A college in Aube trains young referees from the sixth grade: “At the beginning, it’s not easy to make your mark”

This Thursday afternoon, at the Eurêka middle school gymnasium in Pont-Sainte-Marie (Aube), it's futsal time for the refereeing section . Three teams have been formed. While two of them compete, the third handles refereeing and the scorer's table. With a wry smile, Yacine Difallah encourages one of the players on the sidelines to enter the field. None of his teammates want to give up their place, so they have to force their way through.

A few seconds later, the teacher, head of the school's refereeing department, interrupts the game. He addresses one of the two referees: "Can you count the players?" There is obviously one too many. Yacine Diffalah, also a regional football referee and FIA (initial referee training) trainer, explains the penalties provided for in this case. The game resumes.

This scene is a regular occurrence during refereeing sessions at the school. The PE (physical education and sports) teacher challenges his students to face all the situations they might encounter on a football pitch, including a hot-headed coach or spectators calling names from the sidelines.

The section was created in 2011. Since then, it has remained unique in France. The French Football Federation (FFF) supports high school refereeing sections. There are no plans for middle school refereeing sections.

In Pont-Sainte-Marie, in the immediate vicinity of Troyes (Aube), arrangements were made to allow students interested in refereeing to train from the sixth grade onwards, with two one-and-a-half-hour sessions per week, integrated into school hours. "The local club regularly had difficulty recruiting referees," recalls Yacine Diffalah. "This was also the case at the district level. Pascal Landréat, the mayor, was also president of the football club at the time. He had the idea of ​​creating this channel to supply the clubs."

The section has grown to 28 students per school year. For 2024/2025, there will be 18, from sixth to ninth grade, including two girls. "It's one of the section's strengths, being able to mix students of different levels," emphasizes Mathieu Aunos, the middle school's deputy principal.

Lacking federal support, funding solutions had to be found. "For example, we want students to wear real refereeing gear so they can identify themselves," says Yacine Difallah. Partnerships have been established with six clubs in the department. "To be able to referee official matches, you must be at least 13 years old. When they are old enough to get their first refereeing diploma, we offer the young people the opportunity to join one of the partner clubs, but there is no obligation."

At 15, Maxilina plays mixed teams at the Pont-Sainte-Marie club, in addition to training to be a referee. She has gained self-confidence there. "At first, it's not easy to assert yourself against the players. You don't dare say things," the young girl admits. Imad, 13, also a member of Pont-Sainte-Marie, agrees with her. "When you're up against ninth-grade students who are taller than you, it's tough! You have to learn how to talk to them. Refereeing is a lot of pressure!"

With experience, Maxilina has learned to assert herself and now shares her knowledge with her teammates. She also no longer watches matches in the same way: "I pay more attention to the referee to see if he makes mistakes."

After a few weeks in the section, even the most timid players gain confidence. "Being a referee takes courage," acknowledges Yacine Diffalah. "You obviously have to know the rules of the game, but you also have to prioritize your actions and adopt the right posture."

While there isn't yet a refereeing section in the high schools of Aube, the one at Eurêka College has fortunately been extended. It has inspired young people to get involved in refereeing beyond a simple passion and try to make it a career. This is the case for Noham Velay, a former Eurêka College student and currently in his final year at a high school in the area. He aspires to become a young federal referee (JAF) to officiate matches in the French U17 and U19 championships, before aiming higher.

Beyond the skills developed through the section, middle school students can also reap the benefits during the brevet exam. It's part of the EPI (interdisciplinary practical courses). "They can present it orally," says Yacine Difallah. "Their strength is that they talk about their experience as referees and the situations they've faced. It's always more interesting than sticking to theory." This oral exam represents a quarter of the total score for the brevet des collèges.

In May, around ten students from the refereeing section of Eurêka College will be able to test their skills in UNSS (National Union of School Sports) competitions. The Troyes metropolitan area is hosting the French Excellence Futsal Championship. "There are bridges between the UNSS and the French Football Federation to validate some of the diplomas," adds the instructor. As long as the right number of players are on the field...