Referee’s Committee

Messrs:  D Trussler,  G Brock, S Green, N Richards, G Hughes, I Baker, J Cornelius, Jeff Evans Plus officers and Life members.

1. Control of Referees. The authority over and control of Referees and Refereeing in the area of, the West Wales Football Association shall be vested in the Council, who shall have power to delegate such duties as may be thought fit to a Sub-committee to be called the Referees’ Committee.

2. Constitution of Committee. The Council may co-opt one Member of each Referees’ Society in the WWFA area. Such co-opted Member shall be a non-active Referee and shall have no voting powers.
No co-opted Member shall be present when cases of alleged misconduct against Referees are being dealt with.

3. Examinations. New candidates must first pass a theoretical examination in the Laws of the Game (FAW online Become a Ref). After candidates have passed the exam they will attend a practical session and will then be registered on the FAW Comet system.

4. Applications. A referee must be registered with the Association via Comet on payment of a subscription fee as determined by the FAW.

5. Certificates. The Football Association of Wales will issue Certificates to persons qualified to act as Referees.

6. Official List. The Referees’ Officer shall compile an Official List of Referees annually and all Referees wishing to have their names included must affiliate via Comet, on or before the 1st August in each season.

6.1 A person who has lost the sight of an eye shall not be registered.
6.2 The Referees’ Committee shall have the power to remove from the Official List or require re-examination of any Referee when deemed desirable.

7. Classification. The Committee shall classify the Referees on the Official List as follows:
Category One- Referee
International (FIFA List)
1A Cymru Premier Referees
1B Cymru Premier Talent Referees
(Both levels can Referee at Tier Two of the Pyramid in emergency, viz., Cymru North and South
Category Two:
Cymru North & South referees
Category Three:
3 Referees’ Panel of the National Leagues at Tier 3 of the Pyramid (FAW Tier 3 Leagues) and act as assistant referees at Tier 2.
Category Four:
4A Third season Referees (and longer) who referee at Area Association Level and are permitted to act as Assistant Referees in their respective National Leagues at Tier 2.
4B* Second season referees (and longer) over the age of 16 who operate at Area Association level and are permitted to act as Assistant Referees in their respective National Leagues Tier 2 & 3 subject to have attended an Assistant Referees Course as organised by the Area FA. Also permitted to referee in National League reserve league matches.
4C** First year referees over the age of 16 who referee at Area Association level but are not eligible to act as Assistant Referees on the National Leagues

4D Qualified and registered referees under the age of 16 (not eligible for Adult football)
4E Qualified and registered referees who are non-active

* Minimum length of time in 4B normally to be two seasons unless exceptional circumstances apply
** Fast tracking of development group members or other referees in exceptional circumstances from category 4B – 3B is permitted (In collaboration with the area referee development officer and the FAW referees manager)
** Minimum length of time in 4C to be one season
Assistant Referee PathwayInternational (FIFA List)
1AR National list specialist assistant referee
1ART Specialist assistant referees at Tier 2 but have been identified as assistant referees with
potential and are eligible to be appointed to Tier 1 matches from time to time
2AR Specialist assistant referee at Tier 2
3AR Specialist assistant referee at Tier 3
4AR Specialist assistant referee (in training) – This would run in parallel with the refereeing Grade 4 for those interested in following assistant referee pathway with a view of becoming a 3AR. Referees would have to serve a minimum of 1 year core refereeing experience prior to electing to join the assistant referee pathway.
Female Pathway
Category One – Referee
F- International
F-1A National List Referee
F-1B National List Talent Referee
Category One – Specialist Assistant Referee
F- International
F-1A National List Assistant Referee
Category Two – Referee
F-2A 2nd year Referee who operates in the Feeder Leagues to WPWL and acts as Assistant Referee
In the WPWL
F-2B 1st Year Referee who operates in the Feeder Leagues to WPWL and acts as Assistant Referee
In the WPWL (and has attended an Assistant Referee course as organised by the Area FA)
NB Referees for the WPWL will be taken from the Male categories 3 and above and Female Category F-1B and above, whilst the WP Development League will also be from 3 and above.
Assistant Referees can be taken from Categories 4C to 4A
Junior Referees
AJR Adult football referees officiating in junior football with the referees’ leaders award
qualification only.
CJR Child junior referee officiating junior football matches with referees’ leaders award
qualification only (These referees must only referee football matches of an age range below
their academic year)
Footnote – Where season is mentioned above, the referee must be registered by 31st December of
that season.

8. Fees. The Committee shall require an annual subscription of £30.00, which will be reduced to £20.00 if payment is made before 30th June for the forthcoming season, from every Referee placed upon the Official List.

9. Promotion of Referees. Referees, who have reached the age of 16 years on 1st September, may apply for promotion to the Referees’ Officer, in writing, on or before 1st October in any season.

10. Appointments. Leagues and other Combination of Clubs under the sanction or jurisdiction of this Association may appoint Referees to their own matches, provided the appointments are from the Official List.

10.1 Upon application from a Club or League affiliated to this Association, the Committee will appoint a Referee to act in any match, provided the request is received not less than seven days previous to the date of the match.

11. Unplayed Matches. Should a match be postponed for any reason, and, the Referee makes the journey, not having received notification thereof, he/she shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary of the Home Club, at least half the usual fee, plus appropriate travelling expenses.

12. Complaints. Complaints by or against Referees must be sent within seven days in writing to the Referees’ Officer of this Association.

13. Reports. Reports by Referees and substitute Referees, on misconduct of Players, Club Officials, or spectators at matches in the area of the West Wales Football Association, must be made via Comet in addition to any report that may be required by the particular League or Competition under whose immediate jurisdiction the match is played. All reports must indicate the nature of the misconduct and FULL NAME(s) of alleged offender(s).
Referees when cautioning or sending off a player MUST:
(a) Ask the Player for his/her FULL NAME.
(b) Indicate the Offence for which disciplinary action is being taken.
Failure to report misconduct will result in disciplinary action.
1) If the Association receives a late report for an instance of misconduct from a referee during the same season, the referee will receive a warning letter.
2) If the Association receives a late report for an instance of misconduct from a referee for a second time during the same season, the referee will be taken off his next designated league match and given a final warning.
3) If the Association receives a late report for an instance of misconduct from a referee for a third time during the same season, the referee will be issued with a charge under FAW Rule 38.1.9.

14. Unaffiliated Clubs. No Referee on the Official List may officiate at a match in which either or both teams are unaffiliated to this or some other recognised Association without the special sanction of this Committee.

15. Referees to be conversant with Rules of League and other Competitions. Referees should make themselves thoroughly conversant with the Rules bearing upon their duties to the particular League or Competition in which they are officiating.

16. Red and Yellow Cards. Referees are required to use red and yellow cards to signify dismissals and cautions in all matches and Competitions in which they officiate.

17. Referees under the age of 16 years, shall only officiate in matches where the players are of a younger age group to the Referee.
18. Appointments by the West Wales Football Association take first place in order of precedence, except for appointments made by the Football Association of Wales, Cymru Premier League, Welsh Premier Women’s League, Cymru South League and Ardal Leagues.

19. Referees Dress. The Dress for the Referees will be Black Shirt, Black Shorts and Black Socks. White trim is acceptable.

20. Referees and Assistant Referees who officiate in WWFA Cup Competitions must wear the Official Badge of the West Wales Football Association or the Football Association of Wales.

21. Referees in age-related competitions (Under 18 and below) must be DBS checked.

22. All referees 18 years of age and below will be supplied with an arm band which must be worn at all matches to indicate that they are under 18 years of age.

August 2023