Berks & Bucks FA have partnered with YesRef to help increase the visibility of available referees & matches within East Berks and Wycombe.

YesRef is an online platform and app which connects clubs and referees by allowing them to promote and accept relevant upcoming fixtures in their local area.

Piloting the online platform and app for Berks & Bucks FA until the end of the season, East Berks Football Alliance and Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League clubs will work with YesRef to increase visibility of their matches to potential referees and help increase coverage for matches.

We are asking as many BBFA Referee to sign up to the platform as possible and become verified with the app. To do this, Referees will be asked to provide evidence of their registration along with in-date Safeguarding and DBS Checks (for Youth Football) before searching for available matches. All of which can be provided via the Whole Game System.

Clubs can add details of their upcoming fixtures and allow referees to notify them when they are available. The process can be confirmed with just a few clicks. Referees are then paid via the app with funds hitting their accounts minutes after the final whistle.

Referees will not be contacted or notified directly, avoiding the potential of multiple emails every week, but instead have the ability to view which matches require an official, and select the match(es) which are most suitable for them to officiate.

Referees under the age of 16 will need to provide parent/carer information before their account can be verified. This will allow parents/carers to ensure they also receive any communication and notifications.

Berks & Bucks FA believe there are several great benefits for all involved:

• A single platform for referees to find games across the county relevant to their level
• A tool for referees to be paid digitally without sharing personal data with clubs
• An easy way for clubs to request referees using technology
• Ensuring clubs are only using affiliated & DBS checked referees.

We at the CFA recognise the hard work of appointment officers across the county and we see YesRef as a product that can support the traditional methods of sourcing referees which saves time and reduces the burden of finding officials. 

Referee Development Officer, Sam Myatt, was very supportive of the new initiative: "This is a really exciting development to work with YesRef. Having met with Ben on numerous occasions, his passion to help Grassroots Football was clear and having seen the system in operation, it is clear there are benefits to Referees and Clubs, especially around the time saving of searching for a referee. Hopefully, the more referees who buy into this and download the app, will help us get a good idea of how useful the app could be utilised."

Referees can download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Alternatively, referees can sign up via the website.

Online Demos

The app has been designed to be very simple and straight forward and we have a knowledge base, that users can refer to if required. However, to support onboardinganswer any questions, YesRef have set up a series of Teams calls for referees and clubs in the coming week - to join the meeting simply click the relevant link below at the advertised time.

Monday 21st February for Referees
18:30 – 19.15
Click here to join the meeting 

Monday 21st February for Clubs
19:30 – 20:15
Click here to join the meeting 

Thursday 24th February for Referees
18:30 – 19:15
Click here to join the meeting 

Thursday 24th February for Clubs
19:30 – 20:15
Click here to join the meeting 

For more information about the YesRef pilot, please contact Berks & Berks FA Referee Development Officer, Sam Myatt, via Referees@Berks-BucksFA.com.

Alternatively, please visit our dedicated Referee pages for more information.