per week (night game, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon). You will need to be available on Saturday and Sunday mornings in order to receive centre referee appointments. Night games and Saturday/Sunday 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 FootballAustralia free online Laws of the Game Certificate.
This certificate should be obtained in the weeks prior to the courses applications opening. Please do not do this until course applications are open.
If your current player registration is part of a family registration you must register as a FNSW Learner on PlayFootball using this link: TBA. You must use an email address that has not been used on PlayFootball previous
Once the above application is approved, log onto etrainu here: TBA
Complete the LOTG certificate.
Step 2. Complete the MWFRA Junior Referee Application
Please ensure you upload your Laws of the Game Certificate when completing your application.
IF YOUR APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFUL YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED. Do not proceed to the next step unless you have been notified your application is successful.
Step 3. Register for a Level 4 referee course in etrainu – successful applicants will be forwarded the link to register. Various dates for the 2 in-person sessions will be available. This part of the course will cost $30.00 plus GST.
Step 4. Complete all the modules for the online Level 4 course on etrainu.
Step 5. Register with the MWFRA – further information on how to complete this step and the cost of the course will be updated in early 2025.
Step 6 and 7. Attend the 2 in-person training sessions that you registered for in Step 3. You must have completed the online modules prior to attending the in-person sessions.
FAQs
How much information should be included in the application?
The purpose of the application is to learn about your motivations for applying, your availability, and to give you the opportunity to consider why you would like to referee. Therefore, we only require short (1-10 word) answers to the questions. If we require more information we will contact you separately.
How do I pay the course fee?
The Level 4 course fee must be paid when you are registering for the Level 4 course on etrainu. Additional costs for 2025 registration and your uniform will be applicable when registering with the MWFRA on PlayFootball.
The course fee is too expensive. Is it possible to pay later?
The MWFRA registration fee includes the uniform, FFA/FNSW registration fees. We do not aim to profit from these and feel they are competitively priced. As such, we are unable to offer discounts or options to pay later.
How much will I get paid?
As a guide, the match fees from 2025 are here. Please note that they are subject to change each year.
I am unable to attend the courses for juniors/seniors. Can I attend a team referee’s course?
As our juniors and seniors’ courses include different content to team referees nd teaching methodologies, we are unable to offer the team referee’s course to junior and senior appointable referees.
I am unable to attend the practical session. Can I do the practical session at another time?
If you cannot attend one of the two in-person sessions, please contact [email protected] to organise to attend one of the other sessions. You must attend two in person sessions to complete your training.
What is your cancellation policy?
We follow the FFA’s cancellation policy, available on page 11 of the FFA’s AODS. Please contact us ASAP if you need to withdraw from a course.
Further Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Robert Iacono by emailing [email protected] or Sigrid Mulherin at [email protected] with any questions about becoming a referee with the MWFRA.