The quality of The Football Association’s education programme received further international praise this week – this time from a group of aspiring Australian referees.
Eight up-and-coming match officials from Western Australia, including two young FIFA referees, are at St. George’s Park for a 10-day training camp working with FA refereeing development staff to improve their skills and to gain valuable insight into the development of English referees.
Among the group is Football Federation Australia referee development coach, Eddie Lennie, who told TheFA.com that he believes The FA is now leading the way in referee development.
“I have seen everything around the world, in terms of what other Associations are doing, and I am very impressed with The FA’s learning material, education and development,” he said.
“They are the world leaders, and if we want our referees to be better then you go to the top. I have great admiration for the English FA and what they are doing in terms of refereeing. It is fantastic.”
Referees took part in a series of workshops, including this one on fouls that deny a goal scoring opportunity
Lennie's view was shared by FIFA and A-League assistant referee, Mathew Cheeseman, who was one of the more experienced officials to make the trip. He believes that the world now look to English refereeing as the benchmark for quality.
“I think everyone recognises the work [English referees] do, not only from their own league, but with TV broadcasting all around the world they are setting the standard worldwide for refereeing,” he explained.
“The opinion is high and I think the fact we bring groups here and that other groups come here to use the facilities with The FA shows how highly regarded they are around the world.”
Cheeseman is also full of praise of The FA for making St. George’s Park available for initiatives such as this and for its commitment to sharing best practice with professionals around the world.
“This week has been fantastic. St. George’s Park is fantastic and to be able to use a facility such as this is has been brilliant for the guys to see how it is run at the professional level,” he explained.
“The biggest thing for all us is to try and increase our learning around the game. The FA obviously has fantastic learning initiatives and we are just trying to expand our knowledge and expertise.
“It is about sharing resources and sharing opinions, stories and experiences because that is how you learn.
“You don’t learn by being isolated in a fish bowl. You learn from what everyone does.
“They may do things differently. How did it work for them? Can it work for us? Taking bits of information from everyone else’s experience can certainly help you be a better official.”
One of the programme’s educators is Lancashire FA referee development officer James Mainwaring, who explained that exchange programmes such as this are a crucial part of The FA’s responsibility as a leading governing body to help support the development of football participants around the world.
He said: “It is important for us as The FA to support other nations in terms of helping them to develop.
“We are world renowned for the excellence we have in refereeing and it’s the right thing to do in terms of sharing that knowledge with other nations to help develop refereeing standards around the world.
“We are known for having some of the best referees in the world as well as the best training and education for referees.
"It wouldn’t be the right thing to do to hold back on that, especially when people, such as the Australians and other nations who we have these exchange programmes with, are seeking the support. It would be wrong not to help.”
