Football NSW Referees Branch Gears Up for 2026 Season at Pre-Season Seminar
Valentine Sports Park played host to more than 150 senior referees from the Football NSW Referees Branch last Sunday, as match officials gathered to prepare for the upcoming 2026 football season.
The annual pre-season seminar remains a cornerstone of preparation for referees who will officiate across the Football NSW National Premier Leagues and Leagues competitions, providing officials with key insights, education and alignment ahead of the new campaign.
A highlight of the day was a presentation from FIFA Referee Adam Kersey, who shared his journey through the refereeing pathway to the A-Leagues and the international stage. Kersey, who officiated both the A-League Men’s and Australia Cup Grand Finals in 2025, delivered an interactive session focused on teamwork and communication. Using footage from recent A-League matches, he demonstrated how referees, assistant referees and fourth officials can work cohesively to manage games at the highest level.
FIFA Referee and Football NSW Referees Technical Director Ben Abraham led a session outlining expectations for officials throughout the season, reinforcing standards and performance benchmarks. Attendees also heard from Chris Young, A-Leagues Referee Coach and NPL Men’s NSW Panel Head Coach, who detailed key technical updates and law changes for the year ahead. Among the topics covered was the newly introduced eight-second rule for goalkeepers, along with efforts to align NSW officials with the national messaging provided by Football Australia.
A-League Men’s Referee Eric Saba rounded out the presentations with a session on the effective management of technical areas, offering practical guidance to support match control and professionalism.
With the seminar providing both education and inspiration, Football NSW referees now turn their focus to the season ahead, well-prepared to meet the demands of the 2026 competitions.
