Referee

Be part of the game, be a Referee

Referees are a vital part of football and as the Scottish FA seeks to continually grow and develop the Scottish game, there is a constant need to recruit and develop referees.

Refereeing can be a highly rewarding challenge, encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle as well as significantly contributing to the development of the game. Referees operate at all levels– from grassroots football right through to the Scottish Professional Football League and international matches.

The minimum age to become a qualified referee in Scotland is 16.

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Be part of the game, be a referee | Refereeing

National Referee Introductory Course (NRIC)

The National Referee Introductory Course (NRIC) consists of six sessions, each lasting two hours. Between these sessions, candidates have access to five optional sessions, during which they may receive an additional 30 minutes of tuition. All sessions are delivered online via the Microsoft Teams platform.

Courses run on a rolling basis throughout the year. The cost of the course is £50, which includes the first year of membership with the local Referees’ Association.

Each course is delivered by two dedicated NRIC coaches who guide candidates through the 17 Laws of the Game. Candidates also benefit from guest visits by a grassroots referee and a Scottish Premiership match official, as well as the opportunity to engage with their local Referees’ Association Manager. As part of the programme, candidates are invited to attend their local Referees’ Association Training to enhance their knowledge of the physical and practical aspects of refereeing.

New referees receive ongoing support from their Referees’ Association, and guidance is provided on suitable leagues in which to begin their refereeing journey.

Course fee

£50

Click here to apply for the National Referee Introductory Course (NRIC)

APPLY FOR THE COURSE

Scottish FA Referee e-learning Course

This course is delivered on a self-guided e-Learning platform over 5 modules, with a laws of the game test at it's completion. The required pass mark is 80%.

At the start of the course, you will select which of the 12 local Referee Associations is most geographically suitable for you to join.

Although the course is conducted remotely, there is a compulsory requirement for you to attend two in-person laws of the game Q&A sessions with a coach from your chosen Referee Association before you can sit the mock & final tests.

The course is completed within your own time scale and environment and is not supported by in-person coaching.

Course fee

£50 Click here to register for The Scottish FA Referee Online Course.