Dear Colleagues,
RA-FA
Further to the October 2010 letter we are pleased to confirm that following approval from the FA Referees’ Committee and the FA Council, RA-FA, the formal partnership for co-operation and joint action between the FA Refereeing Department and The Referees’ Association has replaced FAMOA which now ceases to exist.
RA-FA brings together the best of the FA and RA for the benefit of all referees, especially grassroots referees, whilst recognising the vital, independent roles of each organisation. The prime focus is on recruiting, retaining, developing and supporting referees to make a major contribution to raising retention rates and increasing the total number of referees.
Main changes
• The FAMOA number has become The RA-FA number
• All Training Events are now RA-FA events (not FAMOA events)
• The Incentive Scheme becomes the RA-FA Incentive Scheme*
*as from April 2011, the RA-FA Incentive Scheme is only open to Full RA Members
RA membership
As from the start of this season all referees (including Level 10 – non-active and workforce) automatically became Associate RA Members, free of charge, when they registered with their County FA.
Associate Members receive: invitations to RA-FA Training Events, the Refereeing magazine, local RA Society meeting dates and information about Full RA Membership benefits.
All referees will be strongly encouraged to become Full RA Members to gain additional benefits including: personal accident insurance, access to physiotherapy cover, free attendance at the RA Conference, support and advice if assaulted or involved in disciplinary proceedings and refereeing supplies.
New and trainee referees
Every new/trainee referee will be introduced to the benefits of RA-FA and the importance and value of Full membership of The RA (preferably by an RA representative) at the introduction to the Basic Course, at Module 3 and at the end of Module 5.
We look forward to your support for this very important development for English refereeing.
Yours faithfully,
David Elleray
Chairman, FA Referees’ Committee FA Senior National Game
Ian Blanchard
Referee Manager