Northern Marianas Island Football Association (NMIFA) moves to strengthen and expand its pool of referees with a two weekend referee certification course in May 2009 by FIFA FUTURO certified instructor George Stewart.
The EAFF Referee 3 Certification Course will be conducted May 1-3 and May 8-9, 2009, qualifying those who pass to referee in any NMIFA-sanctioned match where the requirement for that match does not exceed that level of referee.
"As a new addition to our semi-annual Basic Referee Training Course, this aCertified Class 3 NMIFA Referee training specifically targets individuals who are interested in officiating for high school leagues or older," said NMIFA Referee Chairman Dean Tenorio.
The training is open to all interested individuals with or without experience age 16 and up, although trained referees ages 14-15 who have some experience are also invited. The training schedule will be:
May 1: 6PM to 9PM Classroom (NMIFA office)
May 2: 9AM to 1130AM field work; 1PM to 5PM Classroom
May 3: 9AM to 1130AM field work; 1PM to 5PM Classroom
May 8: 6PM to 9PM Classroom
May 9: 9AM to 1130AM field work; 1PM to 5PM Classroom
May 10: 7:30AM to 10AM Physical Test; 1PM to 4PM Written Test and Certification Presentation
A mandatory fitness test will take place May 10 at 7:30 a.m., rain or shine. The beep test will consist of two 40 meter sprints (7 seconds Male/7.2 seconds female) and five laps around the 400 meter track consisting of 150 meter run followed by 50 meter walk (150 meter run in 50 seconds male/60 seconds female and 50 meter walk in 50 seconds male and female).
Stewart is also Director of Referees and Head Referee Instructor for Guam Football Association. He was appointed to conduct the course by the East Asian Football Federation based on his certification from the FIFA FUTURO Referee Instructor Course, the FIFA FUTURO Referee Instructors Refresher Course, and the JFA International Referee Instructors Course.
"The NMIFA Referee Committee supports the many football leagues we have throughout the year by training interested youth, parents, teachers and other individuals to officiate games," said Tenorio. "Having trained referees is an important part of making the game more enjoyable for everyone and improving professionalism, and we look forward to a strong turnout at this training."
To register, contact the NMIFA Referee Chair Dean Tenorio at deanten@gmail.com, NMIFA Referee Director Vanesa Pritchard at holly_jollyvkp@hotmail.com, or call/visit the NMIFA Office at 235-0173.3rd Floor TSL Bldg. Garapan