HAMPSHIRE FA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PORTSMOUTH UNIVERSITY

Hampshire FA Enters Into Partnership with University of Portsmouth for Refereeing

Hampshire FA is delighted to have entered into a partnership with the University of Portsmouth, Department for Sport & Exercise Science (DSES) as the official partners for refereeing for the 2016/17 season.

Without Referees there is no game, they are fundamental to the game at all levels, from local park football on a Saturday or Sunday morning to the FA Cup Final, football needs referees. The vision of Hampshire FA is to provide an Official Referee for all affiliated matches played under our jurisdiction. Over the last few years, Hampshire FA has focused on innovative and different ways to encourage and support the recruitment of new referees into the grassroots game to join those already dedicated and more experienced referees who officiate games week in and week out. This was, in part, to address a decline in the number of qualified and registered referees in Hampshire and to ensure that as participation levels in the game grow, there would be a sufficient number of fully trained and qualified referees to officiate those matches.

The University of Portsmouth established a Referees’ Hub which has been running for 8+ years and is the first of its kind at a University in the county. The Referees’ Hub provides the opportunity for students to complete the FA Referees Course and from there pathways exist to further their referee development by refereeing on local leagues as well as the University’s fixtures.

The partnership with the University of Portsmouth will help to enhance learning for all referees and those looking to getting involved in refereeing. The partnership will link Hampshire FA with the Department of Sport & Exercise Science (DSES) for the development of research into practice, student placements linked to and supporting the academic curriculum. Hampshire FA will be able to promote the University’s educational works, research, reports and more, educating and increasing awareness of how the game is shaping and developing for referees, from grassroots level right the way through to the elite level.

Furthermore, the partnership will support an existing relationship with the Sport and Recreation department at the University to promote refereeing opportunities and the Referees’ Hub.

“Referees are paramount to the success of grassroots football and I am delighted to progress partnership opportunities with the University of Portsmouth whose work in the county with the establishment of the Referees’ hub has given thousands of students the opportunity to develop up the refereeing pathway. We also look forward to working more closely with the University to educate and enhance learning for all involved through promotion of their academic research and teachings”.

Hampshire FA CEO Neil Cassar discussing the partnership with the University of Portsmouth.

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Hampshire FA. We have considerable expertise and experience in refereeing through the research that is conducted within the department, and we look forward to sharing and developing this research further as a part of this partnership. We are also excited about the possibilities for our students as a result of this partnership and we look forward to the opportunities through placements and close working practices that this association will bring”.

Dr Tom Webb, Senior Lecturer in Sports Management and Development discussing the partnership with Hampshire FA.