They used to all wear black … and these days, they wear fluoro shades of pink, blue or yellow. But now, referees are on the search for those who want to wear green!
It’s all part of a new campaign by New Zealand football to recruit and develop 140 new referees – a boost to numbers that would enable more than 3,000 players to benefit each week from playing in games with a qualified official in the middle.
The campaign has been made possible by the support of the NZ Football Foundation.
And the green shirt?
New referees will be supplied with a green shirt to signal to those on the pitch and on the sidelines that they need the space and opportunity to learn.
The Green Shirt RESPECT campaign also focuses on improving sideline behaviour and improving football’s image.
Ken Wallace, Referee Development Manager at New Zealand Football: “If we can support more referees to join the game, and retain those already involved, it hugely benefits the football and futsal communities as a whole.”
Dr Michele Cox, Chief Executive of the NZ Football Foundation: “Increasing the number of referees in the game, and helping to mentor and educate new officials, will have a huge impact on the game in Aotearoa.”
Photo credit – Football South
More information
Want to wear the green shirt?
Contact your local referee development representative:
Northern Region Football – Beth Rattray (beth.rattray@aucklandfootball.org.nz)
WaiBOP – Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (ck.kw@waibop.co.nz)
Central – Antony Riley (Antony@centralfootball.co.nz)
Capital – Jamie Cross (jamie@capitalfootball.org.nz)
Mainland – Wayne Stapley (wayne@mff.nz)
Football South – Lindsey Robinson (lindsey@footballsouth.co.nz)
