Rules relating to the Qualification, Registration & Examination of Referees
Registration & Fee(s).
(a) No person shall officiate as a referee in any competition under the jurisdiction of the NWCFA (here in after called the Association) unless he is registered with the said Association.
(b) A Referee must be registered with the NWCFA on payment of the subscription fixed by the Association. The NWCFA shall keep a Register and shall issue lists of the Registered Referees prior to the commencement of each season or as required by The Council of The Football Association of Wales.
(c) In accordance with the Football Association of Wales rules, a Referee must be registered with the Affiliated Association within whose area they reside and that Affiliated Association shall then be their parent Association and shall deal with all matters concerning them as a Referee, including promotion to Grade 3A. Subject thereto, they may also be registered with any other Affiliated Association on payment of the subscription fixed by such Association.
(d) A referee applying for registration shall complete the appropriate application form
(e) A Referee shall not be registered unless able to satisfy the NWCFA of their date of birth.
(f) An applicant under the age of 16 years may be registered as a Junior Referee by the NWCFA.
(g) Referees registered with the NWCFA are not permitted to act either as a Referee or Assistant Referee in any League or Competition in which they also take part as players.
(h) A person who has lost the sight of an eye shall not be registered.
(i) If, for unforeseen circumstances, a registered Referee is unable to officiate,
Competitions or Clubs may agree on some other person to act in an emergency.
(j) All fees and Subscriptions are payable Annually on or before 1st July in each year. Fee for all levels of referee is £12.50 or £6.00 in the case if registering or residing from outside the Area Association with youth class £2.50. The Association must forward a complete list to The Football Association of Wales on or before the first day of October in each year.
Examination
(a) All candidates shall be examined as to their suitability to officiate. A candidate failing to pass an examination may not re-sit within three months unless the examiners recommend otherwise. The initial examination shall be written in context, and shall also include an eyesight and colour test. A referee shall be advised of the result of his examination as soon as possible and shall receive examiner’s comments if he is unsuccessful.
(b) All candidates shall register with the NWCFA before they sit the examination.
Disqualification
(a) Referees found guilty of misconduct may be removed from the register of referees at the discretion of the Council.
(b) Any appeal against disqualification would be considered by the FAW.
Appointments and Promotion
(a) Referees will be selected for promotion by the Executive Committee who must pass a fitness test approved by the North Wales Coast Football Association and may be subject to an interview at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
(b) A Fitness Test will be held each year and all referees registered with North Wales Coast Football Association are expected to attend. The requirements of the fitness test will be determined by the Association from time to time.
(c) The order of precedence of appointments should be as follows:
(i) Football Association of Wales
(ii) Welsh Premier League & Cup
(iii) Directly Affiliated Leagues in the Pyramid System
(iv) North Wales Coast Football Association Competitions
(v) Other Leagues and Competitions including contributory and feeder
Leagues in that order.
The following protocol should be used when seeking the release of Referees:
‘No organising body should approach any official already appointed to a match by another body, without having sought permission to do so from the Secretary of the body by whom he was previously appointed.’
(d) Referees may be demoted to a lower grade if assessments and club markings warrant such demotion at the discretion of the Executive committee.
(f) In exceptional circumstances referees may be promoted to a higher class mid- season provided they pass a fitness test which will be organised, if necessary, at the discretion of the Executive Committee
Miscellaneous
(a) Each Affiliated Association will have a Referee Development Group. There
should be a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 referees in each Talent Group,within the age-range of 18-28 with a minimum of two years experience of refereeing seniors. Slightly older candidates can be considered if the Area FA considers them to have the potential and talent to be part of the group. FIFA Nominations should firstly be considered from those officials who had progressed through the scheme, when they are National List Officials, unless in special circumstances. Referees residing in Wales for a limited time only, such as students, should not be considered.
(b) Referees may not travel in company with teams
(c) No referee shall be involved in the transfer and/or engagement of a player as an agent for a club
(d) Referees should go on the field in Proper Costume, and Referees in Grade 3B and above should wear the Official Badge of The Football Association of Wales. Referees in all other classes should wear the Official Badge of the
Affiliated Association to which they are registered.
(e) Referee must forward disciplinary reports within 4 days of match to the Disciplinary Secretary. Referees may be fined if this is not adhered to.
(f) Referees registered with the NWCFA must not officiate in non-sanctioned competitions. Referees are advised to check with the NWCFA.
(g) Clubs failing to confirm a Referee appointment in accordance with any league Rules must be reported to the appropriate League Secretary involved. However it is the responsibility of the Referee to confirm his appointment with a Club Secretary, at least 24 hours prior to kick off if the said Club Secretary has failed to confirm such appointment. Once a Referee has been appointed to officiate a particular fixture, then he must honour that appointment even though the Club Secretary has failed to confirm his appointment in accordance with any League Rules.
(h) The referee examination course fee is £150 per course, which is
rechargeable within the Affiliated Association’s annual Referee Training Grant from the FAW.
( i ) The hierarchy of authority for Referees on a Sunday is as follows; FAW
appointments, Welsh Premier League, Welsh Premier Women’s League, Other.
(j) The fee for the Referees Course throughout Wales is £15, which
includes Year 1 Registration.
(k) Any referee that has not become active, two years after completing the Course, but before 5 years, must take a refresher course.
(l) Any referee who has not become active after 5 years must re-take the whole Course.
(m) Attendance at Area Association Training and Education seminars is mandatory for all referees seeking promotion, unless a legitimate reason for non-attendance is provided.
Referee & Assistant Referee Categories 2015-2016 Season
Category One - Referee:
International (FIFA List)
1A Welsh Premier League Referees.
1B Welsh Premier League Talent Referees.
Category One – Specialist Assistant Referee:
International (FIFA List)
1A National List
(Both levels can Referee at Tier Two of the Pyramid in emergency, viz, Cymru Alliance and Welsh League Division One).
Category Two:
2 Cymru Alliance and Welsh League Referees Division 1 South (who are also Welsh Premier Assistant Referees).
Category Three:
3A Referees’ Panel of the Directly Affiliated Leagues at Tier Three of the
Pyramid and act as Assistant Referees at Tier 2.
3B Referees' Panel of the Directly Affiliated Leagues at Tier 4 of the Pyramid and at Area Level and act as Assistant Referees at Tiers 2 and 3 of the Pyramid
Category Four:
4A Third season Referees (and longer) who referee at Grass Roots level and are permitted to act as Assistant Referees in their respectively Directly Affiliated Leagues at Tier 2.
4B* Second season referees over the age of 16 who operate at grass roots level and are permitted to act as Assistant Referees in their respectively Directly Affiliated Leagues at Tier 2 & 3 subject to have attended a Lining Course as organised by the Area FA.
4C** First year referees over the age of 16 who referee at Grass Roots level but are not eligible to act as Assistant Referee on the Directly Affiliated 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.
** Minimum length of time in 4C to be one season.
A Separate Category structure exists for Women Referees as follows:
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 operate in the Feeder Leagues to the WPWL and act as Assistant Referee in the WPWL.
F-2B - 1st Year Referee who operate in the Feeder Leagues to the WPWL and act as Assistant Referee in the WPWL (and has attended a lining course as organised by the Area FA)
Note: Referees for the WWPL will be taken from the Male categories 3B and above and Female Category F-1B and above, whilst the WP Development League will also be from 3B and above. Assistant Referees can be taken from Categories 4C to 4A.