Cayman’s football officials are not
always as appreciated as they should be by players, coaches, directors and fans
but they deserve to be judging by the outcome of the latest FIFA assessment results.
In fact, local football officials
are probably the second best in the Caribbean and are only bettered by
Jamaica’s officials who have been in the FIFA programme longer.
This interesting news came to light
after the Cayman Islands Football Association hosted another FIFA Referee
Assistance Programme course last week. FIFA’s RAP programme started in December
2007 to help raise refereeing standards. RAP’s main intention is to unify the
way the laws of the game are applied worldwide and improve uniformity of
interpretation and application. Regional referee development officers worked
with CIFA’s local instructors on this programme. Referees were guided by the
visiting FIFA development officers in classroom sessions as well as practical
exercises on the playing field and a fitness test. The practical sessions were
crucial because they allowed the referees to put what they learned into action.
FIFA Association Development
Officer Daryl Warner, FIFA Referee Development Instructor Ramesh Ramdhan – both
from Trinidad – and FIFA Technical Instructor Peter Prendergast, from Jamaica,
conducted the courses.
Ramdhan said: “We are extremely
impressed with Cayman’s high standards. Our results show they are No.2 out of
16 countries in the Caribbean and are only second to Jamaica. Cayman’s
officials are way above the standards of a lot of countries around the region.
They have shown a lot of knowledge of the laws and thorough interpretation. In
the year since we first assessed Cayman’s officials we’ve seen a marked improvement.”
Prendergast said: “Their fitness
levels have come on leaps and bounds. Cayman are probably in the top two in the
region based on their passing rate. It indicates good signs of a bright future.
Not just the men, but the women too.
“The RAP structure in Jamaica has
been there much longer so Cayman is doing really well. The referees association
here seems to be intact but we still need to take it to a higher level.”
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