If you are interested in taking up refereeing, visit the Gladesville Hornsby Football Referees Association (GHFRA) website for details of training courses to be held in early 2018
12 reasons to become a referee:
1. Help your local club & community
Refereeing is a great way to support your local football club and allow kids and adults alike to play football.
2. There’s plenty of work
There is always room for more referees, whether it is officiating winter football or being part of the continued growth in Summer Football and Local Futsal. Football needs you!
3. Be paid whilst enjoying the sport you love
Get outside and be a match official. Earn money by taking the centre or sideline at a local ground near you.
4. Be part of a team
Learn to work together as being part of a team, either on the field with your fellow match officials or off the field with your local Referee Branch.
5. Meet new people and make friends
There are over 5000 football referees in New South Wales with lots of opportunities to meet each other at events such as State Titles, Champion of Champions, and the State Cups.
6. It’s safe
GHFRA provides lots of support to its referees and they are also supported by the GHFA judiciary. Plus the risk of injury whilst refereeing is much less than playing, and you’ll run just as much!
7. Keep healthy and fit
An added benefit of working as a referee each week is the fitness you’ll gain
8. Keep enjoying the sport you love
If you’ve ended your time playing the beautiful game, refereeing can be the next logical step to continue actively participating in football. Stay fit and healthy with a whistle in hand and give back to the sport that you love.
9. Gain life skills
Refereeing teaches you important life skills, such as conflict resolution, discipline, confidence. The skills learnt will be utilised at school, university or work.
10. Improve your knowledge of the game
Understanding all the Laws of the Game will help you in other aspects of football – whether it be as a fan, player, coach, or volunteer.
11. Build management & communication skills
Effective communication and management skills is an important part of everyday life. As a referee you will learn to successfully apply these skills on and off then field.
12. You can make a profession out of it
If you find that officiating is something you’d like to pursue further, there is a clear pathway to become a professional referee, especially now that the Hyundai A-League employs fulltime refs.