1. Be paid whilst enjoying the sport you love

Get outside and be a match official. Earn great cash by taking the centre or sideline at a local ground near you.

2. Keep healthy and fit

An added benefit of working as a referee each week is the fitness you’ll gain by officiating on weekends and attending midweek training sessions.

3. 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!

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. 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.

7. It’s safe

The risk of injury whilst refereeing is much less than playing, and you’ll run just as much!

8. 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.

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. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

If you’d like to become a referee you’ll need to complete the FREE online Laws of the Game course which you can do right now, then contact your local Referee Branch.