Program focuses on development to arm today’s referees with tools to deliver the best officiating performances across competitions within the region

Miami, FL (Monday, April 9, 2018) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación (FEMEXFUT) announced today the second edition of the Program of Referee Excellence, a joint effort to continue raising the standard of refereeing within the region.

The program, conducted in the facilities of FEMEXFUT in Toluca, Mexico, provides access to an innovative training platform with the highest preparation principles for top-national referees at the Confederation level.

For the second year in a row, FIFA Instructor Peter Prendergast, of Jamaica, will be the facilitator for the educational aspects of the Program. It consists of two three-week sessions: the Introductory Course in Mexico City, which begins on Monday, April 9th to Sunday, April 29th; and a Certification Course planned for later in 2018.

“Delivering the best officiating performance throughout the Confederation’s competitions as well as on the domestic front is essential to meet our One Concacaf commitment to raise the quality of the game,” said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. “The Program of Referee Excellence is designed to provide additional tools for top international referees, further preparing our officials with crucial professional experience to deliver excellence on the field.”

The program’s opening ceremony, was held on Monday, April 9th at the Mexican Federation in Toluca, and conducted by Concacaf’s Chief of Football Officer Manolo Zubiria and the Director of Refereeing Brian Hall, as well as the Chairman of FEMEXFUT Referees Committee Arturo Brizio.

“At the Mexican Football Federation alongside Concacaf, we are very proud to implement these programs in our headquarters, Casa del Fútbol. Refereeing is a growing discipline and as a Federation we are committed to providing the necessary tools to continue the evolution that the game demands. We believe the Program of Referee Excellence offers all the essential elements to meet our objectives,” said FEMEXFUT President, Decio de María. “On this occasion, we have 13 participants from nine countries, we would like to make them feel at home, while offering our facilities to continue developing their skills both on and off the field so they can share this experience and continue raising the bar in the name of Concacaf.”

Referees will have personalized access to FEMEXFUT’s educational resources, including special sessions on technical, physical, psychological, and nutritional aspects. The program also provides an opportunity for the referees to officiate matches in FEMEXFUT’s lower divisions.

Through a thorough application process that resulted in over 27 candidates from 41 Member Associations, Concacaf selected 13 male and female referees that will participate in the second edition of the program. From the 13 participants in the inaugural edition of the program implemented in 2017, three course graduates have already earned the unique recognition of becoming FIFA Referees.

PARTICIPANTS

REFEREE/MEMBER ASSOCIATION
Carly Shaw-MacLaren/Canada
Filip Dujic/Canada
Randy Encarnacion/Dominican Republic
Edgar Ramirez/El Salvador
Merlin Soto/Honduras
Selvin Brown/Honduras
Neressa Goldson/Jamaica
Okeito Nicholson/Jamaica
Nicolas Wassouf/Martinique
Guillermo Pacheco/Mexico
Fernando Moron/Panama
Danielle Chesky/USA
Malik Badawi/USA