There was a time when passing the Entrance Exam signalled the end of your studies as a Ref. Everything else, you picked up on the pitch as you went along. The thinking now is that Referees at every level stand to benefit from constant coaching, learning from their own and other peoples' experiences. There are various ways the Glasgow Association goes about supporting the development of our male and female refs at every level.

Some of the best coaching you will get as a Ref will be at the monthly meetings where a regular coaching co-ordinator slot is a feature.

Classes - we organise classes for brand new Referees and also for Refs who wish to take the Advanced Exam to make them available for promotion to operate in the senior game. Click on the link and you'll find plenty of material to support you if you are currently going through any of these classes.

Training Nights - to allow every Ref at every grade to achieve a level of fitness that will help their game progress, training sessions are organised at various locations in Glasgow.

SFA Academy - in the last few years, a series of Referee Development sessions have taken place throughout the country under the auspices of the SFA Referee Development Academy. If you are serious about making progress in Refereeing, this is your route. Find out more.

Minor grades advisory panel

The Panel advises, supports and gives guidance to referees in Minor Football together with Probationary and Youth referees The Panel Advisors are all former referees and are members of the Association. Referees wishing to use the services of the Panel must in the first instance regularly attend a Training Area and discuss participation with the Association Manager, who will approve any appointment to the Panel. Thereafter the referee submits to the Panel Convener by e mail, on a weekly basis, full details of his/her games and the Panel Convener will allocate the games to available Advisors. The Panel aims to cover each referee on a minimum of 4 occasions during a season. A detailed report on the performance of the referee is sent to the Association Manager, Panel Convener and the match official The reports provide a comprehensive assessment of the progress made during a season and are an important element of any promotions to a higher grade of football In April each year the Panel meet with the Association Manager to discuss the performances of the referees who could be considered for promotion to Junior Football. Following the meeting the Association Manager will submit final recommendations to the Scottish Football Association. This season 14 referees have to date regularly used the Panel and since the start of the season 156 games have been handed in and 51 games covered by an Advisor. Progress to a higher level should be the aim of all young referees and participation in the Panel will greatly increase the chances of achieving this goal. All the referees within the Glasgow Association who are currently operating in Senior Football have at some stage in their careers used the services of the Panel. Further information on this important training initiative can be obtained from discussions with senior referees at your Training Area, the Association Manager or by contacting me at the Monthly Meetings or by telephone or e mail.

For further information on the Panel, or if you are a young referee wishing to submit a game for observation, you can contact George Ritchie, Acting Panel Convenor, by emailling Georgegr51@sky.com or telephone 0141 639 4181.