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Hollin Vale FC
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Club referees · winter 2027

Swap touchline muttering for a whistle

Every Saturday morning our youth teams turn up keen to play, from the U9 Owls to the U16s, and none of it happens without a friendly face in the middle. Join our own club referee course this winter: you will never watch a match the same way again.

Put your name down
Match days
3 evenings + 1 practice Saturday
Admission
Free for members and parents
Age
From 14
Squad
Max 12 per group
A teenage club referee with a whistle officiating a Saturday morning youth match while parents watch from the touchline

How the course works

No thick rulebooks or sit-down exams, just three relaxed evenings with tea, coffee and biscuits plus a Saturday morning out on the grass.

  1. 0'Kick-offEvening 1The laws without the fuss

    Over a brew in the clubhouse we walk through the rules as they really work in youth football. Offside gets explained with coffee cups, which beats any diagram.

  2. 45'Half-timeEvening 2Whistle, signals and voice

    How to blow so everyone actually stops, clear arm signals and where to stand. Then we head out under the floodlights on the artificial pitch, so bring your trainers.

  3. 46'Second halfEvening 3Keeping calm on the touchline

    Keen parents and coaches on the touchline, awkward moments, and what to say (and what not to). We watch a few short match clips and talk them through.

  4. 90'Your first matchSaturdayYour first real youth match

    You referee your first proper match with our youngest players, with an experienced club referee next to you as your buddy. Then tea, coffee or squash and a chat about how it went.

Fixture list

GroupEveningsTimePractice Saturday
Group ATuesdays 12, 19 and 26 January 202719:30 to 21:3030 January 2027, 09:00 to 11:30
Group BThursdays 4, 11 and 18 February 202719:30 to 21:3020 February 2027, 09:00 to 11:30

Max 12 people per group, first come, first served. Gemma will let you know if there’s still room.

A whistle, a yellow and red card and coffee cups on a clubhouse table

I used to stand on the touchline wondering how the ref missed that. Then someone explained offside with two mugs and a plate of biscuits. Now Saturday mornings with the U9 Owls are the best bit of my week.

Mark, dad of an U13 Blues player

Fancy giving it a go?

Open to members from 14, parents and carers of youth players and anyone else at the club. It’s free for members and parents of youth players. Sign up by Friday 8 January and pick the group that suits your diary.

At the final whistle you get

  • A certificate of attendance from the club
  • Your own whistle and a set of cards to keep
  • An experienced club referee buddy for your first matches

After the course you referee a few youth matches a season, planned with Gemma around your weekends. Want to go further? The club will help you find an official referee course.

A question first? Drop Gemma, our referee coordinator, a line at referees@hollinvale.example.