Referee Development Officer

What the role involves

• Run referee courses and recruitment drives
• Support new referees with mentors
• Work with leagues on abuse and retention

Ways in, with or without formal qualifications

Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.

• Experience

  Referee youth and amateur games

  Refereeing teaches the laws, fitness and decision-making under pressure. It also helps coaches, analysts and administrators understand the game from the middle.

• Experience

  Work experience and internships

  Placements at clubs, associations, agencies and sports businesses. Often unpaid or low-paid, but the strongest way to get a first contact.

Qualifications and licences

Employers commonly ask for one or more of these.

• Officiating

  Referee Course & Referee Grades

  The entry course for referees, followed by a ladder of grades through observation and fitness. Top grades lead to professional leagues and international lists.

• Degree

  Sport or Football Business Degree

  A degree in sport management, football business or sports business. It builds finance, marketing, law and management knowledge, plus placement opportunities. Helpful, rarely essential.

Skills and knowledge

• Laws of the Game
• Communication
• Project Management
• Leadership

Tools you may use

• Team and club management apps
• Spreadsheets

Where this role is found

• National & county associations

Where this role leads

• Coach Educator / Tutor

  Required

  Teaches and assesses coaches on association courses.

Common stepping stones into this role

• Professional Referee
• Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Official
• Referee Assessor / Observer

Pay and context by region

Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.