Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
New Delhi: South and Central Asian referee fitness instructors hailed a FIFA Futuro III Referees Fitness Instructor Course which concluded on Sunday and pledged to share the new knowledge with colleagues back home.
Eleven men and one woman attended the five-day course which updated their knowledge on managing fitness tests and handling heart rate monitors.
The participants were exceptionally overwhelmed by the new technology and materials provided. New training methods and fitness monitoring instruments such as the Dynamic Yo-Yo Tests (DYY), Assistant Referee Intermittent Endurance Test (ARIET) and Change of Direction Ability (CODA) Test, were introduced.
The participants were also updated on the fitness expectations for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The participants also learned how to individually design and present teaching materials.
Mikhail Tolkachev, a participant from Kyrgyzstan, told The-AFC.com: “The course was very motivating, refreshed my knowledge and promoted sharing of experiences among instructors in this region. I hope AFC can start an on-line channel for fitness instructors to form a network, exchange ideas and update their knowledge regularly.”
Maldivian Ahmed Ummed added his comments: “Though it is the first time for me, attending this course has made me confident and now I can return to my MA and share the vast input with the referees and instructors back home.
One of the instructors delivering the course, Ganesan Maniam from Singapore, said: “The course is very important to provide updates on issues related to fitness and there are many new things to learn. The ARIET and CODA demands a lot of speed and agility which is similar to what is required by referees in the game. Generally if a referee or assistant referee performs well on these two exercises, they will be comfortable in the game.
FIFA Representative Dominic Chielens said: “Fitness is a must for referees as it is this ability that enables them to be in the right place at the right time. It is not just important but it is an element that referees cannot do without. The instructors have a huge responsibility to ensure that the referees are fit to perform and are able to pass the FIFA fitness test.”
“Fitness instructors should realise their roles and play their parts effectively,” AFC representative Muhammad Naim Nair said. “They must realise that fitness is not only about testing but importantly training, conditioning and motivating the referees and assistant referees so that they are physically and mentally prepared.”