Referees: Podeschi and Savoretti at the UEFA RIDE Course 2024

An important international engagement for Stefano Podeschi and Simone Savoretti, both involved in the UEFA RIDE Course held in Lisbon in mid-March. Podeschi took part in the distinctly technical sessions, while Savoretti attended those focused on the physical preparation of match officials. As for the programme of the technical section, reserved for referee instructors from all over Europe, proceedings opened with a module on decisions relating to incidents in the penalty area, before moving on to VAR and potential new challenges that match officials are likely to face. The course was introduced by Roberto Rosetti, while Vlado Šajn brought the first day to a close with a contribution on offside. The second day began with the analysis of clips of refereeing performances at national level, before delving into a discussion on tactical fouls and handball offences. Leadership and match management were the focus of the final hour of debate, ahead of the closing remarks delivered once again by Rosetti. At the same time, also in Lisbon, Savoretti took part in the Referee Fitness Coaches Course. Starting from feedback on the conventions and the winter courses dedicated to the physical preparation of match officials, the fitness coaches involved also explored the potential use of artificial intelligence applied to fitness drills, such as speed work. Group sessions on training methods to improve the integration between on-field perception of the game and decision-making optimisation opened the first afternoon block, which ended with practical exercises developed by the coaches for functional training using resistance bands. A full on‑field training session, complete with the presentation of the various drills, occupied the whole of the second morning. In the afternoon, discussions moved from mixed training methods applied to match officials – again with group work – to strategies for maximising recovery, while opportunities for reflection and the sharing of effective and exemplary practices marked the conclusion of the Referee Fitness Coaches Course.

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