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Football Federation Australia (FFA) has appointed Gary Power to the role of National Elite Referees Instructor. The position, which reports to the National Referee Technical Director Mario van der Ende, is a continuation of FFA's drive to improve and expand referee recruitment, education and development at both the elite and grassroots levels. Power is well known in Australian football having previously occupied referee instructor roles with the NSW and national governing bodies. He left the former Soccer Australia in November 2001 to take up the role of Director of Referees with the Asian Football Confederation and has worked for the past three years as Referees' Expert for the Qatar Football Association. Prior to working in football, Power was a teacher with the NSW Education department for 15 years. Power's role will be responsible for developing programs, systems and frameworks for the management and improvement of match officials for the Hyundai A-League, National Youth League and Westfield W-League. The role will encompass talent identification, fitness training, appointment of match officials, education and training and mentoring. "Match officials are an essential ingredient of the game, and we're determined not only to improve the standard of refereeing within Australia but also to encourage more people to take up refereeing," said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley. "This new role, along with the other complementary one for grassroots football, will play a leading role in developing the next generation of Australian referees. "I hope that, with people the calibre and experience of Mario and Gary, we are sending a strong message to existing match officials, and those with an interest in it, that we are serious about what you do. "Our objective is to improve the context in which referees operate, and to develop outstanding referees who can make a strong contribution nationally as well as internationally." Buckley said that Australian football is fortunate to have had some high quality referees over the years, but that outstanding contributors such as former referees Eddie Lennie, Mark Shield and Tammy Ogston had achieved without any systemic support. "We want to ensure that there are sufficient match officials to meet the game's growth, and that all referees have every opportunity to perform at the highest level possible," Buckley said. Power will take up his role next month. |
