On Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April, The 1st Main Referee Training for J-League for 2014 was held in Yokohama, Kanagawa. As the 2014 seasons has kicked off, attending referees discussed, received practical training and standardised their judgement by using match films. 

Trainer Comment

OKADA Masayoshi（Top Referee Instructor）
For the first half of this 1st Main Referee Training for J-League, we had lectures in the meeting room. For the second half, we had a practical training and physical training on the pitch.
In the lecture, we discussed and confirmed the 3 promises by Chairman Murai, as we reviewed the first month of the season. Those 3 promise are "playing best as whistles decide", "restarting quickly especially on GKs and CKs, and "minimising time for substitutions". We also discussed calling plays inside the penalty area.
The practical training included judging misconducts on corner kicks and offsides called by a main referee.
Attending referees all participated actively in both lectures and training.

Trainees Comments

ENOMOTO Kazuyoshi（Referee ／Kanagawa）
I participated in the 1st main referee training for J-League after the season started. In the practical training, we worked on calling offsides right in front of a goal and keeping our eyes on set-pieces (corner kicks) in front of a goal.
For me personally, I had to learn when and how to warn a player when he holds a ball before kicking a corner kick. With this training, I could learn a lot of it by watching how other referees do it.
I will take advantage of this training, and keep working with a high standard for the rest of the season.

UEDA Masuya（Referee／Aichi）
It was a very good training, because we had both a lecture and training on the pitch.
At the beginning of the lecture, we made sure the 3 promises again by the J-League chairman.
Also in the lecture we watched films and discussed that all referees must work together on standardising our calls for handlings and simulations.
In the training on the pitch, we worked on calling offsides and dealing with corner kicks inside of a penalty area.
Around the area we have so many things to keep our eyes on. Such plays are so closely related to goals. So we must work collectively with assistant referees.
Throughout the training, we discussed with our colleagues and received advices from guys with more experience, and it was a great training in order to keep providing reasonable calls in upcoming games.
We will keep doing our jobs, hold ourselves accountable and work hard to control matches so that J-League games will be more exciting and attractive.