I would definitely encourage him to take on the course. I wish i had done it, my footballing career was cut short by injury and i never really had a back up! On a plus note, if he doesn't make a living from playing (most don't) there is a good living to be made nowadays through reffing.... after all at least that way he gets to stay in the game for at least the next 30 years at a high level should he make the grade
Go for it! I started - many, many years ago when I was about 15 and there was virtually no youth football so it was straight into adult leagues. I finished up doing semi-pro and football league reserve games and the higher up I got, the more satisfying it became. From what I can see, the oportunities for promotion are even better today - even if in some cases it seems too rapid! If your son finds he's enjoying his games he'll stick with it, forget the weeks when it all goes wrong and come back for more. Good luck to him.
Do it, I did mine and out of 24 only 8 were over 18. It is quite a decent course (I think they do an intensive one over a week or 2 in Lancing in the summer) can be a good source of pocket money for him too!
I'm 14 and I completed my course in February 3 months after my birthday and since then I have completed 3 11 aside matches and u feel thy they have gone really well. Also you can referee anything below in his case u13s and under. I suggest he does it as it's also good pay
Do it!!
I took my course just over 3 years ago (about 15) and i've done probably about 50 games now, including Brighton Boys and Sussex rep squad at youth level. I've never had any problems apart from last weekend, and usually do 2 games every Sunday, so £50 for 4 hours work which is far better than any of my mates are earning whilest at college. If you're son's 14 he will only be doing U12's and younger realistically, and at that age he won't receive any abuse whatsoever.
Word of warning, the course is bloody boring.