A four–day regional course for the Volta Regional branch of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) on the rules and regulations governing the game of football and intensive physical exercise has ended at Ho in the Volta Region.
The annual course is to provide the referees with the requisite skills and knowledge in soccer and test their fitness level to enhance their performance during the forthcoming football season, scheduled for October, this year.
This year’s course, under the auspices of Ghana Football Association, attracted 13 match commissioners and 91 referees, assistant referees, most of whom will be eligible to officiate in the 2010 premier and Division One football league matches in the country
Apart from the physical fitness test, during which participants are supposed to run a distance of 3,000 metres in 12 minutes, the referees were taken through the recent modifications of the laws of the game, methods of interpretation of the laws and the powers and duties of the referees.
They were also taken through various signals, ball positioning, movement and treatment of injured players, match report writing and co-operation between referees and their assistant referees.
In his inaugural address, Mr Godsway Glah, General Secretary of RAG, was hopeful that the referees would take the training work seriously to the best of their abilities since training before and during matches was crucial for ensuring that one kept in tune and out of trouble during officiating on the field of play.
“ As referees you will be judged by thousands of eyes through television cameras, demanding absolute accuracy in your decision-making without much considerations to any shortcomings in matches”, adding that ,they should be fair, firm but flexible with their outlook and decisions on the field of play.
He reminded the participants that officiating in the country had taken a new dimension, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports attaches a lot of importance to the game.
This is because apart from its financial benefits, the game brings friendship between countries and peoples.
“In that connection, therefore, it is quite obvious that officials designated to handle such games should be given proper training and recognition,” he noted.
Mr Harry Attutornu, Volta Regional Chairman of RAG called on the referees to reciprocate the recognition given them by the Referees Appointment Committee and RAG by giving them regular appointments to the deserving ones.
This action of theirs, he said, had given the referees life and zeal to train harder and to perform better.
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