Assistants join referee talents at Nyon seminar

UEFA's referee talents and mentors programme has proved its worth over several years by providing a number of match officials who have gone on to operate at the highest European and world levels.

Expert guidance
The 9th Seminar for UEFA Referee and Assistant Referee Talents and Mentors took place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon this week, continuing UEFA's ambitious scheme whereby up-and-coming young men and women referees – talents – are given expert guidance by mentors – experienced former match officials. This latest seminar also marked a first, in that some promising assistant referees were also in attendance.

Through the ranks
UEFA feels that young referees can benefit from the wisdom of colleagues who have served as match officials at top international levels. The programme has been in operation since 2001. In the intervening years, 146 talented young referees from 50 UEFA member associations – including 19 women referees – have been through the programme, alongside 37 mentors. Eight former talents are now members of the UEFA élite category, and three of them – Massimo Busacca (Switzerland), Martin Hansson (Sweden) and Howard Webb (England) – are in the referee team for the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in June.

Famous alumni
"I think we can be proud that many of those who have taken part in this programme in the past are top referees today in competitions such as the [FIFA] World Cup, [UEFA] European Championship and [UEFA] Champions League," UEFA Referees Committee second vice-chairman Michal Listkiewicz told delegates. "I do hope that you will be top European referees very soon as well, and that we will be mentioning your names at future seminars."

Mental and physical aspects
UEFA Referees Committee members were on hand in Nyon to give the young match officials the benefit of their long experience, together with a team of expert referee fitness trainers led by Belgium's Werner Helsen. The seminar covered 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.

'Help talents achieve their best'
"The programme's objectives include the promotion of European refereeing through the support of talented young referees," said UEFA Referees Committee member Jozef Markos. "The aim is to help each talent achieve his or her maximum level. We have also introduced new elements, with the presence of promising young assistant referees, as we are seeking to improve the quality of the teamwork and co-operation between the referees and their assistants."

Ongoing dialogue
The mentors remain in constant contact with their referees by email or phone, and by either visiting them or inviting them to the mentors' respective countries. Their discussions focus on on-field performances as well as on matters such as diet, social and private conduct, and improving communication in English – now the common language of refereeing at UEFA level.

Referee plus assistant
Newcomers to the talents and mentors scheme were identified last autumn on the basis of their performances, and were appointed for UEFA European Under-17 Championship mini-tournaments this spring. The referee talents have brought an assistant with them, and they will work together on matches with the same mentor. UEFA will send some former assistants to observe the assistant specifically in some matches. The talents are part of the programme for two years – with the hope that they will, in the not-too-distant future, be ready for top assignments in the European and world game.

Men talent group

Women talent group

Elite men talent group