Continuing the agreement between The FA and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), FA Tutors, Edward Stone and Alan Wilkie, (also FA Regional Referees Managers) delivered a training programme with referee instructors who then delivered an entry level referees’ course.
Participants consisted of five instructors and fifteen referees using the programme previously developed and trialled in 2007 by Edward and John Baker.
The course this year was held at the New Zealand Pacific Training Centre in Nadi, Fiji. The venue provided a large classroom and a playing field with a full size pitch, marked out and complete with goalposts and nets.
The course was open by Fiji FA’s Vice President, Dr Hari Kewal who welcomed the referees and instructors to the course and thanked The FA for once again providing the tutors. He highlighted this course as yet another example of the close cooperation between Fiji FA and The FA which was starting to bear fruit with an improvement already having been witnessed in the standard of refereeing performances in Fijian football.
Instructors
The five instructors worked extremely hard throughout the week delivering two sessions per day and planning the next day’s sessions overnight which meant very little leisure time for them.
However, such was the professionalism that they produced quality sessions that taught both Law and its application, which enhanced the students’ practical refereeing capabilities. This cohort will supplement the previous year’s attendees giving additional coverage of FA trained instructors across the islands of Fiji.
At least two of the instructors on this year’s course displayed the suitable potential which could, in the future, lead to an invitation to The FA’s International Advanced Course for Instructors.
Referees
The referees received their training from the trainee instructors who were under the supervision of Edward and Alan who appraised the performance of the instructor in delivery method, accuracy in Law and its practical application.
With 75 per cent of the programme being delivered outdoors to a practical-based syllabus, referees and instructors alike, ended each day physically, as well as mentally tired, but full of enthusiasm for the next day’s challenge.
Throughout the week, the referees displayed an enthusiasm for any challenge or task that they were set and demonstrated a willingness to learn at every opportunity.