The Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) first ever Elite Referees and Assistant Referees Programme is being hosted at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, from 20-22 September 2006.
The course is designed to identify referees within the OFC region that have both the physiological ability and knowledge base to be appointed to the FIFA referees panel.
OFC Technical Director, Jim Selby, said the programme would be part of an ongoing review of education programmes across the board whether they are for referees or coaches.
“The course will focus on examination of the laws of the game, fitness levels, and upskilling on law interpretation. The well-being of referees is also important and there is attention paid to nutrition and injury-prevention. We are aiming to get our participants to perform at a level where they are officiating at OFC and FIFA events.”
The OFC Referees Committee members Chandra Segran (Fiji), Ken Wallace (New Zealand), Alejo Leguizamon (New Zealand/Argentina) and Massimo Raveino (Tahiti) will put the course participants through their paces during an intense 3-day period.
A total of 38 referees and assistant referees from around New Zealand and the South Pacific will descend on Auckland.
Jim Selby said one of the key challenges referees from the OFC face is player management.
“Player management is an area where referees can improve. We belong to a culturally diverse part of the world so how the laws of the game are activated can vary.”
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas is optimistic the course will pave a road for referees and assistant referees from the Region to appear at the 2010 FIFA World CupTM.