Referee Age Requirements

✔ You must be at least 12 years old to enroll in a referee course.
✔ Referees aged 12 can only complete the Small Sided Games (SSG) / Game Leader Course.
✔ The minimum age for the Level 4 Referee qualification is 13.

Level 4 Referee Qualification

• This qualification allows you to referee matches from U12 and above.
• As a general rule, referees can only officiate as the centre referee for games where the players are at least one year younger than them.
  • Example: A 13-year-old referee can officiate as a centre referee for U12 matches and as an assistant referee (linesperson) for all age groups, including All Age.

Exceptions & Recommendations

• In some cases, we may allow exceptions for referees slightly younger than the minimum age if they will meet the requirement soon after or within the same year.
• Until they reach the minimum age, restrictions will apply to which games they can officiate.
• For those considering the Level 4 qualification, we recommend being at least 13 years old by April of the course year.

For more details, see “What age do I have to be to referee?”

✅ Full attendance is mandatory for all courses to ensure you are assessed as competent in all course material. This applies to both single-day and multi-day courses.

📌 Missed a Session?
In limited circumstances, if you are unable to attend part of a course due to extenuating circumstances, you may be able to complete the missed material at another session.

Completing the course does not automatically entitle you to referee with us. You must also become a member. Membership requirements are based on your age and qualifications. For more information on membership options, please visit our Membership page.

Other Referee Branches:
Other referee branches may require you to become a member with them after completing the course. For their specific membership options, please contact them directly.

For all details on our upcoming course, go to Entry level referee courses.

✔ You must be at least 12 years old to begin refereeing.
✔ At 12 years of age, you can only become a Small Sided Games (SSG) Referee and officiate Small Sided Games.

Level 4 Referee Qualification

• The minimum age for the Level 4 qualification is 13.
• This qualification allows you to join as a Junior referee (13 years and older) or Senior referee (18 years or older).
• As a general rule, referees can only officiate as the centre referee for matches one year younger than their own age.
  • Example: A 13-year-old referee would officiate as a centre referee for U12 matches and as an assistant referee for all other age groups, including All Age.

Recommendation

• We recommend anyone joining as a Junior Referee with the Level 4 qualification be at least 14 years old by April of the year they are joining.

You have full control over your referee availability – you can choose to referee as often or as infrequently as you like. Through our appointments management system, you can specify when you are available or unavailable for matches. You will only be appointed to matches within your availability, and you will never be assigned outside of those times.

Keep in mind: The more limited your availability, the harder it will be to get more games.

That said, we encourage you to make yourself available as often as possible to maximise your opportunities to referee.

You will be paid cash on the day for the matches you officiate. Your payment will vary depending on the role you undertake, typically as either the referee or assistant referee (linesperson) for the match.

The current referee payments can be found at Match Fees

In most cases, payments for refereeing as a hobby are not subject to income tax. However, if you are earning money regularly or for other reasons, it’s important to consult with an accountant to understand your specific tax obligations regarding your referee earnings.

Training is held weekly and includes both practical and theory sessions. You can find the details of our upcoming sessions on our home page.

Training is mandatory for all new referees and strongly recommended for all members. The sessions cover:
✔ Fitness
✔ Technical skills
✔ Educational content

Attending training will improve your refereeing experience and help you progress faster to higher-level matches and finals. Referees who regularly attend training tend to enjoy refereeing more and advance more quickly.

Training attendance also plays a key role in your match appointments and eligibility for representative matches and finals appointments.