TECHNOLOGY PUT ON ICE
At its AGM, the International Football Association Board has decided to put on ice goal line technology and to stop all tests in this area until further notice. In its place the IFAB has approved a proposal from FIFA to conduct an experiment involving two additional Assistant Referees who will mainly focus on fouls and misconduct in the penalty area. The competition in which this test will be conducted is to be decided at a later stage.
The Board also discussed a proposal from the Scottish FA regarding the use of video evidence to sanction simulation after the game has finished. This was not approved, but the IFAB members agreed that simulation is an act of cheating which must be intensively fought and sanctioned against.
Amongst the modifications in law they made was to standardise the size of the football pitch for A international matches. They have decided to set a fix size of 105m long and 68m wide, instead of a minimum and maximum length and width.
VALENTINE TREAT
The Nottingham FA recently held its first ever female only practical referee’s course, when 17 candidates attended West Bridgeford Colts FC on February 12th, 13th and 14th. Blessed with good weather for the first two days, the girls embraced the practical tutoring out on the pitch, which enhanced their knowledge of the game from playing to that
of capable level 9 referees, with an enthusiasm to complete six matches and return to a next stop workshop to gain their full qualification.
The girls were fortunate to receive practical training from guest instructor, FA Regional Manager, Janie Frampton, on the skills of an Assistant Referee and the off side law.
All on field refereeing skills were gained through experience by each candidate by refereeing part of the game whilst being shadowed by Notts FA instructor, Malcolm Cassidy.
They also had a visit from Sian Massey, a level 3 referee, who gave the girls an insight into what can be achieved
Finally all 17 candidates successfully passed their examination to get the green light to embark on their refereeing careers.
Hopefully all 17 will join the local RA where they will get further in service training and help.
SPORTS INJURY CONFERENCE
The FA has linked up with the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, to have a joint conference at Staverton Park on 5th & 6th July. This conference is to discuss sports injury and treatment of such. Anybody wishing to attend please log on to the FA website where all the information is available.
REF’S TEAM UP WITH STOR
Recently Cornwall FA referees joined the counties well known powerchair football club, Celtic Storm, in a midseason league championship held at Kettering.
Celtic Storm has a team in both the premiership and championship leagues and was set up by local parents of people with disabilities who use a wheelchair.
The games are played in power wheelchairs on a basketball court and there are four players in each team. Ray Brown referee’s officer for the Cornwall FA, said ‘it’s a great opportunity for our young referees to further broaden their skills and to work with players at the top end of their particular sport’.
ENGLISH REF MAKES FIFA LIST
The Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA are delighted to announce that the first appointment of an English referee to FIFA for Futsal is Marc Birkett. Marc is a 29 year old football development officer for the County FA and he has become the first referee in England to be appointed to the FIFA list.
As a result he was recently invited to Soho Square to officially receive his FIFA badge from Ray Lewis, Chairman of the FA referee’s committee. Ian Blanchard, Head of Refereeing for the FA, offered his congratulations and hoped that other referee’s would be honoured in this way.
Marc has been refereeing for six years, and is currently at level 4 and referee’s in the Central Midlands Football League on most Saturdays.
REFEREE EXCHANGE SUCCESS
Recently five referee’s from the Cumberland FA Referee’s Academy, took part in an inter county exchange scheme with the Lancashire FA and attended the Bolton Wanderers FC Academy. Thought to be the first of its kind in the north west, the promising young referee’s took the opportunity to replace their Lancashire counterparts at the Bolton Wanderers FC Academy. The lads were supported by Mentors from both Lancashire and Cumberland giving advice and encouragement.
After doing the games on the morning the lads were treated by attending a premiership game between Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough.
FA.COM
FA IN MALAYSIA
Back in January, saw the FA’s National Disability Development Manager, Geoff Davies, deliver a FA course on disability in football. This is the first time a workshop of this kind has been delivered as part of the FA’s international development programme. The course was held in Kuala Lumper over a three week period as part of the Asian football confederation education seminar programme. Geoff said one of the objectives of the FA is to allow everybody who wishes to play the game the opportunity to reach their potential. In England the development of disability football has seen a dramatic increase in the number of players playing the game. In 2004 we had around 10,000 people taking part in activity, in 2007 it had risen to 38,000.
FA.COM
BOYS BACK AT WEMBLEY
This season sees the return of English schools under 18’s side playing a game at Wembley Stadium. The match will take place on 28th April in a centenary shield match between England and Scotland, for the inaugural Bobby Moore Trophy
The match will see England schools returning to the national stadium after a gap of nine years and continues Wembley’s long and rich history of hosting England school matches and showcasing the English talent of the future.
This fixture is a repeat of the first ever schools international played at Wembley in 1950, where England won 8-2. The game attracted a crowd of 53,000 and showcased the talents of Johnny Haynes, who went on to become Captain for both his club and country.
One year later the great Duncan Edwards made his debut appearance at Wembley in an England schools match against Wales.
5% of the net profit from the event will be donated to the Bobby Moore fund for Cancer, which looks to tackle bowel cancer through its vital research work.
Howard Webb has agreed to officiate the match.
A charity game between two celebrity teams will take place before the main match with a Sir David Frost 11 taking on a Rod Stewart 11.
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ECUADORIAN EDUCATION
Back in January the FA’s Ray Olivier and Keith Hill went to Ecuador to deliver an advanced referee’s workshop.
This will be the fourth time in five years that the FA have been invited to Ecuador as part of the co-operation agreement with CONMEBOL the South American Confederation.
The Ecuadorian FA has placed a firm focus on improving the standard of officiating and is now reaping the benefits of expert help from Ray and his colleagues from the FA’s referee’s department.
Ray said that this was his fourth visit to Ecuador and each year he has seen a significant improvement in the quality of performances by their match officials. It was great to see one of the course participants, Fernando Tamayo, FIFA assistant referee, selected to officiate at the recent England v Brazil game at the official opening of the new Wembley Stadium.
Following the four day workshop, which Ray and Keith did, Ray stayed on for an additional three weeks to deliver training sessions with the country’s referee match inspectors.
REMEMBERING MANNO
It was a sunny June day in West Germany in 1974, when Italy finalist at the previous World Cup final, had not conceded a goal in 19 games and over four years of competitive football. Their reputation went before them and they were up against Caribbean debutants Haiti. An Italian rout was predicted and the islanders were simply hoping not to be embarrassed.
However, after going 45 minutes without conceding, leggy striker, Emmanuelle Sanon, caused a sensation by bursting in to the Italian penalty area, rounding Dino Zoff, and striking the ball home. In the end the Haitians lead did not last and went on to loose
Manno went on to score again against Argentina, before playing most of his football in Europe and the USA. His international career was equal to many with him scoring 50 goals in over 100 appearances for Haiti. After his career ended in the 1980’s he went on to coach in the United States and eventually took charge of the Haitian national team, leading the side out at the CONCACAF gold cup in 2000.
His country was in mourning with his recent passing due to complications from a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis ordered a moment of silence throughout the country as they mourned the passing of one of their favourite sons.
FIFA.COM
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The BCFA are seeking to recruit a Football Development Officer, with the specific remit of developing girls and women’s football in the Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire County Sport Partnership area.
The position reports directly to the County Football Development Manager, and will support all areas of girls and women’s football in accordance with the counties FA development plan and the FA national strategy.
Closing date 19th March, with interviews on 1st April.
BCFA DISCIPLINARY
At the Council meeting in February Mr Mike Fellows was delighted to announce that the lowest number of assaults on match officials since records began in 1980, has been achieved so far this season.
‘The zero tolerance attitude taken on any form of abuse to referee’s combined with the Birmingham Mails ‘Respect the Ref’ campaign is certainly having an effect’, Mike said.
Mike went on to say that referee’s are praising clubs whose players and officials assist them in difficult situations.
PROMOTION SEMINAR
Promotion seminars for level 7 to 6 and 6 to 5 will take place in mid March. All candidates going for promotion should know if they are successful by the end of March.
APPOINTMENT
The BCFA have appointed Dave Nixon as their new Referee Development Officer. Dave started full time employment with the BCFA back in January and his prime task is to coordinate recruitment and retention and referee training courses and their exams.
WORKING GROUP
Birmingham County FA are looking for people to help play their part in the grass roots game by applying to join a new Disability Working Group.
Individuals from a variety of different backgrounds are being invited to apply for the disability Advisory Group, with the FA looking to represent a wider cross section of communities as part of their new and ongoing strategy.
BCFA Chairman, Roger Wood, commented ‘we hope that we will attract interest from a wide range of people, who are willing to make a contribution in helping the County FA and football move forward in this important area.
Positions on the Advisory Groups are all voluntary.
For more information contact Amy Bradley on 0121 357 4278, option 2.
CUP FINALS
All match officials selected for BCFA cup finals will have already attended a seminar on the 21st February to find out what game they have been allocated. Hopefully they all would have attended or they could have had their final taken away if they were absent.
FITNESS TESTS
All prospective promotion candidates would have already taken their fitness tests, with the last one being held on 10th March. Hopefully they all passed and gained promotion to the next level of the referee pyramid.
If they get promoted on to the Contributory League they will then have to take another fitness test organised by that particular league.
FA LICENSED
INSTRUCTORS COURSE
This years Instructors course will again be at Staverton Park. The dates will be from the 19th – 25th July.
The County will have already received nominations for the course and consideration has been given for new Referee Development Officers who are not currently trained as instructors.
THANKS FOR HAVING YOUR SAY
The BCFA is saying a big thank you to the many individuals who had their say at it’s ‘Your Game Your Say Your County FA’ road shows. All the opinions expressed, hosted by BBC WM’s Jenny Wilkes, will now be analysed and used to help write Birmingham County FA’s four year development plan.
The final road show was held at Rugby Town FC on 5th March after two similar events were held at Walsall FC and Aston Villa FC during February.
The plan is a blue print for the game in Birmingham, the Black Country and Warwickshire and will outline how the local governing body of the national game will meet four goals set by the FA, to create better players, running the game, to raise standards and grow the game and its participants.
‘It’s a huge task we’ve been set’ said BCFA County Development Manager, Natalie Justice, ‘but by working closely with organisations and individuals we are determined to succeed’.
‘By recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce, developing better facilities and improving our marketing and communication, we have a fantastic opportunity to develop the game even further’, Natalie added.