The programme will enable up to 80 aspiring female referees, and 20 existing female referees gain access to crucial elements of referee development between September 2023 and July 2024. Current data shows that only 23 new female referees have been trained in the 2022/23 season, in contrast to 260 male referees.
The Female Referee Development Programme will aim to qualify up to 60 new female referees, alongside 20 newly trained female community match officials.
The programme delivery will consist of six CPD events (online and face-to-face), three FA Referee Course dates, and two Community Match Official Workshops across the 2023/24 season, alongside the addition of 2 Female Referee Mentors, supporting our aspiring female referees along their development journey.
Hannah Humphreys, Hampshire FA’s Female Pathway Football Development Officer says “We are incredibly excited about the launch of the Female Referee Development Programme, which will provide support for both new and existing referees across the grassroots game in Hampshire.
The programme has been developed to ensure that referees can access varying levels of support across the entirety of the 2023/24 season, especially with the transition from the FA Referee Course into refereeing within their first few games.
The ability to share concerns, discuss key learning moments, and highlight achievements with both their FA Referee Mentor and a group of other female referees is a key part of the programme, and ensures unique guidance/ feedback can be provided to help build confidence across the season.”
Andy Moisey, Hampshire FA’s Referee Development Manager adds “The Female Referee Development Programme is a pivotal programme to enable female officials to progress to the highest levels of officiating whilst being provided with support and guidance along way, to enhance their personal development.”
Anne-Marie Godfrey, a female Hampshire referee supports the programme by adding “I think for me the biggest thing I’m excited about is having the opportunity to provide a consistent support network to our current and future female referees. We hope to create a positive environment for learning and inspire the next generation of match officials.”
Barbara Watts, from the Hampshire County Women’s Football League adds “Hampshire County Women’s Football League are setting out to assist clubs and teams, by providing courses to provide assistant referees with a qualification and self-confidence. to officiate at their fixtures. In so doing, we hope to encourage more people to gain a referee qualification in the future. which would help then to meet the growing need to increase female coverage of female games in all tiers of the women’s game.”
Find out more about the delivery of the programme, and register for the programme by visiting the Female Referee Development Programme page.
For more information about the programme, please contact Hannah.Humphreys@HampshireFA.com