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Referees’ training camp in Mallorca

Skill comes with practice. This also applies to Germany’s referees. It is this motto that guides them through a six-day training camp starting Tuesday in Mallorca, Germany’s favourite holiday destination. Taking a look at the schedule for the first day, it reads: “3.30pm: Arrival at the hotel. 4.30pm: Strength and cardio exercises. 6pm: Welcome reception.” It's is a tight schedule that indicates the days that follow will be demanding. Each morning, the referees will carry out a regenerative routine. Heinz-Dieter Antretter, the DFB’s referee fitness coach has arranged the early-morning runs for 7.45am.

Referees are high-performance athletes. A few numbers confirm that: They cover between ten and 15 kilometres per match and make an average of 50 sprints over that 90-minute spell. Meanwhile, midfielders cover between ten and 15 kilometres per match and make an average of 50 sprints over those 90 minutes. Therefore, it makes sense that the referees’ training camp focuses on physical fitness.

However, referees do not only have to cover a lot of ground, they also have to make a lot correct decisions. They have to run the game with their whistle or without it, with their words and gestures. This means the referees’ training is far from over after the morning run. Taking another look at the schedule: “6pm: Welcome reception. 6.30pm: Half-time report.” The speaker is Herbert Fandel, the chief executive of the DFB’s Referees’ Committee and he discusses his thoughts on the last 17 matchdays. What went well, what didn't? Which areas have room for improvement? What positive observations did Fandel make? What are the thoughts on the newly-introduced vanishing spray? This is what Fandel is going to tell the German referees: “We can generally be content with the German referees’ performance during the first half of the season. However, taking a closer look, we can see that there are still aspects to be improved on. This is especially the case when it comes to a consistent interpretation of the rules.”

Seminars on assessing tackles and offside decisions

Fandel will give the referees an idea what to expect over the next few days apart from the athletic challenges. Here's a basic summary of the programme: The German refereeing elite will be divided into three groups. They will take turns in dealing with the three topics - “controlling discipline”, “penalty incidents and handballs” and “tactics – controlling the game – managing the game”. Lutz Michael Fröhlich, the head of the DFB’s referees department, summarised: “During the preparation, the major focus is on comparing in-game situations with similar features in order to build a solid basis for a more consistent interpretation of the rules.” Helmut Krug, who represents the German Football League in the elite committee, added: “The emphasis is still on assessing tackles, handballs and the offside rule. In the end of the day, these are the aspects most widely discussed in public as well.” Each day closes with the test of the day, for which ten game-play situations are assessed and then evaluated. Apart from that, various seminars focus on different aspects, such as assessing tackles or interpreting the offside rule.

Herbert Fandel is happy about the referees’ training camp in Mallorca: “It has proved useful for us to meet for a winter training camp abroad once a year. We're always welcomed by excellent conditions in Mallorca. We can be focused and calm in our work. I’m looking forward to the exchanges with the referees. Our conversations can be controversial but are always productive. I’m very optimistic that 2015 will be the same. “

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Skill comes with practice. This also applies to Germany’s referees. It is this motto that guides them through a six-day training camp starting Tuesday in Mallorca, Germany’s favourite holiday destination. Taking a look at the schedule for the first day, it reads: “3.30pm: Arrival at the hotel. 4.30pm: Strength and cardio exercises. 6pm: Welcome reception.” It's is a tight schedule that indicates the days that follow will be demanding. Each morning, the referees will carry out a regenerative routine. Heinz-Dieter Antretter, the DFB’s referee fitness coach has arranged the early-morning runs for 7.45am.

Referees are high-performance athletes. A few numbers confirm that: They cover between ten and 15 kilometres per match and make an average of 50 sprints over that 90-minute spell. Meanwhile, midfielders cover between ten and 15 kilometres per match and make an average of 50 sprints over those 90 minutes. Therefore, it makes sense that the referees’ training camp focuses on physical fitness.

However, referees do not only have to cover a lot of ground, they also have to make a lot correct decisions. They have to run the game with their whistle or without it, with their words and gestures. This means the referees’ training is far from over after the morning run. Taking another look at the schedule: “6pm: Welcome reception. 6.30pm: Half-time report.” The speaker is Herbert Fandel, the chief executive of the DFB’s Referees’ Committee and he discusses his thoughts on the last 17 matchdays. What went well, what didn't? Which areas have room for improvement? What positive observations did Fandel make? What are the thoughts on the newly-introduced vanishing spray? This is what Fandel is going to tell the German referees: “We can generally be content with the German referees’ performance during the first half of the season. However, taking a closer look, we can see that there are still aspects to be improved on. This is especially the case when it comes to a consistent interpretation of the rules.”

Seminars on assessing tackles and offside decisions

Fandel will give the referees an idea what to expect over the next few days apart from the athletic challenges. Here's a basic summary of the programme: The German refereeing elite will be divided into three groups. They will take turns in dealing with the three topics - “controlling discipline”, “penalty incidents and handballs” and “tactics – controlling the game – managing the game”. Lutz Michael Fröhlich, the head of the DFB’s referees department, summarised: “During the preparation, the major focus is on comparing in-game situations with similar features in order to build a solid basis for a more consistent interpretation of the rules.” Helmut Krug, who represents the German Football League in the elite committee, added: “The emphasis is still on assessing tackles, handballs and the offside rule. In the end of the day, these are the aspects most widely discussed in public as well.” Each day closes with the test of the day, for which ten game-play situations are assessed and then evaluated. Apart from that, various seminars focus on different aspects, such as assessing tackles or interpreting the offside rule.

Herbert Fandel is happy about the referees’ training camp in Mallorca: “It has proved useful for us to meet for a winter training camp abroad once a year. We're always welcomed by excellent conditions in Mallorca. We can be focused and calm in our work. I’m looking forward to the exchanges with the referees. Our conversations can be controversial but are always productive. I’m very optimistic that 2015 will be the same. “