This is aimed at increasing the number of referees. FMNC board member Mike Parsons said there is a concern at the dwindling number of whistle blowers to control senior fixtures.

Mr Parsons confirmed the ruling will be for all senior clubs, whether they be in the premier league or second tier competitions.

Football Mid North Coast will meet the costs of the course. Mr Parsons stressed that those who pass the course won't necessarily have to control matches each week.

"They'll be termed assistant referees on ground,'' he said.

This means they could have to run a line if there's a shortage of referees.

"We're also hoping this will lift the profile of our referees,'' he said.

"We want less abuse and descent from players and spectators towards the referees.''

Mr Parsons, who controlled this year's premier league grand final, notes that like most sports, getting referees is proving difficult for football.

"We have to boost the number of referees we have as well as retain our current officials,'' he said.

"We're right in the juniors because we have kids who want to earn some pocket money by refereeing.''

However, in the Manning area alone the number of senior referees has dwindled from around 140 to 40.

"This has had an impact,'' he said.

"We have 10 clubs in two grades for our premier league and we're flat out getting enough referees for those games.

"We've had some matches in the second tier competition where we haven't had officials to run a line and that's not a good thing for the game. It's something the board understands we have to address.''

Mr Parsons added that teams involved in the Northern NSW women's premier league next year will have to nominate a referee for all divisions. Football Mid North Coast is represented in this competition.

He said the Football Mid North Coast board will 'in the future' look at staging some games in the premier league on Friday evening or on Sundays to help cope with the referee shortage.

"There is some consideration to playing a stand alone match of the round on either Friday night or on a Sunday,'' he said.

"That would be more to promote our game and we'd be looking at matches like local derbies for the game of the round. But it would also help alleviate the pressure we have in finding enough referees on a Saturday afternoon.''

However, Mr Parsons said the board also appreciates that a number of players in all clubs work on weekends and organise their schedule to be able to play on Saturdays.

"If we transferred a game from Saturday to Sunday or Friday night we could suddenly have players from both teams unavailable because of work commitments,'' he said.

He added that choosing a match of the round before the season kicks off and so allowing players time to change their work shifts would be difficult.

"No-one knows at the start of the year how clubs are going to go,'' he pointed out.

"A match of the round is something the board is seriously considering for the future, but it won't be next year.''