Department restructure aimed at improving operations and strengthening referee performance on the field

Miami (Monday, March 7, 2016) — The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today the appointment of Brian Hall as Director of Refereeing. Mr. Hall will lead all aspects of refereeing in the Confederation, playing a key role in improving the Refereeing Department’s operations and developing a professional workforce that enables CONCACAF referees to achieve and maintain a consistent, high-quality performance on the field.

“Refereeing is one of the most critical functions for the Confederation and we are confident that the department’s reorganization under Brian’s leadership will establish an efficient structure to continue strengthening our operations,” said CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard. “Brian has a deep understanding of our region and an intense passion for refereeing. We look forward to having him lead the assessment and development of referees, while ensuring that our community of referees receives the necessary support to perform professionally and effectively on the field.”

In January 2016, CONCACAF announced the results of its Refereeing Department review, which included a recommendation to hire a new Director of Refereeing. The appointment of Mr. Hall is a result of a rigorous and public search undertaken by the Confederation, which included the screening of 10 candidates over a three-month period, followed by a thorough selection process focused on the top five candidates. This process included comprehensive interviews and evaluations from a selection panel composed by regional stakeholders, to identify the best suited individual. 

Mr. Hall has a successful track record over the past 10 years as both a referee and referee development manager within the CONCACAF region, and has forged a strong relationship with the community of referees. Mr. Hall’s experience includes serving as:

• Match Official Development Manager at the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), where he was responsible for training, developing, and identifying professional referees, and assessing match officials in Major League Soccer (MLS);
• Director of Refereeing Administration at CONCACAF with oversight of all refereeing activities throughout the region, including developing training programs, assessing referees, and assigning referees for CONCACAF matches;
• Manager of Assessment and Training at the United States Soccer Federation, with responsibility for training and assessing referees in both Men’s and Women’s Professional soccer; and 
• A professional referee at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, and for over five years in MLS.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Hall said: “I’m eager to work alongside CONCACAF’s staff, and the entire refereeing community, to continue building a professional Refereeing Department that raises the quality of refereeing for every competition across the region. As a Department, we must also prioritize the implementation of a robust referee development program that is tailored to assess and meet the needs of all 41 CONCACAF Member Associations.”

IMAGE: www.soccerchris.com