UK football referees enter pioneering partnership with Leeds Beckett

The university has launched its Postgraduate Diploma in Match Official Coaching in partnership with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), who are responsible for officiating across the men's and women's professional game.

The innovative course supports the professional development of coaches employed by PGMOL. These coaches drive the learning and development of professional referees, assistant referees and VAR officials across England.

The diploma, lasting 18 months, will explore topics such as strong coach-match official relationships and learning, leadership, and professional coaching practice.

Delivery of the course will follow a blended approach of days on campus, online support and visits to explore practice in the field.

The course further develops Leeds Beckett's partnership with PGMOL following the announcement of a collaboration to increase diversity among match officials.

Leeds Beckett University's programme leader, Dr Andrew Abraham, said: "This is a project we're really excited to engage in.

"Leeds Beckett has an established reputation of working with high performance coaches in a variety of league and Olympic sports, but this is our first time working with Match Official Coaches. We're really excited to work on this new project. We've done our homework, and we're ready to work with the PGMOL coaches and leadership to deliver an innovative programme of professional development."

The PGMOL Coaching Director Dr Wayne Allison said: "This pioneering course is the first of its kind and bespoke to our match official coaches. It has been designed to enable the coaches to excel in their role and be even better placed to respond to the needs of the match officials they work with.

"We are delighted to be collaborating with Leeds Beckett University, who will not only provide access to top academic expertise, but also an industry standard qualification that is aligned and recognised alongside the other professional coaching workforces within the game.

"The coaches will build on essential industry knowledge at the same time as continuing to develop the skills and behaviours needed to thrive and progress as a highly-skilled match official coach in the professional game.

"The first two days has introduced new concepts and theories relevant to their coaching practice, which has stimulated and challenged their thinking, promoting good interaction and discussion."

The partnership with PGMOL is the latest between Leeds Beckett and the country's top sporting institutions. Please read more about the way Leeds Beckett is helping to take on the challenges faced by the game, from the grassroots to the biggest stage on our Carnegie School of Sport Partnerships webpage.