The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) concluded its annual Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) on August 31st.
Some 20 officials including three FIFA Referees participated in the three-day forum which was staged at the National Stadium, Providence.
The programme, which combined theory and practical sessions, was spearheaded by FIFA Technical Instructors Javier Santos and Jeffrey Stolis, as well as Fitness Instructor Alan Brown.
“The first was the fitness condition of the referees, second was the technical knowledge and working in the classroom sessions with the technical instructors and the third area was the technical and practical training in the field of play. In the fitness condition aspect of the referees, a fitness test was done but two different types of tests were administered for the Referees and the Assistant Referees respectively,” said Santos in a release.
He added, “For the technical knowledge, video tests were done – evaluating handball decisions, tactical fouls and offside decisions and challenge, the most important thing in the field of play. The third aspect was done using players and the Referees and Assistants had to take the best decisions depending on the play.”
Santos disclosed, “They have to show that they are ready to officiate at the elite level matches regardless of whether if it’s just here in Guyana or internationally and this is not just for the FIFA referees. They have to show they are ready physically and technically so they have to train continuously and keep working together with the support of the Referees Department and the GFF to enable them to be prepared and ready for matches in this part of the region.”
Following the conclusion of the programme, each of the officials received a Certificate of Participation.
The RAP is a capacity building programme which seeks to create uniformity among elite referees and enable same to meet the demands of the game.
