For the past few years the Malta Football Association, through its Referees' Department, has been organizing a pre season seminar for all senior referees.

The scope of the seminar is to keep the local referees aware of the latest developments in the world of refereeing whether it is new amendments to the Laws of the Game or instructions given by FIFA and UEFA to referees.   During the seminar, besides lectures on various aspects of refereeing given by overseas lecturers, participants are also given an opportunity to discuss particular aspects during working groups.    One of the participants is also asked to act as rapporteur and then present a short briefing to all referees present.   This helps the reporter to speak freely in front of an audience thereby giving him more self confidence.

Photo of last year seminar, held at the Centenary Hall.

Besides the theoretical aspects, the seminar also serves to bring referees together for a short period.  This creates a friendly atmosphere and gets participants to understand each other.

Over the years the MFA managed to bring over as lecturers practically all members of the UEFA Referees' Committee.   A few of the lecturers who came to Malta were Ken Ridden, Josef Marko, Antonio Lopez, Keith Hackett, and David Ellery among others.

This year the lecturer is Mr. Jaap Ullenberg who is a UEFA Referees' Committee member who is also a member of the Royal Netherlands Football Association Referees' Committee and also responsible to appoint Referee Observers for UEFA Competitions' matches.

The Seminar is being held at the Conference Hall of the Centenary Stadium from Thursday July 18 to Saturday July 20.