The workshop was held by the Federation Caledonienne de Football’s refereeing committee, led by Committee President Joel Guillerm, Vice-President Channel Palaou and referee instructor Gerard Banukone.
The objective of the workshop is to standardise the level of refereeing from the north of the country to the south, and including the Loyalty Islands.
“The idea is to move towards a level of refereeing which is the same throughout New Caledonia with better performing referees who follow the same guidelines of the game,” Guillerm says.
“They were given a general knowledge test which allowed us to see what level each of them is at.”
Following the classroom session, the group headed out onto the pitch where FIFA referee Bertrand Billon, also the fitness trainer for Southern Province referees, led the fitness testing element of the workshop.
“The trainees are not all at the same physical level and these tests allow Bertrand to establish a programme of individual preparation and tailored to their needs,” Guillerm says.
“We also conducted exercises specific for the referee in the centre as well as the assistant referees. And during February the referees will meet every Tuesday at Stade Numa Daly to follow up on the preparations we’ve established here.”
With the Super Ligue season yet to get underway a meeting has been called for 15 February which will see each of the participating clubs – represented by their presidents, coaches and captains – discuss the refereeing for the upcoming season.
“The season is more balanced in terms of timing and the refereeing committee will be able to set up monthly training sessions all season long, and we have a FIFA course scheduled for June, mainly for elite referees,” Guillerm concludes.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com