22 SPORT
New 6-a-side
league starts
in Edinburgh
By STAFF REPORTERA NEW 6-A-SIDE league has just started
in Edinburgh – and teams are urged to
join now. The leagues are already
proving popular and take place at
Meadowbank Sports Centre on Sundays.
Teams are competing for top prizes, in
the Leisure Leagues Prize Draw.
Thousands of pounds worth of prizes
have already been given away, with the
top prize of a trip to Benidorm for the
whole team.
In addition, the best players could find
themselves representing their country in
the world cup, as Leisure Leagues are
conducting the trials to enable players to
play for their national team.
There is reduced entry for all new
teams, meaning a saving of £50 on the
Sunday league joining before 6
November. Single players are also
welcome and players can also pay for
their matches with either Google and
Apple Pay.
All matches are refereed by qualified
officials and all equipment is provided
and all profits are donated to Cancer
Research, Dogs Trust and Blind Children
UK. Anyone who wants to join the
6-a-side leagues in Edinburgh can do
so online:
http://www.bit.ly/3sumfC4So VAR so good
Volunteer of the Year
Lochend Academy football coach David Pollacchi
Hibs boss Johnson ‘excited’ that refs will
get more help to make correct decisions
By JOHN HISLOP
HIBS BOSS Lee Johnson (pictured right)
believes that the introduction of video assistant
referees will change the game and alter how
players are coached in Scotland.
Hibs were the first British club to play
European football. They were the first in
Scotland to install pylon floodlights, have
advertising on their strips and install
undersoil heating.
So it was fitting that Easter Road hosted the
first VAR game this side of the border in a
game against St Johnstone.
It only took eight minutes for VAR to come
into play and a check by Willie Collum back at
Clydesdale House ratified referee Kevin
Clancy's decision to show Martin Boyle a
yellow card for simulation following Alex
Mitchell's challenge.
Once again VAR was called into action for St
Johnstone’s equaliser when Nicky Clark pushed
Ryan Porteous in the back using two hands but
Collum decided that the force used was not
sufficient to deny the goal.
Then with Hibs trailing Boyle was clearly
fouled in the penalty box, but a VAR check
discovered that Jair Tavares was offside in
the run up.
Only 41 of the 42 Scottish Professional
Football League (SPFL) clubs voted to
introduce VAR this season. The initial plan was
to bring it in after the World Cup break, but the
technology was approved more quickly than
first expected.
Despite the result Johnson said he is "excited"
at the prospect of officials getting more help to
get decisions correct.
"That's really important, particularly when
managers lose their jobs on bad decisions,
which has happened in the past," the Hibs
boss said.
"However, in any one game - particularly the
first - you are always nervous about it in the
sense of 'what am I teaching my players... what
am I coaching my players?'
"In the box, handballs, how are you going to
defend? Are you going to put your hands
behind your back? Can you jump with your
arm up? What if you jump and get a push in
the back? Making sure there are no silly little
fouls on the way to a goalscoring move.
"Everything can be retrospectively judged,
so I think that is a real factor that is going
to change games.
"I hope the flow can be maintained, because
that is one of the best things about Scottish
football - the intensity, passion, flow.
"That is where officials must be A-grade
to make sure it runs smoothly.”FOOTBALL COACH David
Pollacchi has been recognised as
Volunteer of the Year at the 2022
sportscotland Coaching,
Officiating and Volunteering
(COV) Awards for his
exceptional and selfless
contribution to Lochend
Football Academy.
David has become a role
model for proactive volunteering
in his area, transforming Lochend
Football Academy, which sits in
one of the most deprived areas
of Scotland, into a club whose
quality and dedication has been
recognised by the Scottish
Football Association.
The inspirational coach, who
works closely with the local
community, was commended for
his drive to ensure local children
can play football in a safe, funand friendly environment for
years to come.
David Pollacchi said: “I started
coaching about six years ago, I
brought my boys down to the
academy and eventually became
a volunteer coach, before doing
my coaching badges. I’ve loved it
ever since – being able to make a
difference and to help both boys
and girls of the community on
their football has been really
exciting and something I’ve been
passionate about. We started off
with no girls at all, and we’ve
managed to grow that into a
thriving group. To be named
Volunteer of the Year is an
amazing feeling and something I
dedicate to the club and all those
I’ve coached and who have
helped me along the way.”
Mel Young, who is Chair ofsportscotland, said: “Our
Coaching, Officiating and
Volunteering Awards give us a
chance to celebrate the great
sporting achievements and
moments that are taking place
every day and congratulate those
who are making an incredible
commitment to Scottish sport.
“Across Scotland, there are
thousands of sporting
enthusiasts who recognise the
impact that sport and teamwork
can have on our lives. The people
we are celebrating have taken
that recognition and turned it
into life-changing ambition and a
force for good. Individuals like
David dedicate their time to
helping others realise their
sporting potential, and shown
the far-reaching benefits of
participation.”GET IN TOUCH
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