The 2014 third Professional Referee Camp was held at Shimizu National Training Centre (J-Step) on Wednesday 21 May.
The Poland referee team, who had visited Japan for an exchange program, also participated in the camp.
Additionally, J-league Chairman Murai visited to observe the camp and joined the match analysis session on 22 May.

Comments

MURAI Mitsuru（Chairman of Japan Professional Football League）
The professional referee system started in 2002. Now they say they hold camps twice every month. Aside from the time on the pitch, referees do not appear in front of fans and supporters as well as managers and coaches, club staff, and J-league staff. However, if you think about it once again, referees take a significant role in improving the quality of the Japanese football. More attention is supposed to be paid onto this area in terms of not only skill upgrading but also human resource development.

I was very impressed that in this camp 14 professional referees repeatedly watched the video and thoroughly discussed details with each other on the topics such as rationale for each call, review of its circumstances, right and wrong on referee’s positioning, how to speak to a player and how to communicate between referees. All discussions showed sheer persistence for each scene in order to improve refereeing skills. I see each of discussions leads to the enhancement of football fundamental that we usually enjoy. I felt like taking off my hat to their commitment.

I also communicated with invited Polish referees who participated in this camp. They said they were surprised at J-league players’ “quickness.” This might be an unrealised and effective weapon for Japanese to compete with the world. When we add “fairness” that we have traditionally cherished to “agility”, polish them and make them even better, we can see “what Japanese football is like to be”, I thought.

As professional referees take great responsibility fighting with huge pressure, they are the driving force that sustains the basis of Japanese football development. I realised once again how important they are for us. In the future, J-league will pay more attention to referees and contribute to their skill improvement.