QUEST APPLICATION INFORMATION 1
Version control Issue 1 December 2012 - Launch The Referees Association Unit 12 Ensign Business Centre Westwood Way Westwood Business Park Westwood Heath Coventry CV4 8JA Telephone 0247 6420360 EM ra@footballreferee.org www.footballreferee.co.uk 2
Foreword With the ever-increasing QUEST for refereeing standards to improve at all levels in English football, The Referees Association has an increasingly important role to play. Howard Webb MBE has regularly and fervently supported The RA and emphasised the crucial role The RA played in helping him achieve the pinnacles of refereeing in 2010 - the Champions League and World Cup finals. England's top officials regularly pay tribute to The RA s contribution to their success and well-being, and they demonstrate their views by the support they give to RA events at all levels from local Society meetings through to The RA Conference. Continuing the wonderful success of English refereeing of recent years requires a healthy grassroots membership which seeks the very best training and development to ensure their progress and personal enjoyment. With this in mind, The Referees Association has launched the QUEST (QUality Excellence STandard) is an initiative open to ALL local Associations, it represents a great opportunity to share good practice and improve standards of refereeing across England. It will offer every local Association a supportive framework in which to develop at its own speed, regardless of size and location, with the collective goal of improving refereeing standards and promoting the enjoyment of being part of the refereeing family. The QUEST scheme will be independently verified (including County Football Association input) and provides a real partnership which will impact locally and nationally to help raise standards and enable the membership to access high quality developmental opportunities. Local Associations will be recognised and rewarded for the standard of service that they provide to their members. Contents 3. Foreword 4. Criteria Explained 5. Delivering QUEST 6. QUality 7. Excellence 8. STandard 9. Bronze 10. Silver 11. Gold 12. QUEST Application The RA has played a critical role in refereeing in England for over 100 years - QUEST will allow ALL local Referees Associations the opportunity to flourish in the future and continue their significant contribution to our national game at all levels. David Elleray President - The Referees Association 3
Criteria Explained QUEST (QUality Excellence STandard) for delivering excellence enables all local Associations affiliated to The Referees Association (RA), regardless of size or location, an equal opportunity to share in best practice and gain recognition for achieving a standard of service and support which is recognised by both The RA and The Football Association (FA). QUEST will support the existing partnership between The FA and The RA (RA-FA) and will provide an opportunity for every local Association to improve the management of their own local Association, recognising this with a stamp of approval from the key stakeholders at both a local and national level, thereby acting as an important tool for the recruitment and retention of members by denoting excellence. There is NO stipulated time limit in which an Association must satisfy the criteria for gaining recognition and this initiative is open to ALL local Associations; however as a recommendation a 2 year timeframe is considered a reasonable period for delivery. Abbreviations/Terms/Definitions RA - The Referees Association FA The Football Association Local Association an individual named Referees Association or Society CFA County Football Association CRA County Referees Association ICC Internal Communications Committee of the RA Board of Management QIVT QUEST Independent Verification Team RA-FA Partnership between The Referees Association and The Football Association. RDO Referee Development Officer Shall or Must or Will means MANDATORY Maybe /should means optional Note/s All Sections are mandatory there is NO opt out to any clause. All Sections must be completed with satisfactory evidence provided. ONE application per LOCAL ASSOCIATION will be permitted per Calendar year All evidence must be provided by email and electronic format unless specifically requested by QIVT The award of any QUEST level can be withdrawn at any time for major non-conformity. The decision of RA-FA is final with no appeal. 4
Delivering QUEST 1. Accreditation The Essential Requirements The application from the local Association should provide references and documented evidence as specified in each section i.e. audited accounts agendas. The local Association will provide a list of members with contact details as the QIVT may contact individual member/s for a reference regarding the operation of the local Association. For QUEST Gold the CFA Referee Development Officer maybe asked to provide a reference. 2. Submission of evidence All evidence SHALL be provided electronically. The local Association may apply to the RA at any time of the year. Every clause requires objective evidence which will be supplied to The General Manager of the RA (GM-RA). Local Association Submit to GM - RA QIVT RA Board Bronze and Silver RA-FA Gold only 3. Decision making The QUEST Independent Verification team will assess each application and make a recommendation based on evidence provided to the RA Board for Bronze and Silver awards. The RA Board will recommend Gold awards to the RA-FA Liaison Committee whose decision will be final; there is no right of appeal. Where an application is unsuccessful, The RA will provide written guidance of areas which failed to meet the criteria. An opportunity to resubmit will be provided. 4. Award Successful Bronze and Silver awards will receive an RA certificate. Gold awards will be dual branded with the RA FA logos. 5. Renewal circle Every level of award is valid for a 3 year period following the date of confirmation the local Association will be responsible for its timely renewal and submission. 5
QUality The principal objective of QUEST is to improve the function and quality of each local Association. The scheme is inclusive and has been designed to allow all local Associations to achieve QUEST Gold status over a period of time. There are 3 levels of QUEST: QUEST Bronze Foundation level, basic for all local Associations foundation level. (RA award) QUEST Silver Intermediate level for local Associations that wish to demonstrate that they are operating at a higher level and are moving towards the requirements for QUEST Gold. (RA Award) QUEST Gold Highest level for local Associations which have achieved excellence in all aspects of the QUEST programme. 6
Excellence We have a responsibility to every FULL member of The Referees Association, regardless of age and level, to ensure that their experience is positive. The QUEST programme will provide recognition to local Associations and give a structure which will ensure that the Association is run for the benefit of its membership, and is sustainable for the long term. The QUEST Bronze award is the foundation to allow a local Association to work towards QUEST Silver award, which in turn provides the foundation for the local Association to develop towards achieving QUEST GOLD, the gold standard which recognises a high level of professionalism and teamwork and a holistic management of the local Association. The QUEST award programme recognises the local Association s commitment to continuation training, development and raising standards of all of its members. STandard A National specification for STandard working practice giving clear structures for development of any local Associations regardless of the size, a standard approach allows for consistent management and reward for pro-active and visionary response to the service for members of the local Association. 7
QUEST - Bronze. 1. The local Association MUST have a fully developed constitution which the members are fully aware of, and can demonstrate that the membership of the local Association is given the opportunity to be pro-actively involved in all aspects of the local Association s decision-making process e.g. participation in the election of officers etc. 2. The local Association SHALL keep accurate and up-to-date records of all Members on an electronic database to enable efficient communication and record retention. 3. The local Association SHALL have sufficient funds to enable the local Association to function efficiently for future years. 4. The local Association SHALL have its annual accounts verified and signed off annually by an independent and competent person. (Note means a person/s appointed by the Members to verify the accounts) 5. The local Association SHALL submit their constitution (following the National Model) as part of the evidence which SHALL cover the executive management, annual fees, local rules and regulations regarding their membership and SHALL have been in existence for at least 1 year. 6. The local Association SHALL produce minutes of their business and are encouraged to disseminate minutes to its Members. 8
QUEST Silver In addition to satisfying all requirements of QUEST Bronze: 1. The local Association should provide a basic mentoring programme together with match day advice given by FA trained Coaches or Mentors. 2. The local Association is encouraged to attract a YOUTH (under 25) representation on the Executive committee. 3. The local Association SHALL construct a training plan and have a proactive approach to training and must be able to demonstrate a clear partnership with the CFA and their RDO. 4. The mentor officer SHALL be able to provide pro-active support to all Members and be a voice of reassurance. 5. At least one training session per season SHALL be conducted by a YOUTH Member 6. The mentor officer SHALL have a proactive relationship with the CFA RDO. 7. The ongoing and general development of the local Association should consider the evolving formats of football such as 9 v 9 and other aspects of football within the local area. 8. The local Association should encourage participation in fitness programmes/sessions developed by the CFA. 9. The local Association SHALL work proactively with the RA Head Office and any other stakeholders e.g. CFA, to achieve efficient delivery of administration compliance documentation must be completed on time and in full this SHALL include remote data access of Head Office data base. 10. The local Association must be able to demonstrate that monies received from Members are processed to Head Office by the 25 th of each month. (Failure to comply would evoke an automatic suspension of the application process and/or accreditation. QUEST Accreditation could be removed immediately with the local association having to provide a recovery plan within 7 days from being notified). 11. The local Association must have the facility to communicate fully with key stakeholders by electronic means. 12. Working with the local leagues is critical to the overall development of an Association s Members and the local Association must be able to demonstrate a positive working relationship with local league/s and be able to demonstrate effective mentoring for newly qualified referees when officiating in the league/s. 9
QUEST Gold In addition to satisfying all requirements of QUEST Silver: 1. The local Association SHALL demonstrate a clear and proactive policy to ensure the needs of ALL Members are taken care of - this may involve inviting parents and/or guardians to be present during various training and meeting nights. 2. The local Association must show clear and, if required, personalised training plans, which may be in a form of a self-development template and produced in conjunction with the relevant RDO. This is applicable to referees who are Level 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5. 3. The local Association s Executive SHALL continually review the training and SHALL be subject to a formal management review at least once yearly with a continuation plan for the following season/year. All in-service training SHALL be delivered by a Licensed FA Referee Tutor. 4. The local Association SHALL have an Executive member responsible for mentoring, as this role is a critical aspect to ensure the safe progress of all referees in their development. 5. The overall development of the local Association generally is a management requirement and should be part of the management review. 6. The local Association should proactively consider future funding requirements and needs of the Association by planning and forecasting. 7. The local Association SHALL have a team of people to cover ALL critical posts including: Chairman Secretary Treasurer Lead Mentor Training co-ordinator Membership Officer As a volunteer network, the local Association should consider succession planning for these key posts within the Association. 10
QUEST Gold 8. The Association s Executive SHALL produce a development plan to cover a 3 year period this plan must include the following and SHALL be approved by the members of the local Association: Recruitment plan Retention plan Financial plan Succession plan Training plan 9. The Association s Executive SHALL include a young person representing this important group of the local Association membership. 10. Working with the CFA RDO is critical to the overall development of the local Association s membership and the local Association must be able to demonstrate a positive working relationship for the benefit of its Members. 11
QUEST application Local Association - Chairman - Secretary - We are applying to become an: QUEST Bronze (Section a) QUEST SILVER (Section b) QUEST GOLD (Section c) Section A QUEST Bronze Evidence (page 8) Constitution (Sections 1, 2 and 5) Financial and Audits (Sections 3 and 4) Management Minutes (Section 6) Section B QUEST Silver Evidence (page 9) Mentor Scheme (Sections 1, 4, 6 and 12) Examples of Administration compliance (sections 2, 9 and 10) Training Plan (Sections 3, 5, 7 and 8) Electronic communication skills (Section 11) 12
Section C QUEST Gold Evidence (pages 10 & 11) Education and Development Plan (Sections 1 and 5) Individual training plans (Section 2) Membership Quality Survey (Section 3) Management review (Sections 3, 5, 6 and 7) Mentoring (formal) (Section 4) Lead Mentor (Section 7) 3 Year development plan (Sections 7 and 8) Youth Member on the management team (U25) (Section 9) Reference from RDO (Section 10) For County FA County FA. Referee Development Officer. I certify that local Referees Association complies with Comments QUEST GOLD Authorised by CFA Sign Date 13
The Referees Association Unit 12 Ensign Business Centre Westwood Way Westwood Business Park Westwood Heath Coventry CV4 8JA Telephone 0247 6420360 Email ra@footballreferee.org Web site www.footballreferee.co.uk 14