Anguilla referees sharpen skills in intensive development workshop

Anguilla’s football referees have strengthened their skills during a two-week development workshop held in collaboration with CONCACAF.

The Anguilla Football Association (AFA)-led programme combined practical training and classroom analysis, helping officials prepare for domestic and regional competitions.

During the workshop, which took place from 6 to 17 July, participants learnt how to improve their positioning, movement, teamwork and application of the laws of the game.

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The opening sessions focused on field-based exercises, emphasising the importance of positioning and movement for both referees and assistant referees.

“Proper positioning enables officials to maintain the best possible view of play, allowing for more accurate and consistent decision-making during matches,” a press release from AFA on 23 July said.

During classroom sessions, officials reviewed video footage from recent league matches that participants had officiated.

This encouraged self-assessment and constructive feedback, allowing participants to identify areas for improvement while reinforcing correct decisions and best practices.

“The workshop also highlighted an important reality of officiating: mistakes are part of the game at every level,” AFA said.

“Even referees officiating at the highest international competitions continue to learn and improve.

“The objective, therefore, is not perfection but continuous development and reducing errors through quality education, preparation, and experience.”

In preparation for the league’s championship and third-place matches, the programme concluded with additional field training to ensure that classroom lessons translated effectively into on-field performance.

The workshop reinforced the need to increase the number of qualified referees across Anguilla, AFA said.

“Expanding the referee pool will provide greater opportunities for development, improve the consistency of officiating, and strengthen football throughout the island,” the assocation added.

The AFA is encouraging member clubs to identify young people who could pursue refereeing as a pathway within football at both local and international levels.

“Through dedication, education and fitness, match officials can progress to officiating regional and international competitions while continuing to make a valuable contribution to the growth of football,” it said.

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