A group of Canada Soccer’s top referee instructors and assessors recently attended courses intended to provide them with the tools to educate our nation’s top officials. In September at the FIFA Futuro III Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica six Canadians joined more than 30 technical instructors and 12 fitness instructors from CONCACAF Member Associations.

Instructors, who have a track record of effectively working with referees, were presented with leading edge information and teaching techniques as part of the ongoing professional development to provide instructors. As part of the course, participants presented and then designed and conducted practical training sessions.

Michelle Pye (BC), Carman King (NS), John Nielsen (BC) and Canada Soccer Manager, Referees Isaac Raymond attended the Technical Instructors course while José Branco (BC) and Kuizan Weekes (ON) attended the Fitness Instructors course. FIFA Instructor and current Manitoba Soccer Association Executive Director Hector Vergara led the instruction and was supported by Brian Hall, CONCACAF Director of Referees and Manuel Navarro, FIFA Deputy Head of Refereeing.

Following the Instructors course, CONCACAF held the annual Elite Assessor course, attended by 33 assessors from across the Confederation. The course focused on preparing the assessors to coach, train, and mentor CONCACAF’s Elite Referees as well as the talented referees of the future providing our brightest match officials with valuable mentorship. Participants also received instruction on ensuring consistency in interpretation and evaluation of the referees’ performance in the match.

Canada Soccer was represented by National Assessor Mauricio Navarro (BC) and Isaac Raymond with instruction led by John Nielsen and Hector Vergara.