THE WHISTLEBLOWER

July 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS
In this Issue: Sinclair Selected for Futsal World Cup, Trevis at
Tuesday 5 July
OFC Tournament, Mentor Programme Update,
Coaching Session #7, 7pm at
Referee Exchange to Dunedin, FIFA Officials on MPL Match,
English Park.
Upcoming Referee Courses, OConnells NRFL Match Report,
Monday 18 July Rod Pelosi rewarded with NZF Life Membership AND MORE!

Coaching Session #8, 7pm at CONGRATULATIONS!

English Park.
Chris Sinclair Selected for FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016

Isaac Trevis OFC U20 Preliminary Qualifiers

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Level 2 Referees
Rob McConchie (Canterbury)
Rafal Nawrocki & Paul Pace

Level 3 Referees

Graeme Henderson, Simon Myers, Javier Ortega, Grant

Prescott & Dylan Waugh

Please note: referees must now perform satisfactorily on an MPL

Reserve game or higher to pass Level 3 accreditation

FROM THE DESK OF THE REFEREE

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Welcome to July, and the second half of the winter season for
many. It is fantastic seeing the vast amount of football that has
been on our TV screens recently, notably Copa America and
Euro 2016. I hope you have been casting your eye on the
referees. Watching these football games are a great way to
observe techniques that those at the top use (well and not so
well) in different situations. This months newsletter features
some of our top referees achieving some great appointments
and opportunities, so sit back and enjoy a great read.

Wayne Stapley
 WAYNES WORD: SPECIAL EDITION!

CHRIS SINCLAIR BOUND FOR FUTSAL WORLD CUP

As a referee, the ultimate is being a FIFA referee at the World Cup Finals. This week, Canterbury
Futsal referee, Chris Sinclair was informed he had been selected to referee at the 2016 Futsal World
Cup, to be held in Columbia, from 10 September 1 October 2016. I contacted Chris and talked to
him about his journey to far:

Wayne Stapley: Congratulations on hearing this week of your appointment to referee at the
FIFA Futsal World Cup. Can you tell me about your early days as a futsal referee and how you
first become involved?

Chris Sinclair: I began playing Futsal in 2004 at a local centre in Christchurch. This started out as our
football team playing some indoor football. Futsal had a few more rules than football, so I was
interested in finding out the differences so I could adapt and become a better player. On completing
the Futsal refereeing course, I started doing some refereeing on a regular basis with the juniors and
seniors, as Futsal was new to Christchurch and there were very few referees.

WS: What was/is the appeal for you in refereeing? Its often a tough job!

CS: I enjoyed playing at the top level, but I really enjoy the challenges of refereeing. As you have
said, it sometimes is a tough job, but for me being able to manage and control a game well, to be a
facilitator and help players to play, just gives me great enjoyment.

WS: When did you get really serious about refereeing Futsal?

CS: In 2012 I had become more aware of the refereeing pathways and believed I had a realistic
chance of making a good go of it as a referee. Thats when I switched my main focus to refereeing
with the goal to referee at the 2016 World Cup in mind. I sacrificed my futsal playing career and not
long after that, my football playing career (as a goalkeeper) to pursue this 4-year goal.

WS: So youre a bit of a goal setter then?

CS: Yes, a long term plan was put together with on and off court stepping stones and short term
achievable goals along the way. 2014 was my first year as a FIFA Futsal Referee, which was one of
the milestones set out to achieve, with the goal to be FIFA Futsal for two years, gaining lots of
experience and target the 2016 Futsal World Cup in Columbia.

WS: So were you surprised to be selected?

CS: I believed I had a good chance at being selected for the World Cup 2016 as an OFC
representative. I had some very good feedback from the OFC Futsal Championships in Fiji in
February, which gave me real hope. My name was put forward and now I have been selected. I am
so honoured to have been chosen.
WS: What do you put your success down to and how hard have you had to work to secure this
appointment?

CS: I put my success down to all the referees I have worked with during my referee career, the
referee coaching staff and assessors who have provided me with excellent education, a lot of hard
work physically and mentally on and off the court. The most important would be my family and my
wife, without their support over the years I wouldnt be where I am today in my refereeing career. The
referee education courses, strength training, speed training, nutrition and general fitness work on a
weekly basis is only the tip of the ice berg of the hard work I have had to put in to get to where I am
now.

WS: It's a bit of an understatement, but I take it youre looking forward to refereeing at the
Futsal World Cup in Columbia then?

CS: I am over the moon to be selected. Its the pinnacle of what we work hard for as referees, the
dedication, hard work and sacrifices over the years, and thats only the beginning. The hard work still
continues and I am really looking forward to working with the worlds best referees and getting much
more experience to support my continued learning and development.

WS: What would you say are the qualities of a good futsal referee and do you have any tips for
referees, who perhaps are just starting out or well established looking for the little edge.

CS: A wide range of attributes are key to a good referee. A good feeling for the game, a sense of
humour, physically fit, a sense of fairness, the ability to make good decisions under pressure and the
ability to listen and learn. No one element is enough to be a quality referee; you will need to have the
right mix of all these attributes. As an up and coming referee some tips that could support your
development; Preparation - Always be prepared. Control When the going gets tough remain in
control and as long as you are well prepared you will remain in control, and if you a make a mistake,
dump and forget it. Remind yourself you are in control of the game and learn by your mistakes, they
will help in making you better.

WS: This is your third year as a FIFA Futsal Referee and obviously local referees look up to
you. What role do you play in the local Futsal refereeing scene?

CS: Through my refereeing career I have also had role models that I have looked up to, some in
futsal, football and other areas, they have passed on valuable knowledge and education to support
my learning to be able to get to where I am today. For me I feel my major role is to carry on this in our
local area. To be able to pass on the knowledge that I have gained to others, so I can support their
learning and development is one of my major roles that I can play. There is nothing more rewarding
than seeing your knowledge that you passed on being used to good effect.

Thanks Chris, we look forward to hearing more about your experiences as they unfold.

I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate Isaac Trevis on his selection for the OFC
Under 20 Championship Preliminary Round. This is a testament to the hard work that Isaac has
achieved over the course of the past year, and he has fully deserved this opportunity. We look
forward to hearing about your experience in the next issue of The Whistleblower.

Finally, best of luck to Jake Brunton, who is off to Futsal RDA 2 in Wellington this month. This ties in
the NZF Under 19 National Futsal Championships, which I am sure Jake will be suitably prepared for.

Mohammed AlSaleh refereeing a CCL
match between Waimak and Parklands.
[Photo: Waimak United]
ISAAC TREVIS OFFICIATES AT U20 OFC
TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to Isaac Trevis, who has been in Tonga as an
Assistant Referee on the OFC Under 20 Championship
Preliminary Round. Isaac was involved in the opening match of
the tournament, Tonga v Cook Islands, Samoa v Cook Islands,
and Samoa v Tonga. This is Isaacs second OFC tournament as
he looks to work towards becoming a FIFA Assistant Referee in
the future. He was joined by fellow New Zealand referee
Campbell-Kirk Waugh (Auckland).

AFTERMRound 2

Halswell v Universities

Richard Jones

Cashmere v Selwyn

Cameron Gruschow

FC Twenty 11 v Coastal Spirit Isaac Trevis (Far Right), with

ahead of their match between
Samoa and Tonga (C-K Waugh is
Paul Dalziel centre left). [Photo: OFC]

AFTERMRound 3

Universities v Richmond

Darren Sundborn

Cashmere v Coastal Spirit

Hayden McCabe

Isaac Trevis (Front Far Right), with his

peers at the OFC U20 Championship
Preliminary Round in Nukualofa, Tonga.
BEN OCONNELLS AUCKLAND REPORT: 18 JUNE

On Saturday 18 June, I flew to Auckland for my second trip north this winter. I refereed a Northern
Football Premier League match between Onehunga and Central United, who were second and third
on the table respectively. It had been a wet week up there but fortunately, unlike my earlier trip to
Wellington, there were no pitch concerns!

The match started off very structured with only a couple of quick attacks at each end in the first half
hour. In the 35th minute, I awarded a penalty to Central United which was converted and made it 0-1
to Central. The first yellow card of the match came 6 minutes later when an Onehunga midfielder
made a reckless challenge near halfway, and that's how it remained until halftime. The second half
started off much the same as the first, with quick passing football around the park and structured
attacks on goal. The second yellow card in the match came just 8 minutes into the half however, after
a Central United defender stopped an Onehunga promising attack with a reckless trip. It wasn't until
the 75th minute when Central scored what would be the winning goal of the match after a quick
counter attack following a corner. The biggest flashpoint of the match did not happen until the third
minute of additional time, when at a Central United corner, an Onehunga defender bumped into an
opposing attacker. This attacker took offence to this and head-butted him back. It was with the
assistance from AR2 that I correctly sent him off.

Overall, it was a good, solid match. There was plenty of good skill and plenty of pace for the whole 90
minutes. I was happy with my performance and how I managed the match. My assessor on the day
(Mike Hester) agreed with me as I got a report which read well too. Now it is time to put my feet up for
a bit, while I take my 4 week break!

ROD PELOSI BECOMES A LIFE MEMBER OF NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL

NZF have announced that the head of their Referees Committee, Rod Pelosi has become a Life
Member of the administrative body. Rod has been a leading administrative figure in New Zealand
Football, and in his home federation; Central Football. He has won the praise of many, in particular
Keith Hackett, former head of the PGMOL in the UK (the body that administers the referees in the
English Premier League). Rod has also led the role in travelling high potential officials to Dallas Cup
in the United States, and to England as a guest of the PGMOL.

On behalf of the Mainland Football Referees Committee, Wayne Stapley congratulated Rod on his
designation. I would like to reiterate comments in the newspaper article (http://tinyurl.com/zqahdzd)
that Rod has done a huge amount for referees in New Zealand. Among other initiatives, he was
instrumental in forming a relationship with the PGMOL. This has allowed a number of our top and
potential FIFA referees to experience a week in the company of Englands Premier League referees,
training with them, joining their technical sessions and experience refereeing good quality games
while there. Rod would often pay his own way to be there as well.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Rod (and still do) while I was on the NZ Referees
Committee from 2005-2011. That was an enjoyable experience and we have had lots of laughs along
the way. Rod has been the Chairman of the NZ Football Referees Committee since the year 2000
and has steered the committee through some successful times, with a number of our referees
participating in World Cup Finals (technically Rod has been Deputy Chairman since 2012, where
FIFA regulations meant the chair of the Referees Committee must be member of the NZ Football
Executive).

Willie Nation watching with careful eye at
Kendall Park. [Photo: Waimak United]
Birthdays This Month
- 7th Mike HALPENNY
(Canterbury)
- 9th Ben OCONNELL
- th
13 Stuart CAMERON,
Vicki STARK (Canterbury)
- 16th Brian DAVIEW
(Canterbury)
- 17th Martin FENWICK
(Marlborough), Tim
MARSHALL (Canterbury)
- 18th John DE BONO
(Nelson), Wolfy
WAECHTER
(Marlborough)
- 19th Phil WOODING
(Nelson)
- 20th Christine MOREL
(Marlborough), Paul
NISTOR (Nelson)
- 23rd Marc ANDERSON
(Canterbury)
- 24th Peter COBELDICK
(Nelson)
- 27th Gary SKERTEN
(Canterbury)
FIFA OFFICIALS TO OFFICIATE IN MPL MATCH
Two of New Zealands FIFA officials, Anna-Marie Keighley
(Auckland), and Sarah Jones (WaiBOP) will be officiating in a
Mainland Premier League match on Saturday 9 July. This is a
great opportunity to see some World-Class officiating in person.
Both Anna-Marie and Sarah officiated at the 2015 Womens
World Cup, including a semi-final match between Japan and
England. Both will also be in action at the 2016 Olympic Games
in Rio, later this year. Keep an eye out on what match Anna-
Marie and Sarah have been appointed to HERE.
FEDERATION NEWS
Lincoln High School, Burnside High School, and
Cashmere High School have all qualified for the New Zealand
Secondary Schools Premier Boys tournament in Papamoa this
year. They will be joined by defending champions Nelson
College as the Tasman representatives. Another school from
the federation may also qualify via a wild card.
There are just two Mainland Teams left in Chatham Cup.
Universities AFC and Cashmere Technical, who will play each
other in the Round of 16, at Ilam Fields. In the NZF Knockout
Cup, Cashmere Technical are the last team standing in the
federation after defeating FC Twenty 11. They have been drawn
to play at home against Roslyn Wakari (Dunedin) in the Quarter
Finals. Round 16 for both cups will be played on 16-17 July.
The format of the OFC Champions League has changed
for 2017, with 4 stages. Firstly, 4 team a prelimimary round,
which sees the top 2 qualify for the second stage; a 16 team
main draw (which will include 2 NZ teams). Here, teams will be
drawn into four groups, each one hosted in a different venue,
and the winner of each group qualifying for the third stage. The
third stage features the top 4 teams being drawn into playing in
a home and away cup tie. The winner of those ties will make it
to the fourth stage, which involves another home and away tie.
The winner of that lifts the trophy and qualifies for the FIFA Club
World Cup.
 RETREATING LINE RULE CLARIFIED
Mainland Football and New Zealand Football have clarified the
implementation of the Retreating Line ruling in place for all
Junior 7v7 and 9v9 games. If you are a Club Based Referee
involved in these matches, you can find an explanation of the
rule HERE.

Graeme Henderson in action (red

sweatband included!). [Photo: Iain Glover]
REFEREES FEATURE ON LIVE TV MATCH
Ben OConnell, Craig Duff, Michael Love, and Neil Davidson
featured in a secondary schools football match between
Cashmere High School and Burnside High School, at English
Park. The match was broadcast live on 22 June, by local
station, CTV. You can catch a full replay of the match HERE.

Round 2
MENTORING PROGRAMME WELL UNDERWAY
Coastal v Cashmere
Refereeing has often been seen as an individual hobby, where
Marc Anderson you turn up to a game each weekend and leave straight after.
FC Twenty 11 v Universities Although this perception is untrue, with mentoring providing an
additional layer of support for referees (particularly new ones)
Brian Prescott from a group of their experienced peers. Currently, there are 24
mentors guiding 42 mentees in Christchurch. The programme is
Round 3
under the stewardship of Hamish Little, who sent mentees a
FC Twenty 11 v Cashmere document to set their goals. To those who are yet to complete
these, please do so, and send it to both your mentor and
Graeme Henderson Hamish.

NEW LAWS DO NOT YET TAKE EFFECT IN NZ

You may have seen on television (Copa America and Euro 2016
in particular) or heard about the new Laws of the Game. This is
a reminder that these laws do not come into force until the
National League competitions and for the rest of us, next
season (2017). Please continue to enforce the laws that are the
2015/2016 version. You can find a link online HERE.
 UPCOMING REFEREE COURSES
There is one scheduled Club Based Referee Course this
month on 20 July. The CBR Course is designed for those that
want to gain more knowledge of the Laws of the Game, help out
refereeing in their club, and/or where clubs need to provide
qualified Club Based Referees, as part of the Mandatory
requirements.

Click HERE to register for a Club Based Referee Course, or just

go to the Referee Course page on the Mainland Football
website to check out more about courses CLICK HERE.

You can also watch an introductory video, featuring current NZ

FIFA Referee, Anna-Marie Keighley HERE. Anna-Marie was
Simon Myers running in the background on appointed to referee a FIFA Womens World Cup semi-final in
a WMPL match. [Photo: Waimak United] 2015, between Japan and England.

Laws of the Game Snapshot

CHRISTCHURCH
Email wayne.stapley@mainlandfootball.co.nz for more
information on any of these courses.

Introductory Referees (Club Based Referee) Course

LAW 16: THE GOAL KICK
Date: Wednesday 20 July
PROCEDURE Time: 6pm-10pm
Venue: English Park (127 Cranford Street)
The ball can be kicked
anywhere in the Goal Area.
The kicker cannot touch the
ball again until it has been
NELSON AND MARLBOROUGH CONTACTS
touched by another player.
The ball is not in play until it Email cobeldick_family@hotmail.com (Nelson).
directly leaves the penalty
area. If not, then it is a Email mosbaker@clear.net.nz (Marlborough)
retake.

Opponents must stay outside

the Penalty Area until the ball
is in play.
 (L-R) Darren Sundborn, Ben OConnell, and Cameron
Gruschow warming up at their MPL match between
Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit. [Photo: Iain Glover]

(L-R) Vicki Stark, Brent Wilson, and Owen Wylie, with some
keen ball kids in the foreground at Fosters Park for their CCL
match between Selwyn and Christchurch United. [Photed
Selwyn United]

Nick Burnett observing an upcoming challenge at Ilam Fields.

[Photo: UC Football]

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