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The first refereeing association in Scotland to do an online introductory course during the coronavirus pandemic, Moray and Banff Referees are repeating the exercise to try and recruit the next batch of SFA match officials


By Craig Christie

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MORAY and Banff Referees became the first in Scotland to do an online qualification course to huge success, and they are looking to recruit even more whistlers.

Highland League referee Filippo Mazzoni. Photo: Eric Cormack.
Highland League referee Filippo Mazzoni. Photo: Eric Cormack.

The north group broke new ground in May by using the coronavirus sporting lockdown to good effect and starting an introductory refereeing course over the Zoom video conferencing platform.

It proved to be popular, gaining Moray and Banff new recruits to move on to the next stage of football officiating.

Plans are already in place to begin the next online introductory course on September 21, and course co-ordinator Harry Bruce is keen to see more people sign up.

"This will be our second course of 2020 and with the new season on the horizon in Scottish Football, it would be the perfect time to take up the course," he said.

"We were the first association in Scotland to try the Zoom referee course and it has been a huge success.

"It's allowed us to take in guys from various areas of Moray and Banff who might have struggled with travelling to and from Elgin.

"Associations all over Scotland have utilised the online courses since ours, and it seems to be the new way of running it. As such, we will be running this course online again."

The planned date to begin the next course is Monday, September 21, but the association will be flexible with which night of the week to run the programme.

"The course is due to last around eight weeks, however can be adapted to suit the needs of those involved," Bruce said.

"Our most recent group grasped things very quickly and the exams were passed much sooner than the eighth week."

The course costs £35 per person but is free for any female budding refs, with the cost including membership to Moray and Banff Referees for the whole year.

"It is a great opportunity for people to take up a new hobby as we gradually come out of lockdown, and as grassroots football gets ready to start again," Bruce added.

For more information, visit the Moray and Banff Referees website or find out more on Facebook .

To register an interest for the course, email Harry Bruce on hazbruce@hotmail.co.uk or Association Secretary, Ally Bruce on ally.bruce@hotmail.co.uk.


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