Project Purpose 

Provide specialist consultancy services to support the development of sustainable referee pathways across alternative formats of football, including Futsal, Para Football, Walking Football, Beach Soccer, and Small-Sided Football. 

The consultancy will deliver strategic recommendations, pathway development and stakeholder management that contributes to referee recruitment, retention, progression and inclusion in alternative format football. 

Scope of Services 

The Consultant shall: 

• Develop and maintain referee pathway frameworks across Alternative Formats Football. 

• Produce workforce development recommendations to support recruitment, retention and progression of referees. 

• Engage with County FAs, competition organisers, delivery partners and relevant stakeholders to identify development opportunities and barriers. 

• Develop and maintain supporting guidance, resources and development tools for referees, referee developers and mentors. 

• Produce periodic reviews and recommendations based on participation data, workforce insight and stakeholder feedback. 

• Support implementation of agreed development initiatives and provide strategic advice on future referee workforce priorities. 

• Produce project reports and recommendations demonstrating progress against agreed deliverables. 

Deliverables by format 

Futsal 

• Produce an annual review of the Futsal referee pathway, identifying workforce trends, progression opportunities and succession planning recommendations. 

• Produce mid-season and end-of-season referee performance review summaries in partnership with relevant workforce leads. 

• Maintain and review a programme of Laws of the Game and video analysis activity and provide recommendations arising from those reviews. 

• Develop and coordinate an annual CPD framework aligned to the needs of the futsal referee workforce. 

• Produce recommendations on referee course provision and workforce growth opportunities in collaboration with England Futsal and County FAs. 

• Provide strategic recommendations and documented outputs to support the Futsal Referees Working Group. 

Walking Football 

• Produce and maintain a national Walking Football referee progression pathway. 

• Complete an annual review of referee education and workforce provision within Walking Football. 

• Produce recommendations arising from the annual Laws of the Game review process. 

• Develop a framework for identification, development and support of Walking Football referee developers. 

• Produce workforce development recommendations supporting sustainable referee growth and progression. 

• Provide strategic recommendations and documented outputs to support the Walking Football Refereeing Working Group. 

Para Football 

• Produce a national Para Football referee pathway plan covering grassroots through to international opportunities. 

• Develop recruitment, retention and development resources that support inclusive participation. 

• Produce recommendations to increase disability representation within refereeing pathways. 

• Develop partnership plans with relevant Para Football delivery partners and stakeholders. 

• Provide operational recommendations and support documentation linked to referee delivery within The FA Disability Cup. 

Beach Soccer 

• Complete a review of current referee development provision in Beach Soccer. 

• Produce a referee recruitment, retention and progression plan aligned to The FA Refereeing Strategy. 

• Develop supporting guidance and development resources for referees and delivery partners. 

• Produce recommendations for strengthening development opportunities and progression routes. 

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and partnership recommendations. 

Small-Sided Football 

• Complete a review of existing referee development provision and future workforce requirements. 

• Produce a referee pathway framework supporting participation and progression opportunities. 

• Develop supporting recruitment, retention and development resources. 

• Produce recommendations for workforce growth and sustainability. 

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and partnership recommendations. 

Key deliverables and fees  

Fee schedule – fees will be paid in the following phases provided deliverables have been achieved. Each phase will be reviewed by the Senior National Referee Manager to ensure projects are on track and aligned to the FA Refereeing Strategy.  

Phase 1– 25% of fee 

• A stakeholder engagement map identifying key partners and development priorities. 

• Baseline review of existing referee pathways and workforce provision across each format. 

• Produce delivery plan covering Futsal, Walking Football & Para. 

Phase 2 – 25% of fee

• Mid-season progress report summarising: 

• activity completed; 

• stakeholder engagement undertaken; 

• identified risks and challenges; 

• Delivery plan for the remainder of the season for Futsal, Walking Football & Para. 

• Produce delivery plan for Beach Soccer & Small Sided.  

Phase 3 – 25% of fee 

• Quarterly review of delivery across all formats 

• Draft pathway development recommendations for each format. 

• Updated development addressing core KPIs: recruitment, conversion retention and progression. 

• Supporting resources, guidance materials/courses or development tools produced during the project. 

• Identify project risks and challenges effecting year objectives. 

Phase 4– 25% of fee 

• End-of-season delivery report. 

• Future development roadmap and recommendations for each format. 

• Summary evaluation of project outcomes and impact. 

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, successful candidates will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role. Casual work is conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory DBS check result, which will be fairly considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with legislation and government guidance.