Qualifications Scotland’s Personal Development Award in Refereeing, a level 7 award delivered in schools across the country is run in partnership with the Scottish FA and Specsavers.
The award plays a key role in the Scottish FA Referee Operations department’s strategy to encourage and increase participation in refereeing, aimed at S5 and S6 pupils.
An introduction to refereeing, the course is designed to equip individuals with knowledge and understanding of refereeing and the Laws of the Game. It also includes learning about formal controls, misconduct, match reports and fitness standards for referees. This knowledge is drawn together by refereeing a football match.
The Professional Development Award in Refereeing has been developed in partnership with Qualifications Scotland and Scottish FA’s Referee Development Department and is available through schools, colleges, training providers as well as some employers. It has been designed to be delivered as a taught course and will normally be available as a combination of workshops and self-directed study.
The course was introduced in 2010 when 33 candidates earned their certificates. In 2026, there are 161 approved centres delivering the course. In the last school year, 969 certificates were successfully awarded, an increase of over 2830% qualifications gained since the course commenced.
Specialist Assistant Referee Paul McAvinue is perfectly placed as both an active referee and PE Teacher Oldmachar Academy in Aberdeen.
“We’ve got a really active audience at the moment, because the pupils love football. We’re encouraging them to improve their knowledge of the laws of the game, and we’re working at making the connection between getting pupils through the course and into refereeing within their local association.”
“I started refereeing when I was 16, so I understand the journey that they’re on and where they’ve come from, because I’ve been in their shoes. Back when I started it was so much different than it is now. There are a lot of support mechanisms now in buddies and mentors alongside the pathways and structures embedded to show what the next steps are in your journey.
Linda McLean and Alistair Brown from Qualifications Scotland are hugely positive about the benefits of the course for young people;
“From the very early stages of the course after it’s launch in 2012, we knew this was the kind of experiences we wanted young people to have, as it gave them something different other than just a qualification.
“We found that it gave great employment opportunities. Kids quite quickly got to referee school matches, which gave them a bit of status in the school with junior pupils looking up to them. The characteristics and qualities it can help young people develop include confidence and leadership skills.”
“This year we’ve been involved in establishing and promoting a female refereeing course where young women came together online and went through an explainer of all the opportunities available to female referees. We’re now working closer than ever with the Scottish FA by delving into the statistics of the course and supporting their targeted needs with course developments.”
The course was also visited by Abbie Hendry to share her experiences of her background, how and why she got involved in refereeing.
“Refereeing gives girls and boys an opportunity that if they can’t go down the playing route of the sport there’s other paths, especially in the female side of the game.
“Refereeing has really developed my communication and teamwork skills, as well as working under pressure, just as a whole. You don’t always get this type of learning in school, as it being put under pressure in circumstances you wouldn’t typically get elsewhere.” “You’ve got a role to play as a referee, I always got told I was too nice! It brought me out more as a person, because your personality plays such a role in refereeing, and how you use that to manage the pressure you’re under.”
Be part of the game, become a referee here.
