Durham FA Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) is a season long development programme for the 2021-2022 season providing development opportunities to referees from Level 7 to Level 4 

 
The scheme will operate with a Level 4 Development Group and a CORE Group 
 
The Level 4 Development Group will provide development opportunities for Durham FA level 4 referees to help them progress into level 3 referees. 
 
The CORE group will meet once per month in order to provide support to those in the County Promotion Scheme and those identified as having potential to progress. 
 
Entry to Durham FA CORE is by invitation only for the season and referees have had to complete a fitness and laws of the game test for their entry into the scheme as well as pass an interview and a selection day taking place on 18th July. 
 
The CORE coaching will be led by the following personnel: 
Geoff Eltringham (SG2 Referee), Shaun Hudson (SG2 Assistant Referee), Brian Parry (PGMOL Observer), Tony Harrington (SG2 Referee), Adam Herczeg (2A Referee), Andrew Kitchen (2A Referee), Alex Clark (RDO), David Webb (SG2 Referee), Gary Beswick (FIFA Assistant Referee), Danny Markham (Former EFL Assistant Referee), Geoff Liddle (EFL Assistant Referee), Glen Hart (Level 3 Referee), Jonny Urwin (2B Referee), James Westgate (2B Referee), Mark Bell (Level 4 Referee) and James Bancroft (Level 3 Referee) 
 
Sessions will consist of the following topics: 

Level 4 Development Group 
Sessions will be delivered at Washington Hub on the following dates and will include fitness training: 

Thursday 9th September - Foul Challenges - Delivered by 2A Referee Adam Herczeg 

Thursday 2nd December - Match Control - Delivered by SG2 Referee Geoff Eltringham 

Thursday 3rd March - Handball - Delivered by SG2 Assistant Referee Shaun Hudson 
 

CORE 

Sessions will be delivered at Durham FA on the following dates and will include fitness and practical training: 

Thursday 23rd September – Foul Challenges – High Intensity Fitness 

Thursday 28th October – Match Control – Speed Fitness 

Thursday 25th November – Dealing with Confrontation and Dissent – SAQ Fitness 

Thursday 27th January – Nutrition and Fitness – High Intensity Fitness 

Thursday 24th February – Handball – Speed Fitness 

Thursday 24th March – DOGSO – High Intensity Fitness 

Thursday 21st April – Assistant Refereeing – Assistant Refeereeing Practical