- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- excellent verbal communication skills
- concentration skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- inspecting the pitch and markings
- making sure equipment like goalposts and nets are safely set up
- checking you have everything you need for the game, like stopwatches, cards and radio communications (at top levels)
- meeting with team managers
- briefing your assistants on which signals to use and what to do in particular situations, like if there’s a confrontation on the pitch
During a game, you’ll:
- follow the play and make decisions
- communicate with your assistants to help with rulings
- control the behaviour of the teams on the pitch, and their coaching staff on the sidelines
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work at a college, at a sports arena or at a university.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.
With experience, you could train to become a referee training instructor, match assessor or referee development officer with a County FA.
You could also use your knowledge and experience to move into related areas, like sports development in the community.
You can find out more about becoming a referee from The Football Association.
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