Local referees’ technical, physical deficiencies cited

Local Football referees and their assistants have been ordered to work on their physical and technical abilities if they want to stay on top of their game.

Making that call was Trinidadian Joseph Taylor, one of the facilitators in a recent FIFA referees’ workshop, held here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, April 8 to 12.{{more}}

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Taylor noted that while he was pleased with the age spread and enthusiasm of the participants, the technical and physical components must be enhanced.

“There is work to be done on the technical and the physical aspects… There is a lot of room for improvement in terms of fitness with the younger persons coming up,” Taylor said bluntly.

His assessments are not new, as when similar courses were held in 2010 and 2014, Jamaican facilitator Peter Pendergast echoed the same.

But continuing his evaluation of the recent course, Taylor expounded: “There are aspects of their training which needs to change… Similarly, when you look at their technical ability, the aptitude is there, now you have to take it into the game… What you do in training is what you going to put back in the game.”

However, Taylor said that there is enough local personnel for those who are lacking to feed from.

“There are people here who can motivate them … Look at the older ones and apply it,” Taylor advised.

Taylor had earlier informed the participants that “practice, practice, practice will bring success, but with the right attitude.”

Meanwhile, the other course facilitator, Jamaican Victor Stewart, said that one of the objectives was to change the mindset of the local officials.

“One of the objectives that we had was to change the mindset, apart from the knowledge base they were given… The attitude towards gaining a higher standing of officiating; their attitude towards their work,” Stewart observed.

He thought that it was achieved to some extent, but with the use of a “sledgehammer” approach at times during the five days.

Stewart revealed that he will be tracking the progress of the participants.

“The result of this (the course) will only be seen on the field of play, not only on the shores of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Stewart said.

He challenged the referees and assistants to start to be counted in the regional set-up.

“It is our fervent wish that next Caribbean tournaments, male, female and at every age group, we are not expecting to see CONCACAF and CFU importing officials from UNCAF and North America to officiate in our senior tournaments or any of our tournaments; we expect to see our Caribbean referees matriculate to their potential, where we can proudly display them in these competitions without fear of contradiction,” Stewart projected.

The course was attended by the practising referees in the national competitions, the five FIFA listed officials, along with two prospective referees assessors.(RT)