The NSWFRA has launched a development program for talented futsal referees aged 16 to 25 who are on the pathway to elite senior futsal. This program promised to offer opportunities to the referees involved and the first of such chances came up recently; a trial match between East Coast Heat and the Solomon Islands u20 team at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre.
East Coast Heat were preparing for the AFF Futsal Invitational Club Championship which finished over the weekend in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Solomon Islands team are preparing for the Youth Summer Olympics ten team futsal tournament to be hosted in Argentina in October.
Peter Liaros and Matthew Wearne from the program were the second referee and timekeeper respectively on an entertaining and good spirited match that yielded nine goals.
Premier League referee of the Year, Darren Allatt took charge of the match with Cameron Lee who recently travelled to New Zealand for the NZ University Futsal Championship acting as third referee.
Second referee Peter Liaros commented "It was a good match and opportunity. It's not every day that you can say you got to officiate an international team."
"I enjoyed the challenge of a full stop clock match in regards to concentration levels, having never done a full stop clock game before." Timekeeper Matthew Wearne said. "I definitely feel if the opportunity to get more matches utilising stop clock will better prepare us for future F-League return, or any other opportunities that arise in the future."
"It's an exciting time for the Association's young, talented referees," said Scott Kidson, Director of Coaching. "This new program is offering our pathway referees unprecedented training and opportunities in their progression."