Refereeing
Advice for referees and those thinking about getting in to refereeing
Why Become a Referee?
Becoming a referee is one of the best ways to develop a greater understanding of the rules of the game. Learning the skills required to be a referee will enhance confidence, judgement, and communication skills. It is often useful for new players to attend refereeing courses in order to aid in their understanding of the game. Clubs benefit from an increased pool of referees providing diversity and suitably qualified individuals for matches. You never know, you may end up refereeing at the highest level – like former Wales international Steve Jones who refereed the World Championship final!
Wales Korfball is invested in creating a development programme for supporting referees of all abilities and aspirations. We hope to provide a guide outlining the benefits of becoming a qualified referee and the process of obtaining the theory and practical qualifications. Keep an eye out for courses in your area!
How to Become a Qualified Referee
Qualified referees in UK korfball need to have demonstrated their competence in two distinct aspects of refereeing: the theory qualification, and the practical qualification. The theory qualification is obtained via a written multiple-choice style exam. The resulting mark (out of 100) determines the theory qualification for the referee:
70+ Pass
85+ Pass with Merit
The exam can be retaken any number of times.
The practical qualification is obtained by being assessed by a qualified assessor during a match, or at least fifty minutes of refereeing. A practical grade is only attainable when a valid theory qualification has been achieved; if a practical assessment is achieved before a theory qualification the result will become active upon passing the theory exam. There a various levels of practical qualification available:
Q – Basic qualification
R – Regional Level
C – National Level
B – National Level
A – International Level
It can sometimes take more than one assessment to progress to a higher level, if for example the match does not provide enough for the assessor to fairly judge the referee’s ability. Referees have the opportunity to develop their skills further before taking the higher level assessment, on higher level matches using a more detailed form.
Useful Material for Referees
Guidance Notes for the Rules of Korfball
Contact our Referee Coordinator (education@welshkorfball.org) if you would like to discuss opportunities to get involved in refereeing.