The FA nurtures referees as part of new initiative
The FA’s new Referee Diversity Action Group ran a futsal referee training course for Asian and Muslim women at Preston Manor High School in Brent last month.
The recently-formed group ran the session due to the increased popularity of futsal in the local area, which, as a consequence, has led to the growing need for additional referees.
Lorraine Deschamps, a level 5 referee, and Charlotte Edwards, from Middlesex FA, tutored and facilitated the day, with all 18 participants, who were handpicked by the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation (MWSF), successfully passing the basic futsal referee course.
Roger Vaughan, FA National Referee Manager, said: “This is a really good success story and an example of good practice of where a clearly defined equality strategy can positively meet the needs of the wider community and assist The FA’s Referee Department, in recruiting in this case, 18 new referees into the game.”
Lorraine added: “All the ladies thoroughly enjoyed the course and learnt a great deal about the theoretical and practical aspects of the game.”
Over the course of the new season, the Referee Diversity Action Group will be pursuing a number of key objectives, ranging from implementing strategies to recruiting, selecting and retaining referees from diverse backgrounds, to undertaking and marketing projects across County Football Associations that demonstrate good practice in equality of opportunities in refereeing.
Jonathan Mills, The FA’s Equality Co-ordinator, commented: “This is one of a number of key initiatives which will assist in widening the talent pool within the referee workforce and encourage others to ‘Get into Refereeing.’”
From The FA
