from 01.01.2021 until now
Russian Federation
The purpose of the study is to analyze and justify the organization of the two-stage initial training system for football referees in the Russian Federation, implemented by the RFU Academy, in terms of its structure, content, and compliance with modern requirements of professional education and refereeing practice. Research methods and organization. The study was conducted during the period 2011-2025 and included several interconnected stages, reflecting the evolution of the system for training entry-level football referees in the regions of the Russian Federation. The empirical basis of the study was the activity of the RFU Academy and regional football federations engaged in the training and certification of football referees. The study analyzed: regulatory documents governing the activities of sports referees and their training system; curricula and educational programs for training entry-level football referees; statistical data on the number of trained referees, the results of their certification, and their involvement in officiating competitions; and materials supporting the methodological aspects of the educational process implemented by regional instructors of the RFU Academy. Research results and conclusions. It has been revealed that the implementation of the educational programs of the RFU Academy contributes to the development of refereeing activities in amateur football, the optimization of processes for searching, attracting, and retaining referees, as well as the formation of a unified training system. The main areas for improving the educational programs of the RFU Academy have been identified in connection with the practical participation of referees in competitions under the auspices of the RFU. It has been established that the introduction of this training system has created stable prerequisites for increasing the number of qualified referees, especially at the municipal and regional levels, and has raised the overall standard of refereeing in Russian football.
football, sports referees, professional training, continuing education, Russian Football Union Academy
1. Budogosskiy A. D. (2008), “Organizational and pedagogical aspects of building the process of professional training of entry-level football referees”, Extended abstract of PhD dissertation (Pedagogy), Moscow, 26 p.
2. Alshuvayli Kh. Kh., Kudryavtsev M. D., Struchkov V. I. (2018), “Current problems of theoretical training of football referees”, Problems of modern teacher education, no. 58-4, pp. 16–22.
3. Isakov R. Sh., Toshmukhamedova N. M. (2025), “Pedagogical conditions for improving the special training of football referees of different qualification levels”, Physical culture: upbringing, education, training, no. 3 (11), pp. 13–19.
4. Maslennikov A. V., Solovyev M. M. (2017), “Motor activity of football referees of different qualification levels”, Scientific notes of P. F. Lesgaft university, no. 2 (144), pp. 135–138.
5. Sidakova L. V. (2016), “Essence and main features of the dual education model”, Education and upbringing, no. 2 (7), pp. 62–64.
6. Turbin E. A., Budogosskiy A. D., Grets G. N. (2018), “Features of organizing mentors’ work in centers (schools, academies) for training entry-level football referees”, Scientific notes of P. F. Lesgaft university, no. 7 (161), pp. 43–47.
