Portsmouth Referees' Association

Promotion

This page is intended to assist you with any promotion queries that you may have. Below are the requirements for referees seeking promotion from levels 7-4, general advice and several FAQS to help you too!

Promotion Criteria

Level 5-4

  • Must operate as Referee on a Senior League as decided by the County Referees Committee (Currently these are Wyvern Combination / Hampshire Premier League / Suburban League (North/South Divisions) & Combined Counties (Reserve Division). Note: You will receive notification from the respective league to which you are appointed.
  • Must have completed a minimum of 15 (11 v 11) matches as referee (only on the League allocated) and be within the top 50% of the markings of that League.
  • Must have completed 5 (11 v 11) matches as an Assistant Referee (on a Supply League or equivalent).
  • Must have received a minimum of 3 assessments as a referee.
  • Must pass the standard fitness test prior to nomination.

  • A 12 minute continuous run covering a total distance of 2,600 metres
  • Complete 2 x 50 metre sprints each of 7.5 seconds

NB: Although not a requirement referees looking to become Level 4 officials will be invited to attend an In Service Training Seminar which will provide them with the necessary knowledge of the way ahead for a level 4 official.

Matches that count towards promotion:

Hampshire Premier League Senior
Wyvern Combination League Premier, Eastern & Western Divisions
Suburban League North & South Divisions
Hampshire League 2004
Hampshire Intermediate Cup (matches between teams from above divisions
Portsmouth Saturday League Premier Division (3 matches from this division can count towards 15 games)

Level 6-5

  • Must have completed 20 (11 v 11) matches as a Referee.
  • Must have completed 5 (11 v 11) matches as an Assistant Referee (on a Supply League or equivalent).
  • Must have received a minimum of 3 assessments as a referee.
  • Must have attended a Promotion ‘In Service’ Seminar.
  • Must have taken and passed a written examination in the Laws of the Game.

Matches that count towards promotion:

Portsmouth Saturday League Premier Division
Havant Sunday League Division 1
Hampshire County Youth League U18
City of Portsmouth Sunday League Premier & Senior Division
Portsmouth Royal Dockyard League Division 1
Women's South West Combination League
Hampshire Intermediate Cup and all competitions of a higher status

NB: You may only include up to a maximum of 6 Hampshire Youth games in your 20 games.


Level 7-6

  • Must have completed 1 calendar year or 1 complete season as a Level 7 Referee.
  • Must have refereed 20 adult games before applying for promotion (from 2013/2014 season).
  • Must have completed 20 (11 v 11) matches as a Referee (in promotion season).
  • Must have received a minimum of 3 assessments as a referee.
  • Must have attended a Promotion ‘In Service’ Seminar.
  • Must have taken and passed a written examination in the Laws of the Game.

Matches that count towards promotion:

Portsmouth Saturday League Division 1
Gosport & Fareham League Divisions 1 & 2
Havant Sunday League Division 2
Meon Valley Sunday League Division 1
City of Portsmouth Sunday League Divisions 1 & 2
Portsmouth Royal Dockyard League Division 2
Women's Southern Region League Premier Division
Hampshire Junior A Cup and all competitions of a higher status

NB: You may only include up to a maximum of 6 Under 18 games in your 20 games.


Promotion Advice

The Referees Committee recommend that the following three areas are vitally important in ensuring your successful promotion and should be observed at all times:

  • Good Correspondence – all communications whether by phone, email or letter – must be attended to immediately on receipt and without delay.
  • Regular Availability – ensure all appointment secretaries, which must include the County Office and your area assessor co-ordinator, are provided with regular availability.
  • Misconduct Report Writing – ensure reports are completed correctly and submitted without delay to the disciplinary department. If in doubt as to the content of the report, then speak to a refereeing colleague to assist you.


Promotion FAQs

I have applied for promotion, but I am attending University, will this affect me?

As long as you are able meet the criteria for promotion in the time you have available then you can still be promoted. However, to assist the County and your local assessment co-ordinator please ensure you inform them at the start of the promotion season that you are going to University so they can prioritise getting your assessments completed before you leave the local area.

I am injured, but can I still apply for promotion?

If you are injured then you can still apply for promotion, but do be realistic. If you have a long term injury then it will be in your interest to defer your application until next season. Please also contact your local assessment co-ordinator and inform them you are currently injured, as well as when you expect to be back refereeing again, so they can plan accordingly. This also applies if you become injured during the season. Please also ensure you inform the Referee Development Manager, Brian Le Breton as to your injury status / progress.

What games count towards the 20 needed to meet the promotion criteria?

Eleven a side football played at Under 18 or adult level, including female matches in FA sanctioned competitions, e.g. local Saturday and Sunday leagues, but not schools or college football.

What games can/will I be assessed on?

Only games in leagues/divisions decided by Hampshire FA – the decision over which leagues/divisions count is made to ensure the games will present a suitable challenge to the referee when being assessed. As a guide a level 6 must be assessed on games between two teams who play in the Hampshire Intermediate Cup or higher and a level 7 must be assessed on games between two teams who play in the Hampshire Junior A Cup or higher. A level 5 must be assessed on the Hampshire Premier League, Wessex Combination, Suburban League or Combined Counties League Reserves.

How many assessments will I get?

You will need to be assessed a minimum of 3 times to meet the promotion criteria. You may also receive additional assessments if it is helpful to ensure you stand the best chance of being promoted.

Who will I be assessed by?

Level 7s will normally be assessed by registered assessors from their local area.
Level 6s will receive assessments from registered assessors in their local area. However, one of the assessments will be done by an assessor from outside the local area.
Level 5s will receive assessments from the agreed list of Level 5-4 assessors.

Who allocates the assessors to assess me?

For level 5s the County Assessor Co-ordinator (Huw Evans) and/or the Referees Development Manager (Brian Le Breton) will arrange the assessor. For level 6s and 7s the County is divided up into six areas (Bournemouth, North Hants, Aldershot, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight) and there is a co-ordinator local to each area who arranges assessments. Our area co-ordinator is Ash Potter - for more details see below.

Who ensures I get appointed to my 20 games at Levels 7 & 6 and 15 games at Level 5?

This is your responsibility – Levels 7 & 6, please make sure you are aware who your local appointments secretaries are; those at Level 5 please also make sure you are aware who your League appointments secretaries are, and in all cases that they are aware of your availability at all times. Promotion candidates are advised to plan ahead as the weather will usually affect games from November onwards for approximately half the promotion season, i.e. ensure you have refereed around 75% of the 20/15 games required before the end of November. For referees who also act as an assistant on the Wessex / Suburban & Combined Counties Leagues remember to plan around this as well.

Who do I speak to if I have any questions?

Brian Le Breton – Referee Development Manager – 01256 853011/07787 951524 or brian.lebreton@hampshirefa.com

Huw Evans – County Assessing Co-ordinator – 01794 524418 or g.evans5@homecall.co.uk

Ash Potter – Portsmouth Assessor Co-ordinator - 02392 384572 or ash.potter@btinternet.com

What happens if I miss the promotion seminar and/or, for level 5s, the fitness test?

You will be provided with more than one opportunity to attend a seminar or, if applicable to you, take a fitness test – if you fail to attend any seminars or fail to pass a fitness test (if it applies to you) then your promotion application will be withdrawn.