Women's football has developed rapidly in recent years – calling for the effective nurturing of Europe's female referees.

The sixth UEFA course for international women referees at the governing body's Nyon headquarters this week will give expert advice and training to match officials currently taking charge of games in the UEFA women's competitions.

A total of 38 female referees and assistant referees will attend the gathering at the House of European Football from Wednesday to Friday. The course will involve discussion sessions and a fitness test at the Colovray stadium opposite UEFA's HQ in the Swiss town.

Topics covered at the course will include a review of the refereeing at last summer's UEFA European Women's Championship final round in Finland. Recent instructions to UEFA referees will also feature on the agenda, along with a presentation on injury prevention.

Information of a practical nature will be given to the 13 new FIFA women match officials who joined the international list in 2010, and the UEFA referee observer system will be explained. For the other participants, the course will also serve as a selection process for this year's UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship and UEFA European Women's U17 Championship.