Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: Japan FA has started its biennial JFA International Refereeing Course, this time around attended by assistant referees from across Asia.
The JFA with its vast experience and knowledge in various teaching methodologies is contributing to the development of Asian refereeing.
Previously, the course was held for referee instructors, however this year, it is assistant referees who benefit from the programme being organised at J-Green Sakai, Osaka, from 11 to 15 May.
The focus of this course is to improve and upgrade the skills of assistant referees besides providing opportunities for exchange of information and ideas among the 21 participants who hail from 12 Member Associations – Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Cambodia, Guam, Hong Kong, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Northern Mariana Islands, Chinese Taipei, Myanmar and the Philippines.
Toru Kamikawa, Chairman of the JFA Referees Committee and Member of the AFC and FIFA Referees Committees, was happy to welcome the participants from all over Asia to the 6th International Refereeing Course.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kamikawa said that JFA decided to focus on assistant referees this time as they recognised their difficult and important task where sometimes their decisions influence the results of the game.
However, there are not enough programmes designed and dedicated to the development of assistant referees and thus JFA has decided to organise one.
“I hope this course will benefit and be useful to all of you and I’m looking forward to seeing you become FIFA Assistant Referees in the near future. I’m happy to be able to contribute to your development,” he said.
Director of the AFC Referees Department Yoshimi Ogawa said that the continental football body appreciates JFA for sharing their experience and knowledge with other AFC Member Associations and thus contributing to the development of Asian refereeing.
“This year’s target is assistant referees who make crucial and important decisions of their own and also assist and support the referees in making correct decisions during the match,” said Ogawa. “However, most training programmes focus on the referees although the difficult and important roles of assistant referees are acknowledged. Therefore it’s really a good idea to focus on the assistants this time.
“AFC did not have assistant referee courses until the 2011 season. And AFC Assistant Referees have improved a lot since we launched courses for them in 2012. We look forward to seeing you become AFC Assistant Referees in the near future.”
The five-day course is being conducted by a team of JFA’s top Referee Instructors led by FIFA/AFC Referee Instructor Ishiyama Noboru with JFA Professional Referees and Assistant Referees also joining in later in the course.