For the third consecutive year, the Malta FA Refereeing Department, in collabortaion with the Malta Football Referees’ Association, has chosen an overseas base for the annual 5 day pre-season training camp/seminar for its top referees and assistant referees.
A contingent consisting of 31 Elite & Category 1 match officials and 4 technical staff are currently in the mountain municipality of Český Dubin the region of Liberec in Czech Republic. This year’s theme is The A B C of Refereeing – Ability, Balance & Courage. FIFA Instructor Kyros Vassaras from Greece is the main lecturer. His presentations will address topics such as Freekick Management; Match Control, Man Management, Body Language, Onside/Offside Situations and Analysis of Match Situations from the FIFA World Cup 2014. He will also conduct practical sessions on Penalty Area DecisionsandPositioning & Sharing Responsibilities. Other lecturers at this event are MFA Director of Refereeing Adrian D. Casha, MFA Assistant Referees’ Specialist Philip Agius, Detelin Baialtzaliev from Bulgaria and former National Athletic Champion Zdenka Veljanova from Czech Republic. The latter has participated in three Winter Olympics and will address the participants on Motivation & Commitment to Stay at the Top. Fitness Coach Ronald Zammit will carry out body composition tests and is responsible for the physical preparation of the participants, alternating between high intensity, speed endurance and recovery training sessions. Lawrence Sammut also forms part of the technical personnel as the Video Match Analysis Coordinator.