Referees take centre stage in Nyon

Experienced and young referees are in the spotlight in Switzerland this week as UEFA stages two courses – one for established match officials and the other for up-and-coming referees.

Inaugural seminar
The inaugural Seminar for UEFA Category 2 Referees is under way and continues until Wednesday. The course features 37 referees who are either already established and experienced, or who are newer to the FIFA list and gradually earning their international spurs through officiating at top international matches, for example in the UEFA Cup.

Packed agenda
This second-category referee course includes a fitness test, video analysis of match situations, a review of recent instructions given to UEFA referees, how to deal with success and disappointment, and UEFA administrative issues for referees. Members of the UEFA Referees Committee – all former international referees themselves – are on hand to give assistance to the referees, alongside the regular referee training team headed by Belgian fitness expert Werner Helsen.

Key ideas
"The second category for UEFA referees is important, because you need to pass through this category to get to the higher level," UEFA vice-president and UEFA Referees Committee chairman Angel María Villar Llona told the referees. "You have a lot of international experience. We need your experience, and UEFA wants to keep in touch with you. We see you on the pitch, but we also want to hear from you and transmit key ideas to you." Discussions will take place both in groups and plenary meetings.

Instructions and advice
The UEFA Referees Committee members are taking the opportunity to pass on instructions, information and advice gleaned from various international referee courses held over recent months. The instructions include, among other things, the need for uniformity in decision-taking, protection of players with regard to excessively physical challenges and strict measures against simulation.

Talents and mentors
Later in the week, Europe's up-and-coming young match officials will come to Nyon for the 9th Seminar for UEFA Referee and Assistant Referee Talents and Mentors. UEFA referee development work has included the innovative talents and mentors programme, under which young match officials are assisted by former European referees to nurture their progress. The programme has been in operation since 2001, and several graduates have gone on to success at the highest refereeing levels. The latest seminar will cover a practical training session, as well as a presentation on the mental elements of teamwork, referee observer issues and a review of UEFA referee instructions.