Match officials rev up at pre-season training camp

Two intensive days, split between work on the pitch and in the classroom, for San Marino’s match officials – now closing in on their seasonal debut in Sammarinese competitions, starting with the San Marino Super Cup on Wednesday 28 August and the following weekend, when the race for the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio title will kick off again. The traditional pre-season training camp brought together all members of the Associazione Sammarinese Arbitri, with Saturday morning devoted to a session led by fitness coach Simone Savoretti. He put referees and assistant referees through a couple of hours of intensive work at the San Marino Stadium. Almost simultaneously, a meeting was held for referee observers, who followed presentations by Stefano Podeschi, Giacomo Cenci and Matteo Trefoloni, Head of the Technical Department of the AIA. A welcome guest of the ASA, Trefoloni also delivered the main presentation which – after the opening remarks by FSGC President, Marco Tura – focused on reading the game, a factor that is often decisive for an effective interpretation of on-field incidents, aiming to remain fully consistent with the Laws of the Game while also respecting the dynamics that are intrinsic to football. After lunch, Savoretti – this time in the classroom – worked with the San Marino officials on the practical aspects of training and pre-match warm-ups. After all, referees have long been required to combine the physical and motor qualities of professional athletes with perfect knowledge and application of the Laws. Likewise, managing every facet of a match demands complete understanding from the entire appointed refereeing team: it was precisely on match management that much of the afternoon’s work was focused. Sunday morning instead began with an in-depth look at behavioural guidelines, with match officials guided on this topic by Cristiano Ascari. More specific refereeing considerations, such as handball and tactical fouls, were then addressed in dedicated presentations by Matteo Trefoloni, before the lunch that marked the conclusion of the camp.

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