Two of The FA's Regional Referee Managers, Alan Wilkie and Keith Hill delivered a Course for New Assessors in Pretoria, South Africa in October. This formed part of the introduction of a new scheme for assessing being adopted by The South African Football Association.

The course forms part of an on-going agreement between The FA and SAFA.

The six day course was attended by 36 new assessors from all parts of the country at the Human Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria.

The course included workshops, group sessions and candidates assessing two games with Alan and Keith giving extensive feedback on their content.

SAFA referees’ officer Carlos Henriques was delighted with the results from the course “This course is essential in the development of not only our assessors but, in future, our referees.

The quality of the reports our new assessors have written, during this course, are a testament to the course content and its delivery. They have come a long way in a short space of time. This is the way forward for us.”

Keith Hill said: “The course introduced a model for assessing that we are using in England that matches expectation with performance.

"This assists the assessor in an accurate appreciation of a referees performance and with it the chance for the referee to get the most out the assessment with development areas and solutions clearly identified.”

Alan Wilkie commended the participants for their enthusiasm and hard work during the course “The participants have really worked hard & demonstrated a desire to be accomplished assessors. Their work during the course has been first class and I am sure it will be the springboard to improved performance by referees, receiving quality assessments from committed and inspired assessors.”