Young refs to aim for 2012

EURO referees
The referees at the eighth UEFA talents and mentors seminar in Nyon, Switzerland, heard that of the 20 match officials at UEFA EURO 2008™ – 12 referees and eight other referees acting as specialist fourth officials – half were products of the ambitious UEFA talents and mentors project, whereby young referees receive expert guidance from experienced former referees.

17th team
Massimo Bussaca (Switzerland), Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium) and Howard Webb (England) are the three EURO referees who were once talents themselves. "The referees make up the 17th team in this tournament – three of them have sat where you are sitting now – it's a team that many of you should aspire to be part of in future championships," UEFA Referees Committee member David Elleray told the young match officials.

Great opportunity
"That is the desire you should have, and we would hope that you take away from this course the various messages that you have received. It's a great opportunity for you, to watch the [EURO] games and learn from the best as to exactly how UEFA expects its referee to perform."

Mental strengths
To get to the top, the referees also need mental strengths to match their top physical condition, and Swiss sports psychologist Mattia Piffaretti gave an insight into the qualities that football's arbiters require to perform to their best. "You will need personality and communications skills, and you already have good mental qualities to have got to this stage," he told delegates.

Invisible training
"The mental challenges are very high. One aspect that will help you is invisible training – the internal work that you can do, by revising, visualising and setting goals. I would ask you to remember that mental preparation and the various techniques involved are part of the process that will help you become better referees."

2012 hopes
UEFA Referees Committee second vice-chairman Michal Listkiewicz, who oversees the talents and mentors scheme and is a former international referee himself, was unequivocal in his opinion. "Everything is now in your hands," he said. "I hope that at UEFA EURO 2012™, your faces will be on the screen, to be viewed by the talents of that time."