The Catch Them Young Referees programme continued into Days 2 and 3 at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, with participants engaging in both theoretical and practical sessions designed to strengthen their knowledge, confidence and technical understanding of refereeing.
The programme, held under the FIFA Women’s Development initiative, aims to equip young female referees with the professional skills, values and exposure needed to excel in officiating and contribute to the sustainable growth of women’s football in Ghana.
During the classroom sessions, Jennifer Amankwaa Sarpong, the GFA Women’s Football Development Manager, took the participants through the GFA Women’s Football Strategy, elaborating on its vision, mission and six strategic pillars. She placed particular emphasis on League Development, Education, Grassroots Football, Marketing and Visibility, encouraging the young referees to view themselves as vital contributors to the holistic advancement of women’s football in Ghana.
She also shared pathways and success stories within the women’s game to inspire the girls to aim higher in their refereeing careers.
In addition, Barbara Yankah from the GFA Women’s Competitions Department gave an overview of the structure of women’s football competitions in Ghana, detailing the Women’s Premier League, the Division One League and the upcoming U15 Girls’ Regional Colts Leagues.
The sessions also featured an important presentation on safeguarding and ethics by Madam Bernice Bempah, the GFA Safeguarding Officer. She explained the Code of Ethics of the GFA, CAF and FIFA, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safeguarding principles and policies before, during and after games.
Madam Bempah noted that safeguarding is a set of policies and frameworks designed to protect young players and referees from abuse, exploitation, and trafficking, while promoting a culture of safety, respect and ethical conduct across all levels of Ghanaian football. She further outlined the GFA’s commitment to creating safe environments, identifying potential risks and upholding integrity within the game through continuous education and awareness.
On the field, Madam Louisa Amanor, the GFA/CAF Referees Physical Instructor, led participants through a series of technical and physical training sessions, covering the Laws of the Game, recent amendments, and key refereeing skills such as positioning, reading tactical fouls, managing offside situations, and the proper use of the substitution board.
Day 3 of the training was led by Instructor Millicent Kanor, who guided the young referees through practical warm-up routines and match officiating techniques. The participants then had the opportunity to officiate live matches at the ongoing Elite U15 Girls Championship in Prampram, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in a real competitive setting.
GFA Communications
