The Irish Football Association’s refereeing department has launched a recruitment drive.
It is staging various courses next month in a bid to attract more referees for all levels of the game in Northern Ireland.
As part of the ‘Join The Game – Be A Referee’ initiative, a two-day referee beginners course is being run at four separate locations across the country during November.
The course will be held at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on 3 and 10 November and at Dungannon Swifts’ Stangmore Park ground on the same dates.
Devenish College in Enniskillen will host the two-day course on 17 and 24 November, and it will also be staged at the Foyle Arena in Derry-Londonderry on those dates.
The courses are set to run from 10am to 3pm at each venue across the two days. They are free courses, however participants will incur some costs if they decide to become referees, including paying fees to their local referees association.
Also available is an online course for refs. It’s an in-depth course and costs £25.
And on 20 November (6.30pm) there will be a club referee course aimed at clubs which play in leagues in the North-East of Northern Ireland. It is being staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
Andrew Davey, the association’s Senior Refereeing Manager, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in enhancing their skills and getting involved in local football through refereeing.
“The role of a referee offers numerous benefits, including the development of leadership, communication and decision-making skills. It provides opportunities to travel across Europe and promotes physical fitness.
“We're looking for referees of all ages and genders throughout Northern Ireland. While online courses are available year-round, we’re offering free face-to-face training sessions in four locations this November. Whether you’re an ex-player, a parent or simply eager to engage, this is a fantastic way to get involved and become part of the game.”
To book a place on a course go to: www.irishfa.com\referees
