• The AFC
    • Executive Committee >
      • AGM
      • Agenda
      • Executive Minutes
      • Secretary Reports
      • Awards Presentation Committee
      • Clubs Committee
      • Covid Working Party
      • Develepment Committee
      • Finance Committee
      • Fixtures Committee
      • Gold Committee
      • Referee Committee
      • Representative Committee
      • Rules Revision Committee
      • Spirit of Football Committee
    • News
    • Covid Guidelines
    • History >
      • Season 2002-2003
      • Season 2003-2004
      • Season 2004-2005
      • Season 2005-2006
      • Season 2006-2007
      • Season 2007-2008
      • Season 2008-2009
      • Season 2009-2010
      • Season 2010-2011
      • Season 2011-2012
      • Season 2012-2013
      • Season 2013-2014
      • Season 2014-2015
      • Season 2015-2016
      • Season 2016-2017
      • Season 2017-2018
      • Season 2018-2019
    • Winners 2019
    • Representative Team
    • League Subscriptions
    • Joining the AFC
    • FA Charter Standard
    • Kick Off Times
    • AFC Dinner
    • AFC Shop
    • Gallery
    • GDPR
  • Divisions
    • Premier Division
    • North Divisions ▶ >
      • Senior Division 1 North
      • Senior Division 2 North
      • Intermediate Division North
      • Division 1 North
      • Division 2 North
      • Division 3 North
      • Division 4 North
      • Division 5 North
      • Division 6 North
      • Division 7 North
    • South Divisions ▶ >
      • Senior Division 1 South
      • Senior Division 2 South
      • Intermediate Division South
      • Division 1 South
      • Division 2 South
      • Division 3 South
      • Division 4 South
      • Division 5 South
      • Division 6 South
      • Division 7 South
      • Division 8 South
    • Weekly Fixtures
    • League Structure
    • Fixture Bureau
  • Cups
    • LOB Cups ▶ >
      • Home
      • LOB Cup Rules
      • Clubs
      • History
      • ▶ Senior
      • ▶ Challenge
      • ▶ Intermediate
      • ▶ Junior North
      • ▶ Junior South
      • ▶ Minor North
      • ▶ Minor South
      • ▶ Drummond
      • ▶ Olympian
    • Other Cups
  • Clubs
    • Club List
    • Club Map
    • ► A B C D E >
      • Albanian ⭐
      • Bealonians ⭐
      • Blackheath Wanderers SC
      • Brent
      • Clapham Old Xaverians
      • Clissold Park Rangers
      • Cretania FC
      • Dorkinians ⭐
      • Economicals
      • Enfield Old Grammarians
    • ► F G H I J K >
      • Fitzwilliam Old Boys
      • Forza FC
      • Fulham Compton Old Boys ⭐
      • Globe Rangers ⭐
      • Glyn Old Boys
      • Hale End Athletic ⭐
      • Honourable Artillery Company
      • IB Albion
      • John Fisher Old Boys
      • King's Old Boys
    • ► L M N >
      • Latymer Old Boys
      • Lea Valley
      • Leyton County Old Boys
      • London Hospital Old Boys
      • London Welsh
      • Mickleham Old Boxhillians
      • Mill Hill Village
      • National Westminster Bank
      • New College Old Boys
    • ► OLD A B C G H I K >
      • Old Aloysians
      • Old Crosbeians
      • Old Grantonians
      • Old Guildfordians
      • Old Hamptonians
      • Old Ignatian
      • Old Kingsburians
    • ► OLD M P S >
      • Old Magdalenians
      • Old Manorians
      • Old Meadonians ⭐
      • Old Minchendenians
      • Old Parmiterians ⭐
      • Old Pauline
      • Old Pegasonians
      • Old Salvatorians ⭐
      • Old Sedcopians ⭐
      • Old St Mary's ⭐
      • Old Strand Academicals
      • Old Suttonians ⭐
    • ► OLD T U V W >
      • Old Tenisonians
      • Old Thorntonians ⭐
      • Old Tiffinians ⭐
      • Old Tollingtonians
      • Old Vaughanians ⭐
      • Old Whitgiftian
      • Old Wokingians ⭐
      • Old Woodhouseians ⭐
    • ► P Q R >
      • Parkfield ⭐
      • Pembroke Old Boys
      • Queen Mary College Old Boys
      • Ravenscroft Old Boys
      • Reigatians ⭐
      • Rob Roy Reds
      • Royal Bank of Scotland
      • Royal Sun Alliance
    • ► S >
      • Shene Old Grammarians
      • Sinjuns Grammarians
      • Southgate County ⭐
      • Southgate Olympic ⭐
      • Spaniards
    • ► T U W >
      • UCL Academicals ⭐
      • Wandsworth Borough ⭐
      • Witan
      • Wood Green Old Boys ⭐
      • Worcester College Old Boys
    • Directory
    • Matchday Teamsheet
    • Club Officer Roles
    • Club Responsibilities
    • Club Marks
  • Referees
    • Directory
    • Referee's Committee
    • Young Referees (Referees aged 16 and 17)
    • Referee Guidance
    • Guidance for Club Referees
    • Referee Training Courses
    • Referee Awards
    • Referee Registration
    • Results Reporting
  • Handbook
    • Directory 🔒
    • FA Handbook 2019
    • AFC Safeguarding Policy
    • Virtual Handbook
    • AFC Committee
    • AFC Rules
    • FA Guidance for Marking Referees
    • Awards >
      • Hospitality Award
      • "Ken Fletcher" Award
      • Long Service Awards
    • Whole Game System
    • FA Full-Time Login
  • Spirit of Football
    • Spirit of Football Statement
    • AFC signs up to Respect
    • Sample Club Discipline Code
    • Annual Awards
    • Monthly Awards
Amateur Football Combination

Status

You have the same status as any other Referee. You are in control of the game and your decisions are final. Show respect for the players. Be firm but polite. Never argue with players and never change your mind.

Safety

Check the pitch. If in doubt do not allow the game to be played. Look out for:-
  • Anything dangerous on the pitch such as pieces of glass, metal, needles or plastic
  • Dangerous appurtenances – goalposts, cross bar and stanchion, corner flags and nets
  • A dangerous playing surface due to bad weather – e.g. cold/frozen, waterlogged, etc.

Basic requirements

To start to referee a game you need:
  • At least one match ball adequately pumped up - to be provided by the home team
  • A whistle – to stop play
  • A watch
  • A coin – the winning captain chooses which end to attack in the first half
  • Pencils & a notebook to record the score and any discipline
  • Red and yellow cards if available
  • Football boots or other similar footwear
  • A black or dark kit to distinguish you from the players and make you look the part.

Length of match

  • 2 x 45 minutes, plus stoppage time
  • can be reduced to 2 x 30 minutes provided you agree with both teams
  • double headers: 2 matches, each 2 x 30 minutes
  • LOB & LFFA cup matches which are drawn: add 2 x 15 minutes extra time, then if necessary each team takes five penalty kicks

Team kit

The teams should have distinct, numbered kits and the goalkeepers have different colours from the players. Players should not wear jewellery. Captains should be wearing a Spirit of Football armband.

Fouls

Award a direct free kick (or penalty) if during play a player: -
  • Kicks/attempts to kick an opponent 
  • Trips/attempts to trip an opponent
  • Jumps at an opponent 
  • Charges an opponent
  • Pushes an opponent 
  • Holds an opponent
  • Spits at an opponent 
  • Strikes/attempts to strike an opponent
  • When tackling, makes contact with the opponent before the ball
  • Deliberately handles the ball (except a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
All other offences, including offside, dangerous play and impeding the progress of an opponent, result in an indirect free kick.

Disciplinary report

Any disciplinary reports (cautions, dismissals, post-match reports) should be sent to the AFA (the parent County Association for the League). You will receive full backing from the League.

After the game

Return the ball to the home team 
  • Collect your match fee (£37)
  • If you can, accept the home club’s hospitality.
  • Email a Match Report Card to the AFC - the home club should be able to provide you with a copy or they can be sent via email from the league website. This is an invaluable piece of feedback for the League Referees' Secretary and other League Officers.
If you would like any further help or advice or would like to undertake a referee training course please contact the Referees’ Secretary.