Referee FAQ’s

All registrations are done via Squadi and PlayFootball.  

To find out how to sign up for the season click here.

Yes – this is the first step into becoming a Referee with Football Queensland and Football Australia.   

The Online Laws of the Game Course is critical  pre-learning for your Junior Football Match Official (JFMO – Level 4) and Senior Football Match Official (SFMO – Level 3) Referee Course.  It can take up to 4 hours to complete and will give you the foundation knowledge needed to referee a football match.  Upon completion you will receive a certificate which must be presented at the face-to-face section of your course, otherwise you will not be allowed to attend.  

To do the Online Laws of the Game Course, it’s a two-step process: 

Process 1: Get your Learner Profile:  

Step 1 – Click on the following link:  
https://registration.playfootball.com.au/common/pages/reg/welcomeregplus.aspx?entityid=30525&id=99474  

Step 2: Click Get Started  

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions  

Step 4: Sign in with your email address and password or Create an Account  

Step 5:  Select the participant you are registering, and press continue 

Step 6: Select “Learner QLD” 

Step 7: For Sub Role select “Referee” > Then click “Continue”  

Step 8: Check and Complete Personal Details section – all questions must be answered to continue  

Step 9: Upload a profile photograph if there is not one there  

Step 10: Review your order > Read and Accept the T’s & C’s > Click Continue  

Step 11: Payment = Click “Submit”  

• You now need to wait 24 hours until you can log into ETRAINU  

Process 2: Log Into etrainu and Enrolling to the course:   

Step 12: Log into etrainu:   

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

Step 13: Use your FFA# and password to log in  

Step 14: Once logged in Click on “Training Library”  

Step 15: Hover over “Referee Community” > Click on “View Courses”  

Step 16: Hover over “Community – Laws of the Game” > Click on Enrol  

Step 17: Complete the Online Laws of the Game  

On completion you will receive a Certificate for the Online Laws of the Game Course.  

C4.5: FQ Club Referees sit at the base of the FQ Referee Pathway. Refer to the FAQs above for more information on how to get involved.

Once you have completed the Online Laws of the Game Course you then need to do one of the following courses which you can find a list of here: https://footballqueensland.com.au/referee-education/  

C3: Junior Football Match Official (JFMO – Level 4) Referee Course:

This course allows you to referee Community Junior matches and you must be 13 years of age to attend. 

C4: Senior Football Mach Official (SFMO – Level 3) Referee Course (open to those who are 16+ years of age and have a Level 4 qualification or 18+ and has playing experience): 

This course allows you to referee Community Senior matches.   

When attending a course please bring the following: 

Food and Drink  

Note taking equipment  

Comfortable clothing  

Sports Clothing  

Hat  

Sunscreen  

There are three elements to completing a course:  

Element 1: etrainu online training:  

Club Referee Certification: $0

Laws of the Game: $33

Junior Football Match Official (Level 4): $33  

Senior Football Match Official National Online Element: $33  

Element 2: In Person Course (fees incorporated in registration)  

Element 3: Registration in Squadi as a Referee – First Year Referee: $150, Returning Referee Junior: $120, Returning Referee Senior: $200, Match Day Coach, $100  

When you pay your registration fee, you also get a 1st Year Referee Kit which includes:

• Your First Year Referee Teal Kit  
• Black shorts  
• Black socks  
• A whistle  
• Set of flags  
• U18 armband  

The first year referee kit can be ordered when you register as a Match Official to Football Queensland on Squadi.  We will then make sure that the kit is at your in person course for you to collect. 

Club Referee Certification

Depending on how quickly you complete the quiz this will take 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Junior Football Match Official Course  

Four hours overall. It is made up of two 2-hour components. One of these components is theory based.  The other is practical out on a field.   

Senior Football Match Official Course  

Six hours overall. This is a theory component course.

Yes, you can still referee.  You can simply wear a neutral black sports shirt, black shorts and black socks or your school sports kit. With regards to whistles, cards and flags, you may need to make arrangements to purchase your own whistle, but if you ask your local referee community you should be able to find someone who can lend you flags and cards for the day until you receive your kit. If you are refereeing with Assistant Referees, then you can reach out to them to see if they have some equipment they can lend you for the day.   

Football Queensland referees who have progressed into their second year and beyond can order apparel via the fqshop.com.au. Referees will require a passcode to access the store which can be found on Squadi or by contacting referees@footballqueensland.com.au.

This is dependent on the level of football you are refereeing and the region with which you are refereeing.    

To find out more about pay rates please head to: https://footballqueensland.com.au/Resources/referee-fees/   

Absolutely.  All FQ courses are a statewide qualification and provide accreditation  for 4 years if you pay your annual registration and remain active as a Referee.  

If you are close to 18 years of age or over 18 and refereeing in Queensland, you will need to get a Blue Card.  You can apply for a Blue Card here. 

Please select the “Volunteer” option when applying.  Once you have received your Blue Card you will need to upload and link it to your Squadi account.  To do this head to:  

Three Dots and More > My Profile > My Full Profile > Three Dots (next to activity) > Other Information > Edit > Children check Number > Insert Details  

As a volunteer you need to have your Blue Card linked to Football Queensland.  To get this approved please fill out the following form here.

Yes, we would need evidence from your National, State or County Association confirming that you are currently an active referee and that you hold the correct qualification.  This letter also needs to state that you are clear of any disciplinary issues and that you are clear to referee.  These are often referred to as a “Letter of Introduction”.  This then needs to be emailed to, referees@footballqueensland.com.au and we can review the letter.  

Upon acceptance you will then need to register on Squadi to Football Queensland.  

You will need to get a Letter of Introduction from the Referees Department.  You can request this by emailing referees@footballqueensland.com.au – also please let us know what Football Federation you would like us to address the letter to.  

You will also need to get your Qualification Certificates.  Please follow these step-by-step instructions to get that:   

1. Go to www.playfootball.com.au 
2. Click “My Account” in the top right corner of the home page 
3. Sign in to your Football Network Account 
4. On the Main Menu hover over “Referee” 
5. Select “Referee Qualifications” 
6. On etrainu choose “Learner (Football Account)” 
7. Once logged into etrainu head to “Skills Passport” on the left hand menu 
8. Choose “Actions” drop down box on the card you need the certificate for 
9. Download Certificate 
10. Save PDF to your computer 

It is important that if any of your personal details have changed since you registered, you keep your details up to date on Squadi. 

To do this you need to follow the following: 

Three Dots and more > My Profile > My Full Profile > 

From here two pathways may be applicable: 

Pathway 1: Actions Box > Edit Profile 

Pathway 2: Three Dots (next to activity) > Personal Details 

Statement by Supplier Document: 

The Statement By Supplier is an important document for the management of your tax affairs.  It is incumbent on all match officials (including Junior March Officials) to fill out and upload to Squadi their Statement by Supplier form.  Without this document, you will have to pay Income Tax on your income as a Referee.  If you have this document on your Squadi Profile, then it enables you to declare your Referee Income as a hobby. 

To find the form please click here: https://footballqueensland.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Statement-by-a-supplier-Tax-form-for-Referees.pdf 

To upload this to your Squadi profile please follow the following steps: 

Three Dots and More > My Profile > My Full Profile > Three Dots (next to Activity) > Personal Details > Documents > + Document > Document Type > Statement by Supplier > Click to upload > Upload Document > Save 

Blue Card: 

All Referees over the age of 18 are required to carry a valid Blue Card for the safety of all participants in football. As a Referee you are eligible for a volunteer Blue Card.  

To upload you’re a photo of your Blue Card to Squadi please follow this process:  

Three Dots and More > My Profile > My Full Profile > Three Dots (next to activity) > Other Information > Edit > Children check Number > Insert Details  

As a volunteer you need to have your Blue Card linked to Football Queensland.  To get this approved please fill out the following form:   

https://forms.office.com/r/Yt0w3JdhhY?origin=lprLink  

If you are able to log into etrainU with your FFA number and a password then you need to use the Learner (Learning Centre Account) and your accreditation courses will appear under the Referees Training Library.