The McDonald’s Kanga Cup isn’t just about the players. There’s the third team to take into consideration as well and the competition simply could not take place without those committed few who impart the laws of the game.

With a week of intensive matches taking place, the Kanga Cup Referee Youth Academy is the ideal place for those budding match officials to increase their knowledge of the game.

The Academy offers a week-long in-house Academy experience with up to 50 other referees from Canberra, interstate, overseas, and similarly based referee coaches.

Refereeing throughout the week in panel groups, including finals, reflective of their qualifications, experience, age, and tournament performance is included, as are nightly seminars, including some run by current and former FIFA referees.

Dion Bradley, a referee from the Gold Coast in Queensland, who has participated in the Kanga Cup Referee Youth Academy as a Referee, and as a Referee Coach is uniquely placed to recommend the experience.

“The opportunity to have intense, quality coaching for a week was what attracted me to apply in the first instance, Bradley said. “As well as getting myself out of my comfort zone in officiating with referees I don’t know and officiating in games with teams and players I’ve never seen

“Attendees can expect an excellent week surrounded by like-minded individuals in the Academy and being able to be exposed to and absorb information from some high quality referees and referee coaches.”

Bradley is now in his eighth year of refereeing, and third year as an assessor and instructor and suggested that the experience gained at the Kanga Cup Academy, both as a referee and as a coach, has been invaluable in his career progression.

“The Academy was definitely valuable in my development,” he stated. “I was able to create some very valuable networks, which I was able to utilise to aide my development.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to officiate on the Foxtel Y-League and NPL Queensland Men’s competitions, and now currently working in referee development for Football Queensland.”

Getting feedback and, more importantly taking it one and absorbing the lessons learned from it, are vital in any stage of life and in any profession and, as a budding match official, are products in the Academy can look forward to that reinforcement as Bradley explains.

“The role of a referee coach is no different to that of a coach of a football team,” he said. “Referee coaches are there to improve a referee’s ability through quality coaching and support, as well as providing mentoring and guidance to their career.

“It is extremely difficult for someone to do better, if they don’t know what they are doing wrong. So, it’s important that youth referees are given informed feedback to help them improve. What was the issue? Why is it an issue? How can it be improved? These are all important questions to answer to help give informed feedback.

When encouraging potential Referee Academy applicants to sign up for the competition, Bradley is equivocal in his praise for the experience and what it can offer the up-and-coming match officials of the future.

“Do it,” he said. “There are many development and learning opportunities that I’ve been able to experience that have helped shape the person, referee, and coach that I am now.

“My development is far from done, but Kanga Cup was an excellent stepping-stone. The best part of Kanga Cup is the culture of the Academy. Hands down.”

Referees (aged 15 to 18) who hold a Football Australia Level 4, Level 3, or Level 2 referee qualification (or international equivalent), plus a minimum of 1 years refereeing experience are eligible to apply for the Kanga Cup Referee Youth Academy (KCRYA).

Referee Coaches aged 18+ from across Australia or overseas who have a valid Football Australia Referee Assessor Level 3 or higher qualification (or overseas equivalent) can apply directly or be nominated (by their Member Federation or Referee Association) as a Referee Coach for the KCRYA.

To find out more about the KCRYA and submit your KCRYA application, go to https://kangacup.com/kc2020/referees/.