Accurate feedback key to raising refereeing standards

Published on: 05 February 2016

Kuala Lumpur: Accurate feedback is key to raising refereeing standards, participants at an AFC Referee Assessors Course in Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur heard recently.

A total of 67 participants, consisting of 56 existing AFC Referee Assessors, eight aspiring ones and three observers, attended the course which was part of the AFC Refereeing Seminar 2016 and closed on Thursday.

Aptly themed ‘Passion for Excellence’, the course was part of the constant efforts of the AFC Referees Department to uplift the standard and ability of the AFC Referee Assessors panel through regular development programmes and evaluation of the assessors’ competency.

Past performances were reviewed for future improvements, new approaches to assessment and feedback were introduced plus sessions on analysis of match incidents were conducted. A special session on team tactics was also included in order for referee assessors to better understand modern trends in football and make observations related to styles of play which relate to referee performances in a game.

Speaking at the course closing, AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John noted that experience alone is not sufficient to provide accurate feedback on referee performances and that assessors must continue to be relevant to the evolution of the modern game, adding that the role of the modern day referee assessors requires them to constantly update their understanding and interpretation of the game’s latest developments.

“Feedback is the cornerstone of learning and improvement,” Dato' Windsor said. “The feedback you provide helps to shape and mould the future refereeing standards in this continent. It is therefore paramount for referee assessors to possess excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail and utmost accuracy when assessing the performances of our referees.”

Dato’ Windsor also took the opportunity to mention a special word of appreciation for Yoshimi Ogawa, who was the Director of the AFC Referees Department for nine years. Ogawa was presented with a plaque at the course closing ceremony as a token of appreciation for his services to AFC.

The AFC General Secretary also welcomed the new AFC Referees Director, Shamsul Maidin, who took over the helm from Ogawa beginning of January.

The three-day course was conducted by FIFA/AFC Referee Instructors Ali Al Traifi and Subkhiddin Salleh, who were assisted by Ian Blanchard, Ray Olivier and guest speaker Mike Adamson from England. 

AFC Referees Committee Deputy Chairman Hani Ballan and Ogawa, now a consultant to the AFC Referees Department, acted as evaluators complementing the team of experts that observed individual and group presentations by the course participants.

Photo: AFC

Source: the-afc.com

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