Referee Academy Continues Development

The Kent FA Referee Academy held their 2nd development event of the season, with a practical focus on developing young referees within the County.

The session, held at Maidstone United FC started with a welcome to the two new Referee Academy Coaches; Lee Dyson (Level 3) and Jason Down (Level 4).  Both have joined the Academy to help compliment the current coaching structure, joining Mark Graves, Mike Marsh, Ken Rowles, Phil Rowley, and Referee Development Officer Nick Dunn.

The session began with Phil Rowley opening a discussion and forum around a recent Laws of the Game each Academy Official took, as part of their entry requirement to the Academy, for the 2013/2014 Season. Clarification and discussion of the answers generated interesting debate, which was then later built on by group tasks, led by Lee Dyson.

The second half of the session focused on practical training, on the field of play. The Academy Officials were split into two groups, and undertook two training sessions; Session 1 focused on managing player dissent, led by Mark Graves, and Session 2 focused on positioning advice at throw-ins, led by Kent Referee Development Group Lead Coach, Dan Bonneywell. Both of these sessions tasked the Academy Referees with thinking about how they can improve their own skills, and will no doubt now help them improve as Match Officials.

This season has seen the Kent Referee Academy grow by 25%, as there are now 30 young Match Officials, between the age of 16 and 24.

For further information on the Kent Referee Academy, please contact Referee Development Officer, Nick Dunn; NicK.Dunn@KentFA.com

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