Refereeing Levels
A match official's position in the ladder is referred to as a Level, which is a mark of his/her achievement within refereeing. New referees start out at Level 7 (or Level 8 if under-16) and referees can progress all the way to Level 1 and beyond.
Please note you must be 14 or over to qualify as a referee.
The typical "Levels" and the games a referee might handle are as follows:-
- Level 7 - Junior County Referee (if under 16)
- Level 6 - County Referee
- Level 5 - Senior County Referee
- Level 4 - Supply League Referee/Contributory League Assistant
- Level 3 - Contributory League Referee/Panel League Assistant
- Level 2 - Panel League Referee/Football League Assistant
- Level 1 - Football League Referee
- Select Group - FA Premiership Referee
- FIFA List - International Referee
Progressing Upwards
The referees promotion year runs from March 1 and ends on the last day of February. The criteria required for promotion depends on the level a referee is looking to gain, but typically will involve refereeing at least twenty games, and being by an experienced trainer accessor.
Level 7 to Level 6
A Level 7 referee seeking promotion will be assessed on at least three occasions, and a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and development areas of his/her performance will be collated and passed to them for advice. It will also require the candidate to attend an In Service Training day and pass a refresher on the Laws of the Game.
At the end of the promotion year, the referee's overall performance will be considered by the AFA Referees’ Committee and, if the Committee is satisfied, the referee will be promoted to a higher Level. However, if the referee has not met the required standard, he/she will be allowed to remain in the scheme until he/she has achieved the required level of performance. To progress to the next Level of promotion you must have done at least one year at Level 7.
Level 6 to Level 5
The requirements are much the same as for progression to Level 6, although the referee will of course be officiating in a higher standard of game, which will be more challenging.
Typically this will require:-
- Refereeing at least 20 matches
- Attending an in-service training seminar
- Pass the Laws of the Game examination
Level 5 to Level 4
A referee who has reached Level 5 and who has also been an Assistant Referee for at least five games may seek to be nominated for promotion to Level 4.
The referee will be be invited to attend a County Fitness Test towards the end of the promotion year. This requires the referee to be able to cover 2500 metres in 12 minutes and also complete two 50m sprints, each in less than 7.5 seconds. This will be held towards the end of the promotion year.
The actual promotion to Level 4 is subject to an invitation, which if successful, means that the referee will be able to referee Supply League football (the lower ranks of semi-professional football) as well as become an Assistant Referee at Contributory League Level.
Level 4 and Upwards
Once at Level 4, a referee will be regularly assessed and may seek to climb further up the ladder.
A Level 3 referee is allowed to Referee at Contributory League Level and act as an Assistant Referee at Panel League Level, such as the Nationwide Conference.
A Level 2 referee is allowed to Referee at Panel League Level, and may be an Assistant Referee on the National List (operating in The Football League and even the Premiership).
A Level 1 referee is eligible to be a Referee for The Football League and, if invited, may even be added to the "Select Group", the panel of Referees on the FA Premiership. The final "promotion" for a referee on the Premiership List is to be added to the FIFA Panel of referees, covering International matches.