Football Queensland (FQ) is excited to announce more investment into referees across Queensland through a partnership with sports technology company RefLIVE to provide another valuable support measure for match officials around the state.
The new arrangement will see FQ adopt and implement RefLIVE’s innovative Referee Management System, a data-gathering platform which monitors referee wellbeing via a smartphone app.
Jacqui Hurford, Football Queensland State Referee Manager, said: “Football Queensland is always looking for ways to improve our referee support structures and RefLIVE’s technology helps us do that using practical data.
“This is a great initiative as referees will be able to file reports on team and crowd behaviour, contribute individual assessments and identify potential areas for personal development.
“We look forward to gaining a deeper understanding about our how our match officials are feeling from game to game as we look to create a better overall experience.”
The new partnership adds to a raft of refereeing initiatives FQ has devised since releasing the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan in November 2019.
In addition to the teal shirt, pink armband and first-year registration pack announcements, FQ recently launched an e-learning platform along with a high-performance academy for emerging match officials.
“High turnover rates are a common challenge for refereeing communities but we’re in a stronger position to resolves issues and boost retention when we have detailed information,” Hurford added.
“It’s great to have RefLIVE supporting Queensland referees as we get back out on the pitch for the remainder of the season.”
RefLIVE CEO Simon Murphy said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with Football Queensland to assist with referee development and the overall wellbeing of match officials.
“Our Referee Management System will enable referees to communicate a variety of important information directly to their managers, and assist referee managers by providing clear and actionable insights to help develop referees.”
