Gravesend Referees' WEB Page

Kent Referees Association

GRAVESEND

Welcome to the Gravesend Branch of the Kent Referees Association WEB page. We are currently the largest Branch of Referees in Kent. We believe, with good justification, that we are the best Branch in Kent. We currently have about 150 members, who have experience from "grass roots" refereeing up to Football League standard. We also currently have 3 National List Assistant Referees as members of the Branch. It is a lively and very active Branch in all aspects of Refereeing.

We believe in coaching all members, whether active, on the field of play or in a training or assessing role. It is important to be in touch and knowledgeable of The Laws of the Game. To this end we have 2 Licensed Referee Instructors and a Registered Referee Instructor as part of our coaching team.

As a Branch we have won our County Quiz on no less than 23 times, 15 in consecutive years. We have also won the Southern Division Quiz on no less than 14 times. Represented the Southern Division in the National Quiz Finals on 10 occasions, running out winners on 3 occasions and runners up on 6 occasions. An impressive record by any standards.

We try to encourage all Referees within our Branch to achieve their highest ambitions. This is done by first of all training new Referee candidates to pass their Referee's examination. Secondly once they have passed to equip them as best we can with all that is required to Referee a match. Each successful candidate is given a "starter pack" with much helpful information and equipment. For example:- a whistle, match record cards, match record card folder, a red and yellow card. As for the information, County misconduct report forms, various information booklets on report writing, the RA and starting out on Refereeing. We also have a number of second hand Referee's kits that can be loaned to get the new Referee started.

In addition to this we run a mentor scheme to help and advise the newly qualified Referee in his early days as a Referee. This scheme is also offered to any member who feels that he may need help, for any reason, to improve or get over a difficult period in his Refereeing career.