News
Expand each news item to read more - and check your emails and the Members Area for full details
01.02.23 - FROM THE COACHES - FEBRUARY and MARCH CALENDAR
The calendar is out in the memo to members and repeated in our online Events calendar.
Please remember our usual cadence is Training on Wednesdays, Debriefs on Thursdays.
Training is always on and always open to everyone, regardless of who is running it. We have been lucky to also confirm Bayley for two sessions per month - dates per the calendar below.
Debriefs on Thursday are also generally open to all members (again regardless of coach), but now and then some may be closed to just the relevant panels. Where sessions are open, recordings will be taken and shared.
01.02.23 - FITNESS TEST - MARCH
Please in particular note the date of the final Fitness Test - 28 March - Sylvania Waters - Members can REGISTER HERE.
There is almost two months to the test, if you need to complete a test for your panels, please ensure you have reserved that date and are ready to attempt the test.
If you need to do the FIFA Test, please reach out to your coach.
01.02.23 - FROM THE COACHES - BRANCH SEMINAR
Please see Members Area for a summary of what was presented at the seminar. If you have any questions, reach out to your coach.
If you did not attend the February Seminar, you may be expected to attend the March 11 Seminar - registration will open shortly.
This seminar will be open to the entire State.
04.01.23 - FROM THE COACHES - Training, SEMINAR, FITNESS TESTS
Upcoming Events in January
From 11 January, training will switch to a Wednesday. The session on the 11th will be run by the NPL Mens Competition Coach and the one on the 18th by the AR Coach. The session on the 25th is TBC. There is no registration form for training, but attendance is tracked. All sessions are relevant for all members regardless of the coach running it.
The two fitness tests will run on Tuesday 10 and 17 January. There are notes on the FT on page 2 below and in the relevant registration forms for the tests.
The annual seminar on 21 January. It will run from 9am to 2pm and is compulsory. There will be an additional session for new members at 8.15am prior to the Seminar Start.
In the meantime, if you could complete the survey linked below ASAP but by 11 Jan (extended), that will help the coaches finalise planning for what is shaping to be a great season.
FT Tue 10 Jan Register FT Tue 17 Jan Register Seminar Sat 21 Jan Register Survey Due 11 Jan Link Here
Please ensure you have registered on Play Football and paid your 2023 membership fee. Trial matches continue throughout January so please make yourself available on Dribl.
Alex Glasgow Coaches’ Coach coachescoach@nswfootballreferees.au
Chris Young NPL Mens Competition Coach nplmenscoach@nswfootballreferees.au
Katie Vainauskas NPL Womens Competition Coach nplwomenscoach@nswfootballreferees.au
Kearney Robinson Assistant Referees Coach ARcoach@nswfootballreferees.au
Adam Vainauskas Leagues Competitions Coach leaguescoach@nswfootballreferees.au
04.01.23 - FITNESS TESTS
Fitness Test Details - FIFA TESTS - TUE 10 JANUARY
Womens Competition Test - FIFA Standard
6.4s 40m sprint; 17/20 (73.5m) 10 laps
Required for: ERSP and National Academy Candidates and Potentials (Female)
Recommended for: All Officials on NPL Womens 1st Grade Competitions (Refs and ARs)
When: Tues 10 January
Mens Competition Test - FIFA Standard
6s 40m sprint, 15/18 (73.5m) 10 laps
Required for: ERSP and National Academy Candidates and Potentials (Male)
Recommended for: All Officials on NPL Mens Competitions (Refs and ARs, 1st and 20s)
When: Tuesday 10 January
Fitness Test Details - NATIONAL TESTS - TUE 17 JANUARY
Womens Competition Test - National Standard
6.5s 40m sprint - 17/22 (73.5m) 10 laps
Required for: NPL Womens First Grade Referees
Recommended for: NPL Womens Reserve Grade Referees, NPL Womens ARs
When: Tuesday 17 January
Modified Test
(same timing but 7s 40m sprint and 17/22 (70m)
Required for: -
Recommended for: All Officials on Leagues Competitions (Mens and Womens, First, Reserve and 20s) Other than Mens First Grade Referees
When: Tuesday 17 January
Mens Competition Test - National Standard
6.1s 40m sprint, 15/20 (73.5m) 10 laps
Required for: NPL Mens First Grade Referees, NPL Mens ARs, NPL Mens 20s Referees, Level 1 Upgrades
Recommended for: NPL Mens ARs, NPL Mens 20s Referees, Mens Leagues First Grade Referees
When: Tuesday 17 January
VENUE AND SCHEDULE
Venue - Sylvania Waters Athletics Track - note we do not have access to the track until 7.15pm.
Timing (subject to minor change on the night) -
6.45pm - Arrival for Womens Competition Test
6.55pm Womens Competition Test - Warm-up (Grass)
7.15pm Womens Competition Test - Warm-up (Track)
7.20pm - Arrival for Mens Competition Test
7.25pm Womens Competition Test - Sprints Marshalling
7.30pm Womens Competition Test - Sprints
7.30pm Mens Competition Test - Warm-up (Track)
7.50pm Womens Competition Test - Interval Test Marshalling
7.55pm Womens Competition Test - Interval Test Commence
8.00pm Mens Competition Test - Sprints Marshalling
8.05pm Mens Competition Test - Sprints
8.20pm Womens Competition Test Finish
8.25pm Mens Competition Test - Interval Test Marshalling
8.30pm Mens Competition Test - Interval Test
8.55pm Mens Competition Test - Close
Registrations Close -
Sunday prior to the relevant test, 12.01pm
FAQs
What if I have already done a test:
Any officials on the A-Leagues Mens or Womens who completed the FIFA Standard Test in the past 4 months will be deemed a pass at that level for the purposes of a NSW State League Fitness Test. A-Leagues Womens officials who will be officiating NPL Mens First Grade should attempt the Mens Competition Test - National Standard - to qualify for NPL Mens First Grade.
Any officials who have completed a test interstate or in NNSW in the past 4 months (or will complete prior to 31 March) may provide confirmation of that pass from the instructor who ran the test.
What standards must be met to ‘pass’:
Officials will be expected to withdraw themselves from the test at the point of any of the following occurrences:
Failure to meet the required sprint standard twice (including the seventh re-attempt) (noting that a candidate may continue to qualify for the test with the slower sprint time if applicable)
Two ‘misses’ during the intervals in the same test - a miss is caused by any false start and/or any failure to meet the required interval finishing line in the same test (noting in the latter case that a candidate may continue to qualify for the lesser distance test, if applicable)
What if I do not pass:
While failure to attempt or complete a test will not on its own disqualify anyone from appointments (other than for NPL First Grade Referee Appointments), concerns over fitness levels from matchday coaches or Football NSW may affect appointments, and are best countered by a recent successful fitness test. It is in each official’s best interest to complete the highest test they can successfully complete (whether required or not). Failure to complete a test successfully may affect the panel an official is placed in (where a fitness test is required for a particular group or there are concerns raised over a referee’s fitness levels) and the official’s opportunities for appointments (in particular first grade referee appointments) and honour games.
What does a pass mean for my 2023 grouping:
Meeting a ‘required’ or ‘recommended’ standard does not mean you will be automatically grouped or appointed at a particular level. This will also depend on factors such as experience, potential, prior performance, availability and the number of officials who are ranked ahead of you in those categories (including their own fitness test result).
What if I cannot make a test in January:
If you cannot make a test that is required for you, please contact one of the coaches ASAP. Officials who are unable to complete a test with a valid excuse may continue to be appointed to matches at the discretion of Football NSW. Alternative National Fitness Tests will be offered in late March. These will be mid-week as well. This is after the commencement of the season and should be only considered as a last resort.
Where should we meet?
As Little Athletics continues until 7.15pm, please park in the lot shown below and we will arrange the womens competitin warm up to commence on the grass fields surrounding the track and then access the track via the side gate.
The main parking lot may be locked by little athletics on their exit. The marked lot cannot be locked.
Why Sylvania Waters?
A lot of work went into finding a suitable venue for January with the requirements of the branch (lights, mens and womens toilets, a tartan track with semi-exclusive use). The usual venue of the Ridge - as well as some of the others - closed in January for resurfacing or maintenance and we made applications at eight venues and the only other track available was Campbelltown (which admittedly would have suited some but been a very long drive for others, and is always hotter at this time of year).
Consideration was also given to a later start time, it being Summer and allowing for better travel timing.
What if there is wet weather?
The test will continue in all conditions other than torrential rain, hail and/or lightning. Keep an eye on your emails and our facebook page for weather updates.
