“JFA Football Referee Conference 2015” took place on Saturday 31 January at Hotel Shinosaka Conference Center in Osaka, welcoming 129 Class S and Class 1 referee instructors, 181 Class 1 referees and 39 Class 1 women’s referees. The inaugural conference was composed of technical sessions for relationship-building and other elaborately-arranged sessions such as a RAKUGO talk (Japanese comic storytelling). In recent years, as there have been fewer opportunities for Japan’s top referees and referee instructors to get together, the conference is expected to provide opportunities where referees and referee instructors exchange their information with each other and further deepen their officiating work that sustains Japanese football. The theme of this conference was “Convey Your Feeling―Externalisation.” The major theme was to become able to view himself or herself from the third person’s perspective by visualising, deepening and conveying thoughts. Along the theme, the conference was proceeded with technical sessions and lecture programmes.

In the morning, the participants, divided into eight groups, went through two technical sessions. The first technical session had “mind-reading game” to convey a designated word by only giving gestures and other indirectly-inspiration words. Each group played a role of a question master and an answerer to compete the number of correct answers among groups.

The second session had discussions on conversations through the Communication System. After watching videos showing situations such as when players were battling out for a position in front of goal on a free kick and when players were skirmishing with each other after an advantage call, the participants tried to get an idea of what kind of conversations were exchanged through the Communication System between referees who were on duty. The participants threw themselves into the role of the referee, the assistant referees and the fourth referee and demonstrated conversations that they came up with. Then, the actual conversations were shown on the video before the referee who was on duty in the match explained the key point of the conversation.

In the afternoon, Mr. Katsura Shiodai gave a RAKUGO talk to the participants. Mr. Shiodai, initiated in Katsura Chomaru family (currently Katsura Zakoba II), has found fame in the Kamikata Rakugo as he was awarded the Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Festival Prize in 1999 and the Art Encouragement Prize from Osaka Prefecture in 2003. He explained the difference between Kamikata Rakugo and Edo Rakugo and RAKUGO terminology such as “Makura,” “Hondai,” and “Ochi (Sage),” which compose of the whole “Hanashi (Talk).” The RAKUGO-KA (rakugo teller) was entertaining the participants with his witty narrative.

Then, Referee Nishimura Yuichi gave “FIFA World Cup Report,” illustrating the referee instruction method and supporting system in the recent two World Cups, 2010 South Africa and 2014 Brazil. He said there were various collaborative efforts made by referees and technical staff to make the tournament successful as participating teams’ videos edited by the technical study group were provided to referees during the tournament.

The 1st Football Referee Conference ended with a commendation of retired referees and referee instructors and World Cup referees, and an introduction of this year’s new Class 1 referees and Class 1 women’s referees.

Instructor Comment

KAMIKAWA Toru, Chairman of JFA Referee Committee
Referees and referee instructors at Japan’s top level didn’t have so many opportunities to get together, so we decided to hold this conference to exchange information and know each other so that we can further develop referee activities that sustain Japanese football. This is not a place to expect the conclusion. When they notice something or come up with something, they should convey it to their peers with their voice, even body languages instead of just thinking by themselves. In this conference, I hope they can find out what others think of and how much points of view vary depending on their position.

There was only limited time for them, but the participants seemed to be cheerful and motivated. It must have turned out to be an opportunity for them to know about their peers and different aspects of themselves. Ahead of season’s start, we had fruitful time altogether. I hope they will take advantage of what they learned today for a clue when they have communications with players and team staff at a match. I’m looking forward to seeing their performances.

Participants Comment

SHIOTSU Yusuke, Class 1 Referee
It is the only place where Class 1 referees and Class S and 1 instructors get together. I was tensed to take part in at first, but was eventually relaxed after we started with dancing with everyone at the opening. We were able to exchange information with other referees and instructors who usually work for different categories as well. That was a very productive time. In the RAKUGO lecture, we learned RAKUGO history and techniques to convey things to others. Conveying what we think of is important for refereeing as well. I was able to learn what RAKUGO and refereeing have in common surprisingly. It was a very valuable opportunity for me to share the time that was very informative but also relaxing with smiles. And for the upcoming new season, it reminded me of responsibility and determination as a Class 1 referee.

YAMASHITA Yoshimi, Class 1 Women’s Referee
The theme of this conference was “Convey your feeling―externalisation.” In the first session, we enjoyed games and experienced how important language is in communication and how difficult to use it. With video case study, we learned how to communicate using words and gestures. We need to instantly determine what we convey and what we should convey in a match. To do that, I strongly felt we need various preparations. In RAKUGO teller’s talk, I learned what to be aware of when talking to someone such as how to express my own thought and an appropriate order of storytelling. We had training with over 300 people including instructors, so I had a lot to learn there. That motivated me for the new season. I will strive each day to seriously take up each one of matches and try my best.

YAMAZAKI Yasuhiko, Class S Instructor
To allow players to make up a fascinating match, it’s important for referees to prepare a good match environment. To assist the duty, how much instructors can remind referees to power themselves on is the issue that we have. So the joint conference like this was very effective to communicate among referees and other staff involved. In the morning session, barriers among participants at the site went away and the sense of unity and solidarity was brought up. Opinion exchanges were also active. The session was very lively thanks to the elaborate preparation. I tried to get my brain working, move my body with great enthusiasm and enjoyed the day as one of the participants. Thank you.

TORIGOE Akihiko, Class 1 Referee Instructor
I have a lot of experiences to take part in training sessions. This time it was the first “Referee Conference.” I was a bit nervous. But the opening started with “Macarena Dancing.” All the 350 participants danced together under instructor Ishiyama. The session began in a relaxed manner after our tense was relieved. Technical sessions and lectures were very creative. We are always forced to get tense on the event-site, but we all enjoyed the time. They made us think about the importance of conveying our knowledge and way of thinking to others. Reviewing the conference’s title―externalisation, I will hand on what I have to young referees and keep questioning myself whether I am being an good instructor. Thank you for giving me such an opportunity to take part in the conference.