Earlier this month the CONCACAF Refereeing Department completed a series of important development initiatives in Toluca, Mexico.
There were four development initiatives in total: the CONCACAF First Year FIFA Referees Seminar, the CONCACAF Instructor Academy Introductory Course, the CONCACAF Referee Academy Introductory Course, and the CONCACAF Refereeing Winter Seminar.
The second edition of the CONCACAF First Year FIFA Referees Seminar took place over a four-day stretch, with 28 match officials including Amaury Majors beginning their inaugural year as FIFA referees in the CONCACAF region.
The seminar centered on preparing the referees for the challenges and expectations that they would face as First Year FIFA Referees, including a special focus on the importance of officiating consistency in CONCACAF competitions.
The CONCACAF Instructor Academy Introductory Course was a first-time initiative that occurred over the span of two weeks in late January during which eight instructors from eight CONCACAF member associations came together for an intensive and comprehensive training program.
Its purpose was to support referee development within the confederation through enhancing instructional education. Instructors were equipped with the necessary skills to excel in their roles, with classroom teaching methodology taking precedence.
The sixth generation of the CONCACAF Referee Academy Introductory Course brought together 14 referees from 13 different member associations, making for a diverse and dynamic platform for the development of refereeing skills over the course of two weeks.
The referees were selected based on their performances in their respective domestic leagues and regional development events.
Some of the main focuses of the course were fitness evaluation and training to ensure that the referees were in peak physical condition and could meet the demands of refereeing in the CONCACAF competition.
Important field exercises, such as replicating the challenges that referees face during matches, were also conducted, as were written and video tests to evaluate the referees’ understanding of the laws of the game.
The CONCACAF Refereeing Winter Seminar was a five-day event for the region’s elite match officials, with a focus on the preparation for upcoming competitions. Over 100 Match Officials, including Elite and First-Tier Referees, plus Assistant Referees and Video Match Officials, participated in the seminar.
With so many important competitions set to kick off, the focus was on the upcoming CONCACAF competitions: the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, and the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. Officials received specific education both in a classroom setting and On-field sessions, with fitness checks and players to best prepare for the challenges ahead in CONCACAF competitions.
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