Every football game needs a referee, and what better way to find one than appealing to the football-loving youth that pride the nation’s sporting community.

Love them or hate them, referees are vital to not only football but almost any sport, and becoming one can provide exciting opportunities for those who choose to take it up.

The FA offers refereeing courses to anybody aged 14 or over, providing an excellent chance for teenagers to gain work experience in a professional environment, become more involved in their passion and even earn a bit of pocket money too!

Under-18 officials typically earn between £10 and £30 per game but this varies depending on the age group and league they’re refereeing for.

"I like refereeing because I enjoy seeing the kids I ref regularly develop as they play football - the girls especially because it’s nice to see even more girls getting involved in football from a young age.” said Olivia Bell, a young referee in Northumberland.

Not only does it serve as a hobby for young people, it can also present a career route for them to follow if they so choose.

The FA’s referee tier system provides a path for aspiring match officials to climb all the way from a ‘Level Y’ (youth referee) to a ‘Level 1’ Premier League or FIFA/UEFA international referee.

In the short-term however, the job can boast benefits such as communication development, professional experience, flexible hours and can provide a different perspective of football for young people.

The opportunity for young girls and women to venture into refereeing is greater than ever, as demonstrated by Rebecca Welch, the first female referee to officiate a Premier League game in its 32-year history.

Speaking in an interview with Julia Stuart on the PGMOL youtube channel, 8th March 2024, Welch said: “I hope that, because I’ve done this and I’ve gone through the EFL into the Championship and into the Premier League, in five or ten years time we'll have numerous women and girls in these leagues and it won’t even be talked about - it’ll just be the norm.”

For most adolescents, finding part-time work can be tough, and trying to balance studying, social commitments and a job can be difficult.

However, football officiating gives teens the power to decide when, where and how often they work, making their lives a little easier, especially when exam season starts.

It’s one of the most physically active jobs around too, promoting exercise as well as experience that could contribute towards a GCSE or A-level in PE.

It’s said that the best referees go completely unnoticed during a game, but what shouldn’t go unnoticed are the positive impacts that taking up refereeing can have on the character and future prospects of young people.

What does the future hold for young referees?