Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Referees Department on Tuesday launched its Phase III contents on the continental football body’s online learning portal, AFC On The Field.
The educational portal, accessible at www.afconthefield.com, was launched in 2012 and accommodates various content-specific features with the objective of reaching out to AFC refereeing officials through a medium which is fast, modern and efficient.
The portal has five sections, one of which is on refereeing, and its Phase III launch boasts new contents such as video tests, CoachFX360 Animated Contents (software) and 10 to 15 videos of AFC Referee Instructors and Referees’ interviews.
There are also updates to existing contents such as Laws of the Game Quizzes, Resources, Picture Gallery and Analyses of Match Situations.
The portal, with its own email platform and chat function, also enables registered users to take part in online classes or webinars which are moderated by AFC Referee Instructors Shamsul Maidin of Singapore and Ali Al Traifi from Saudi Arabia.
A total of 321 men and women referees and assistant referees as well as referee instructors & assessors are the registered users of the refereeing section on the online educational portal.
Phases I and II of the refereeing material on the portal were launched in September 2012 with contents for the 2014 FIFA World Cup’s prospective referees and in June 2013 with material for the assistant referees respectively.
AFC Referees Director Yoshimi Ogawa said: “Previously the site was only available to the 2014 World Cup referee candidates but now it has expanded to become a major tool for the development of all AFC Referees, Assistant Referees, Referee Instructors and Assessors.
“It is not enough for them just to attend the annual refereeing courses. The site will allow referees and instructors to follow up, update and enhance their knowledge and skills directly through continuous access to this learning tool.”
Ogawa added that the site will soon be expanded to include Futsal and Beach Soccer Referees plus Fitness Instructors. There are also plans to provide access to Member Associations and thus the platform will become an important tool for communication.
“I hope that the refereeing community will use this site to improve themselves and subsequently this will be translated into appropriate performances on the field,” Ogawa said.
The next upgrade, Phase IV, will be launched in the near future with contents for AFC Futsal Referees, Futsal Referee Instructors and Referee Fitness Instructors.
After phase IV, the portal will feature an interface for the general public to access free basic educational material related to football. This will eventually help the AFC to reach a wider audience in order to reach its final goal of football education for all.