Twenty-two (22) referees from the Solomon Islands have completed a five-day FIFA MA course at SIFF headquaters in Honiara.
The course is the annual FIFA Member Association Refereeing course for International and Top referees and Assistant Referees, Men and Women in the Member Associations.
Twenty-two top referees and Assistant Referees, men and women participated in the course from 27 – 31 May 2021. Also attending and assisting in the delivery of the course are 4 Technical Referees Instructors who are responsible for the education and development of the top referees and assistant referees in the country.
The general objective of the course is:
• To improve the quality of refereeing instructors from the member associations of FIFA
• To help FIFA Member Associations to improve the level of top referees and assistant referees• Create uniformity regarding the interpretation of the Football LOTG• Guidance on key technical topics (Handball, Challenges, PAI, Positioning, Tactical Fouls, Offside)
• To support the project of preparation of referees and assistant referees for FIFA competitions and in particular the Men World Cup™ and the Women’s World Cup
The activities of the course involve theoretical Sessions (presentations, video Incident analysis, group work, group discussions etc.), practical training sessions (technical and fitness) and evaluation exercises.
FIFA Referee Instructor and OFC Referee Development Officer, Neil Poloso who conducted the course said he is impressed with the participants over the past five days.
“I am very impressed and appreciative of the level demonstrated by the referees and instructors during the five days course,” he said.
“Their technical knowledge of the law of the game was very high, an indication of a brighter future in refereeing for them should they choose to remain committed and exercise self-discipline.
“The twenty referees and assistant referees have all been confirmed to be in the panel of Referees and Assistant in the 2021 TSL season and the timing of the course was just perfect to prepare them”.
One of the highlights of the course is the presentation on the 2021/2022 Football Laws of the game amendments. Following the IFAB 137th virtual Annual General Meeting on 17th of March 2021, a number of amendments were approved.
The main law amendments are on Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: handball. As the interpretation of handball incidents has not always been consistent due to incorrect applications of the Law, the members of IFAB confirmed that not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence.
This was clarified in detail with video examples, simplified and assisted the referees to recognize when to penalize handball correctly in accordance with the Laws of the game.
Poloso added that the course has helped in the development of match officials in Solomon Islands.
“I am happy the course benefitted the referees, assistant referees and the referees’ instructors for their personal development and the development of football in Solomon Islands in general.
“On behalf of FIFA and OFC, I extend words of appreciation and acknowledgement to the President, Executive Committee and secretariat of SIFF for their continued support in the development of Referees (Football Futsal and Beach soccer) in Solomon Islands”.
Apart from Poloso, FIFA Fitness Instructor – Kader TOUATI (France/Tahiti) also presented two Fitness theoretical sessions via Zoom from Tahiti.
