Six of the regions finest referees were put through their paces today in a series of fitness tests as part of a three-day training program at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
The training program, hosted by Macquarie Football Referees Association, is an intensive 3-day course that aims to advance the development of young referees and prepare them for higher levels of football.
The six referees chosen to take part were given exclusive access to intensive theory training, guest presentations from former Socceroos and A-league Assistant referees, and a half day of fitness assessments.
NNSWF Match Official Development Co-ordinator Brad Carlin said “We put them through their paces here with fitness testing, we really press them hard with exams on the knowledge of the laws of the game, and the end result of it is we think they’re better prepared with regards to the challenges of stepping up to a higher level of football.”
“Increasingly match officials in Australia are required to be younger to make it to the top and they’re required more than ever to be supremely fit and have a huge knowledge of the laws of the game and their correct interpretation and application. This three-day program, which is well supported by Macquarie Football and by Northern NSW Football, certainly steers the referees in the right direction.”