Zurich Referee Education Experience

The opportunity – a Zurich Referee Education Experience – was the 19-year-old psychology student’s reward for her outstanding work as a match official at this year’s Westfield National Youth Championships for Girls.
Zurich is the official sponsor of Hyundai A-League referees and the Referee Education Experience. The program, now in its second year provides a valuable experience for aspiring talented referees to reach the top level of officiating in Australia. This is the first time the Zurich Referee Education experience has been rolled out in the Westfield W-League and will be again be rolled out for the Hyundai A-League semi finals in 2010. 
Having refereed men and boys as well as girls’ and women’s competitions in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales, Priestly had first-hand experience of the game at a variety of levels.
But a Westfield W-League semi-final was something new.
“I was surprised at how quick and physical the game was,” said Priestly. “I never really expected it to be that hard.”
“It was a huge step up in standard from the games I referee.”
“It was a very close game, only one-nil, an unlucky goal, a free kick with the keeper off her line.”
“There were also several yellow cards and a send-off as well, so while it was entertaining there was plenty for me to observe in terms of the officiating.”
Priestly said she was thoroughly impressed by the professionalism of referee Kirralee Gardner, assistants Catherine Nash and fourth official Peta McCallum from their preparation on the day to their management of the match.
“I noticed the positioning of the referee and the assistants especially,”Priestly said.
“That’s something that I’ve been trying to work on and they just seemed to do it so easily.”
“Now I know that step up I need to make if I want to go any further, and the things I need to work on.”
“It’s definitely easier to work on things when you see them implemented in a game rather than people just telling you this is what you need to do.”
Priestly’s thoughts were echoed by Sam Ockerby who was also rewarded with a Zurich Referee Education Experience for her work at the national girls’ championships and attended Saturday’s Westfield W-League semi-final between Sydney FC and Canberra United.
The 20-year-old found the occasion very different from refereeing in Canberra where she lives and with the Albury Wodonga Football Association.
“There was a big step up in terms of professionalism,” Ockerby said.
“The big difference was that there were so many people there to help and do things.”
“There were people there to get anything you needed.”
“It was a very busy atmosphere.”
Ockerby said she paid special attention to the way in which referee Casey Reibelt and assistants Tanya de Boer and Katie Patterson worked as a unit on the field.
“They approached the game the same way I would,” she said.
“The referee gave all her assistants a talk before the game and afterwards there was a debrief and all the paperwork was much the same.”
“But the game itself was played at a very high level and Casey did a very well handling it.”
“It showed me that there’s another level, another sort of challenge to be achieved.”
While she’s studying to be a physiotherapist, Ockerby is also keen to see how far match officiating can take her.
“It’s definitely something I would like to continue,” she said.
-By Angus Morgan, Sportal