IFA Referee Development back at Amendoeira Sports Club
- Created on Wednesday, 15 February 2012 12:14
Top referees from the Irish Football Association were so impressed with the Amendoeira Sports Club in 2011 that they returned for their 2012 training camp this year.
Oceânico Group welcomed the return of the Irish Football Association Referee Development group to the Amendoeira Sports Club at the Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve, Portugal for their annual training camp between 6th and 10th February 2012.
The group first came to the Amendoeira Sports Club in 2011 and were so impressed that Alan Snoddy, IFA Referee Development Officer, arranged for the 2012 camp to be back at the same venue. "100% of the visiting team in 2011 gave top marks to the facilities, accommodation - the whole package. It's absolutely perfect and we are delighted to be back," said Alan.
Alan was an international referee for many years and refereed two matches in the FIFA World Cup (1986 and 1990). His current role supports all refereeing activities in Northern Ireland with a focus on recruitment, retention and promoting refereeing.
The 2012 group comprised 48 top referees, referee assistants and referee assessors, who are former match officials responsible for assessing referees according to FIFA and UEFA guidelines. Joining the group was UEFA Refereeing Officer, Hugh Dallas, MBE who has had a very impressive career and officiated at two World Cup Finals in 1998 and 2002, and in the Euro 2000 finals. Hugh is now a Refereering Officer at UEFA with a key responsibility of coaching elite referees.
During the training camp Hugh gave a number of presentations such as "Impact of the decision on the observer's mark" and "Offside decisions". Other team building and theoretical presentations were enhanced by analysis of video clips of real life referee decisions.
All theoretical sessions were held in privacy in the main building of the Amendoeira Sports Club with light refreshments on offer during the breaks.
The group also undertook outdoor training sessions on the full size, natural grass football pitch at the Amendoeira Sports Club, where the group was put through its paces by the training staff to improve fitness and team work.
These annual camps are invaluable to the IFA Referee Development programme, allowing the referees to attend the theoretical training sessions run by IFA officials and offering them the opportunity to discuss their experiences and learn more.
Other teams who have trained at the Amendoeira Sports Club include Peterborough FC, Sunderland AFC and Aston Villa FC, and from Ireland, Kerry GAA, Dublin Hurlers and the senior Irish Ladies football team. A host of friendly matches have also been played there between a range of European professional teams, including German team, Hertha Berlin, Danish team, Brøndby IF, Dutch teams Groningen TC and Ajax FC, and Portuguese team Portimonense SC, amongst others.
In addition to the full size football pitch, the Amendoeira Sports Club boasts six tennis courts, 5-a-side football pitches, a beach volleyball/football court, a gymnasium and sports bar.
Amendoeira Golf Resort also offers a range of golf courses: the 9 hole, par 3 Oceânico Academy course, ideally suited to beginners and those wanting to improve their game, and two championship golf courses: the Oceânico Faldo Course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, and Oceânico O'Connor Jnr. course designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr.
Professional warm weather training packages are available for football, Gaelic football and hurling. The experienced Oceânico team tailor-make each warm weather training package to suit the client and can also arrange off-site excursions and team building activities.
The stunning clubhouse provides the perfect venue for all food & beverage requirements of the professional teams.
Accommodation is available in spacious two bedroom apartments and three bedroom villas: the two bedroom apartments are situated in private village complexes with large communal swimming pools and the villas have their own pools.
For more information, please contact Michelle Collins at the Oceânico Group on:
T: 00351 282 771 800
E: michelle.collins@oceanicogroup.com
W: www.oceanicogroup.com
