Training camp for referees

A training camp for referees. We see it very often these days, both in summer and winter. Before the 2018-2019 season I’ve seen an interesting video clip from Spain plus interviews from a FIFA training camp. This will give you an impression what a training camp for referees looks like.

Spanish referees in Valencia

Training camp for referees at FIFA

Uefa also held a training camp for referees in Nyon. Because the season is about to start, most of the elite and first category referees were present. In total there were 94 referees – 73 male and 21 female officials at the summer gathering.

“Our message to the referees is that we won’t settle for anything less than the best,” said UEFA deputy chief refereeing officer Hugh Dallas on the Uefa website. “We have always prided ourselves on high-quality performances as far as European refereeing is concerned.”

Take action to protect the game

Hugh Dallas also stresses that referees need to take action against awful behaviour of players. “The referees have also been reminded to take strong action to protect the image of our game”, Dallas says. He adds: “And deal appropriately with players who are guilty of mobbing/protesting against their decision-making.”

Totally in line with the blog post I wrote after the World Cup so far. But then he mentions something interesting:

“One of the tasks of the referee is to guide, manage and keep all 22 players on the field of play”. For me these are opposite things, because taking strong action does not go well with keeping all players on the pitch.

I am curious what you think. Is it a task of the referee to keep all 22 players on the field of play? Or should you aim for that by game management, but take appropriate measures when that has to be done.