The Referee Coach Seminar 2026 marked a significant milestone in the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) ongoing efforts to strengthen referee development, as referee coaches and selected senior referees came together for a four-day professional development programme from 8 to 11 January 2026.
Organised by the FAS Refereeing Department, the seminar was the first of its kind to be conducted at this scale in Singapore, combining classroom-based learning, facilitated discussions and live match observation into a structured and progressive learning journey. Beyond enhancing the skillsets of existing referee coaches, the programme also included senior referees who will assume coaching and mentoring responsibilities within the FAS refereeing pathway, reinforcing continuity, knowledge transfer and long-term capacity building within the refereeing ecosystem.
The seminar was delivered by Ray Olivier, an international referee educator, coach instructor and former elite-level referee who is currently involved with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referee Academy. His sessions balanced international best practices with relevance to the local refereeing environment, ensuring learning outcomes could be meaningfully applied within Singapore football.
Across the programme, participants engaged in interactive classroom discussions, scenario-based technical analysis and coaching simulations, before progressing to structured match observation exercises. The practical component was anchored by live observation of the Singapore Cup Final, where participants applied shared frameworks to analyse incidents, game management and referee performance in a real-match context.
A central theme throughout the seminar was the importance of mentoring and structured feedback in developing confident, consistent referees. Veteran referee coach Augustine Arlando, who has been coaching since 2002, underscored this point.
“Mentoring is, and should remain, an ongoing process, as it is the most effective way to shape and develop referees,” he said.
“This seminar provided valuable insights by reinforcing the importance of coaches being honest, objective and truthful in their assessments.”
The shift towards more collaborative and engaging coaching methods was another key takeaway. Referee coach Surindranath Kaseenathan noted that the sessions challenged traditional approaches to instruction.
“It is necessary to have a more engaging approach towards referees instead of instructing them on the decision-making process,” he explained.
“This ensures a more collaborative process rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The course provided a platform for assessors to broaden their horizons when developing referees.”
For newer referee coaches, the seminar also reinforced the need for continuous learning. Tan Yew Chong, a referee coach since 2022, highlighted how the programme strengthened his belief in the future of officiating in Singapore.
“This seminar highlights that the development of referee coaches themselves is just as important as the development of referees,” he shared.
“Relying solely on personal experience is not enough. Exposure to global best practices and innovative coaching methodologies allows coaches to refine their approach and guide referees to reach their highest potential.”
