Pro League hosts Referee's Forum
Friday, 02 February 2007
By Randy Bando... www.ttproleague.comThe TT Pro League in conjunction with the Referees Association of Trinidad and Tobago hosted an Orientation on the Laws of the Game for the Pro League Coaches on Thursday at the TT Pro League’s Valpark Office, Valsayn.
The Orientation which was mainly to refresh the Coaches on the Laws of the Game was conducted
by FIFA/CONCACAF Fitness Instructor and Futuro 3 Referees Instructor Mr. Merere Louis Gonzales and observed by TT Pro League’s CEO Dexter Skeene and General Secretary to the Trinidad and Tobago Referees Association Mrs. Boni Bishop who is also a Futuro 3 Instructor.
The Orientation attended by Coaches Stuart Charles Fevrier (W Connection) Terry Fenwick (Jabloteh), Michael Mc Comie (Joe Public), Brian Williams (United Petrotrin) and team’s representatives Kerry Jamerson (Defence Force) and Richard Piper (Superstar Rangers) was deemed a success by Mr. Gonzales speaking with ‘ttproleague.com’ afterwards, “At first, when I told the coaches the orientation was going to run for about forty-five minutes they seemed disturbed but as soon as we started and the questions and contributions were flowing it seemed that they didn’t want it to end.”
“I have to say it was a success. There were so many interesting arguments and several uncertainties that needed to be clarified. This type of program is beneficial to both coaches as well as players,” explained Mr. Gonzales.
In Mr. Merere Louis Gonzales opening remarks he explained that FIFA has embarked on new program dating back two and a half years. The program is to convey the information on the FIFA Laws of the Game to all Professional and Semi-Professional Leagues throughout the World.
He also explained that this Orientation was only the preliminary stage of the program. They will meet with the Clubs individually on more pertinent aspects of the Laws before the start of the season and even during the season on request by the Clubs.
Some of the topics discussed at the Orientation included Law 12—Fouls and Misconduct, Law 14—Penalty Kicks, Law 4—The Players Equipment-The Technical Area and Law 11—Offside.
There were positive responses by the Coaches present.
Coach Brian Williams of United Petrotrin said, “It’s a great idea that the instructors would be coming to the Clubs on a personal level to educate both coaches and players on the Laws of the Game,” responded Williams.
W Connection’s Coach Stuart Charles Fevrier added, “this was a very good exercise, but I am also hoping the Referees Instructors would take time to go through the local matches with the referees also to educate them on their mistakes,” he said.
TT Pro League’s CEO Dexter Skeene requested that the Coaches full out the Referees Performance Sheet after every match and submit them to the TT Pro League’s Office as this can help deal with some of the concerns and this was backed by Mrs. Boni Bishop to end the successful orientation.
