Referees Hub

Why Become a Referee?

At Thornleigh Thunder, we know referees are the unsung heroes of the game. They keep things fair, safe, and fun on the field. So, we’re excited to invite players and families to join our referee crew with the North West Sydney Football Referees Association (NWSFRA). Let’s make a positive impact on the game we all love, together, and earn some great pocket money whilst doing it!

  1. Be Part of the Game: As a referee, you’re not just a spectator; you’re an active participant in every match. Experience football from a unique perspective and deepen your love for the sport.
  2. Earn Extra Income: Refereeing offers a flexible way to earn pocket money while staying closely connected to football. It’s also tax-free !!
  3. Build Valuable Skills: Refereeing builds crucial life skills such as decision-making, communication, and conflict resolution. These skills extend beyond the football field and can benefit you in various aspects of life.
  4. Support and Camaraderie: Join a supportive community of referees within Thornleigh Thunder. We are here to assist you throughout the season, providing guidance, mentorship, and a network of fellow referees.
  5. Positive Contribution: By becoming a referee, you contribute to the growth of football in our community. Your presence ensures that every game is played fairly and with sportsmanship.

Upcoming Courses with NWSFRA

Junior Football Match Official (Level 4) Course (male and female)
North West Sydney Football Referees, in partnership with Ryde District Panthers FC, is hosting a Junior Football Match Official (Level 4) course. Targeted towards anyone aged 13 and over who wish to become a referee, this event serves as an entry point for those seeking to officiate in junior football leagues!

The Y Ryde Community Sports Centre
Monday 11 May 2026
6:00-9:00 PM

To register, go to https://nwsfra.com.au for more information and click on the “More” link at the bottom of the article in the Notices section.

New Referees in 2026

Follow the steps below in order to ensure your registration and training are completed correctly.

Important: You must be at least 13 years old to begin your referee journey.

Step 1: Register as a Learner Referee

Follow this link to register as a “Learner” – https://registration.playfootball.com.au/participant/product-details/66163772 

Important requirements:

  1. Referees under 18 must:
    • Register to the Learner package, or branch with an age exemption
  2. If using an exemption, you must provide a reason. “Under 18” is acceptable.
  3. All new referees must either:
    • Provide a volunteer “Working with Children Certificate” (WWCC), or
    • Apply for an exemption
  4. Registrations cannot be approved unless a WWCC or exemption reason is supplied.
  5. Junior referees must use their own email address, not a parent’s. This avoids issues with training account creation.

Step 2: Create an etrainu Learning Centre Account (or login)

Create your account here: https://learn.footballaustralia.com.au/training/index.cfm?event=page.login

Step 2.1: Complete the Free Online Laws of the Game

  • Log in to etrainu
  • Go to the Training Library
  • Complete the Free Online Laws of the Game course

Step 2.2: Complete the Junior Football Match Official (JFMO) Modules

  • Log in to etrainu
  • Available in the Training Library under the Referees – Community Referees tile
  • Cost: $33 + transaction fees
  • Prerequisites:
    • Completed Free Online Laws of the Game
    • Minimum age: 13 years

Step 3: Attend a JFMO Practical Event

  • Log in to etrainu
  • Enrol in one of the Junior Football Match Official practical sessions. Registration links can be found under “Training Event” and apply the following filters:
    • Member Associations: North West Sydney Referees Association (NWSFRA)
    • Location: Thornleigh NSW, Australia (10km)
    • Courses: “Junior Football Match Official”

Upcoming Courses with NWSFRA for 2026

Go to https://nwsfra.com.au for more information and links to enrol. See the top of this page for course dates.

Can’t make one of the practical sessions with NWSFRA? No problem. You can complete the training course elsewhere, and it will still be recognised by NWSFRA. After completing a non-NWSFRA course, please email with the following:

  • Your certificate of completion
  • Details of the course you attended (location, date, provider)

NWSFRA will then arrange your registration with our branch.

Support and Enquiries

Step 4: Register as a Referee with Thornleigh Thunder

To help us support you, please register with Thornleigh Thunder as a Referee (free and similar to player registration). This keeps you connected with our local referee community for support and guidance throughout the season.

The club supports its registered referees by offering equipment reimbursement once you’ve officiated 10 matches. Referees registered with Thornleigh Thunder are eligible for this support as part of our commitment to keeping you connected, informed, and backed by a strong club community.

Register as a Referee for Thornleigh Thunder Football Club here: https://www.thornleighsoccer.com.au/registration/

  1. Click on the link “Register to Play (Playfootball 2.0)” from the club’s registration page
  2. Register or sign in with your PlayFootball account.
  3. Browse or search for the “Referee” product.
  4. Click on Details
  5. Click on Register and work your way through the registration process.

Note: There is no cost to registering as a referee.

Other Resources

Test your Knowledge

  • Dutch Referee Blog – A weekly quiz on the laws of the game, including videos
  • AReferee.com – A webpage to test your knowledge by answering questions about the Laws of the Game. Note that it doesn’t appear to have been updated since 2020, so ensure you’re aware of the current laws.

Great Social Media Channels

How much can I earn as a Referee?

The NWSFRA follows the payment guidelines provided by Football NSW, known as the Community Football Referee Match Payments (ver 2026). A small proportion of this is paid to the NWSFRA to cover administration costs. Referees are paid monthly.

What Equipment Do I Need?

NWSFRA sells a Referee’s Kit to all new referees as part of their onboarding process and is purchased directly from the NWSFRA at the successful completion of the course.

If you’re starting out as a referee in 2026, email to check whether the club has a spare referee kit available (EDIT: We have one “small” kit available for a 13-14 year old). These kits have been used by former referees but are still in excellent condition and may save you the cost of buying a new one.

The equipment list includes:

  • A kit bag
  • Two Assistant Referee flags
  • Black shorts
  • Black socks
  • Three Referee shirts (black, yellow and blue)
  • Referee notebook
  • A yellow card and a red card
  • Whistle

In addition to this, you’ll also need to have:

  • two pens
  • a couple of 20c or 50c coins for the coin toss (including spares as they can go missing)
  • a stopwatch to time the game (you can not use your phone)
  • electrical tape (to fix any issues with the goal nets )
  • a container to keep your equipment dry and in good condition (whistle, cards, notebook, pens, tape and coin)
  • a black rain jacket (for those cold/wet days)
  • a black baseball-style cap (calling offside when looking into the sun can be difficult)

Returning Referees

All returning referees need to register with NWSFRA. Check your email for the message sent on 20th January 2026 for more details.

  • Senior Referees (18 or over on 1 April 2026) – click here to register with NWSFRA
  • Junior Referees (under 18 on 1 April 2026) – click here to register with NWSFRA

We ask all our referees to also register with Thornleigh Thunder for several important reasons. Firstly, registering with the club allows us to provide you with essential support and guidance through group communications. Whether it’s updates on match schedules, important announcements, or simply sharing tips and advice, being part of the club ensures you’re always in the loop and well-supported.

Checking for Uncovered Games

Coaches can check if their upcoming game has been allocated a referee by clicking here

Referees can see games that need either a CR or AR by logging on to the https://nwsfra.com.au website and then selecting “Member Area –> Uncovered Games”.

Click on the link to request either the CR or AR roles for that game. You can only request an AR role for games where a CR has been appointed. On weekends, you will need to call up the Appointments phone if you want to pick up any of these games.

In 2025, access to the “Uncovered Games” was restricted to referees only. Coaches and managers should check the match sheet in Dribl to see if they have a referee allocated to their upcoming match.

Guidelines for Referee Guardians

Junior referees have the option to carry a high-visibility bib in their kits, which they can issue to a trusted adult (usually a parent) during games. This signifies the adult’s role as a Referee Guardian. The Referee Guardian plays a crucial role in supporting our young referees and ensuring their safety and well-being during matches. Here are some guidelines to help fulfil this role effectively:

Dos:

  1. Wear the high-visibility bib provided by the club to clearly indicate your role as a Referee Guardian.
  2. Stand near the sideline in a visible location where both coaching groups can easily identify you.
  3. Offer support to the referee at half-time and full-time if they encounter any issues or challenges during the match.
  4. If needed, use positive language to remind coaches, players, or spectators that the referee is a child who is still learning and may make mistakes. If any spectator displays abusive or unacceptable behaviour, seek support from the team’s Coach or Manager.
  5. Provide encouragement and reassurance to the referee, emphasising their efforts and commitment to learning.
  6. Act as a calming presence and intervene if the situation escalates, ensuring the referee’s safety and well-being.
  7. Communicate with the referee before and after the match to offer feedback and guidance for improvement.

Don’ts:

  1. Do not enter the field of play under any circumstances.
  2. Avoid engaging in confrontational or aggressive behaviour with coaches, spectators, or players.
  3. Refrain from escalating tense situations further by adding fuel to the fire.
  4. Do not take matters into your own hands; instead, seek assistance from club officials if necessary.

By adhering to these guidelines, the Referee Guardian can effectively fulfil their role in supporting and protecting young referees, contributing to a positive and safe environment for all involved in the game.

Guidelines for Unofficial Club Referees

Despite our best efforts, not every game will be covered by a referee. In this instance, the club or teams may have to provide a referee to officiate the match. Please read this attachment from NWSF on the role of the Unofficial Referee.

Note: If this link fails to load, go to https://nwsf.com.au/resources/ and click on “Referees” and look for a tile titled “Guidelines for Unofficial Referees” or similar.

IFAB Laws of the Game

Laws of the Game can be found here: https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/about-the-laws/

Rule changes for this season can be found here: https://www.theifab.com/law-changes/latest/

Download the 2026 LOTG (PDF format): https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-single-pages?l=en

More Information?

If you’d like more information on becoming a referee for NWSF, please email our referees’ champion at