HOME COUNTRIES REFEREE INSTRUCTORS AND MENTORS

The Home Country Associations maintain responsibility for the delivery of the grassroots and Level 1 & 2 refereeing education programmes and have recently reviewed their examination and assessment process to bring it into alignment with the updated Level 3 assessment process, creating a clear referee education and progression pathway.

What are the changes to referee education

The four Home Country Associations agreed that a greater emphasis should be placed on the practical mentoring of referees in the form of personalised support. it is hoped this will enable developing new referees to determine and achieve their individual refereeing goals

Changes to the referee Level 1 and 2 examiner role

The Home Country Associations have reformulated the method of examination and education. The most visible change arising from this reformulated method is the generation of two different roles in place of the current “examiner” role.

The first role being an “instructor” role; primarily consisting of delivering seminars containing centralised – and therefore consistent – content and administering the theory exams. Instructors can run online theory courses and in person practical assessments either independently via clubs or at the invitation of regions.

The second role will be the “mentor” role focusing on the practical mentoring that we have come to learn is crucial for effective referee development. There will be significantly more “mentors” than “instructors” to reflect the emphasis placed on the mentoring aspect of education and assessment going forwards. Mentors are able to conduct practical assessments independently or alongside a referee instructor

Both roles are expected to use a standardised practical assessment form which is submitted to British Fencing within a timely fashion. The Level 2 referee assessment form (theory and practical) can be found here

Safeguarding Training

Free online safeguarding training for referee courses will be run for those referees without a recognised UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport or the BF online renewal safeguarding certificate.

2022 Referee Instructor and Mentor Applications

The Home Countries have relaunched the application process for Referee Instructors and Mentors on Thursday 7th December 2022, the closing date will be Tuesday 31st January 2023. All applicants will be subjected to safeguarding checks via their Home Country Safeguarding lead and/the BF Safeguarding Lead prior to be offered a position of instructor or mentor.