Auchterarder pupils pass referee course

Jan 18 2013 by Johnathon Menzies, Strathearn Herald

Eight pupils from the Community School of Auchterarder recently completed a flagship refereeing course.

The sixth year students – Hamilton Smith, Jamie Lawrence, Rory Savage, Stuart Watson, Rohan Beyts, Josh Roy, Lily Dyer and Sophie Gothard – excelled themselves during the project devised by the Scottish Football Association.

It is also backed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and sponsored by opticians’ Specsavers.

The Community School of Auchterarder was one of the first schools to deliver the course .

To date, fewer than 200 candidates have completed the refereeing assignments in the whole of Scotland.

The course is delivered in two blocks.

Both are designed to promote a higher standard of football officiating across the country .

They are delivered in the Lang Toon by school janitor Jeff Banks – who is also a qualified and experienced referee coach.

A spokesperson for the school explained: “The first block is classroom-centred and culminates in a written examination at which an SFA official attends as an observer.

“The second block consists of practical sessions on the field.

“All eight pupils passed.”