Caleb Qwofi Right
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which is responsible for refereeing in the English Premier League, is aiming to add to their VAR officials by advertising for potential candidates who have four key characteristics, but ‘little or no experience’ is required to apply.
The job description outlines that potential candidates should:
- Provide clear communication under pressure
- Be capable of self-reflection on how they performed
- Identify when VAR needs to intervene
- Have the ability to focus and have great communication skills
This is a significant development, as it suggests that PGMOL is looking for candidates with the right personal qualities, rather than those with a wealth of experience. This could open up the door to a wider range of people becoming VAR officials, and could help to improve the diversity of the refereeing profession.
The decision to recruit VAR officials with little or no experience is also a sign that PGMOL is committed to developing and training its referees. The job description states that candidates will be provided with “extensive training and development opportunities,” which will help them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful VAR officials.
The recruitment of new VAR officials is a welcome development, as it will help to address the current shortage of VAR officials in the English Premier League. It will also help to improve the quality of VAR decision-making, as the new VAR officials will be trained to the highest standards.
The decision by PGMOL to recruit VAR officials with little or no experience is a positive one. It shows that the organization is open to new ideas and that it is committed to developing its referees.
The four key characteristics that PGMOL is looking for in candidates are all essential qualities for VAR officials. Clear communication under pressure is vital, as VAR officials need to be able to communicate their decisions to the referee and the other VAR officials in a clear and concise manner. Self-reflection is also important, as VAR officials need to be able to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance over time.
The ability to identify when VAR needs to intervene is also essential for VAR officials. VAR is a complex system, and VAR officials need to be able to quickly and accurately identify the situations in which they need to intervene. Finally, VAR officials need to have the ability to focus and have great communication skills. They need to be able to focus on the game and identify potential VAR incidents, even when the game is moving quickly.
Grace
