Rector Kutluhan Attends the “Referee Academy” Cooperation Protocol Signing Ceremony between TFF and Universities
15.05.2024
Pamukkale University (PAU) Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan attended the signing ceremony of the cooperation protocols for the development of the training system implemented by the “Referee Academy”, which was established by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to train qualified referees and referee trainers across the country, and to deliver the trainings to more people.
The signing ceremony was held at the Orhan Saka Conference Hall at Riva Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities and was attended by TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi, PAU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, Pamukkale University Faculty of Sports Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Yunus Arslan, representatives of Ankara University, Ege University, Gazi University, Marmara University, MHK President Ahmet İbanoğlu, TFF Vice President, Executive Board Member, Club Licensing Affairs and Disabled Federations. Yunus Arslan; representatives of Ankara University, Ege University, Gazi University, Marmara University; Ahmet İbanoğlu, President of MHK; Yusuf Günay, TFF Vice President, Executive Board Member, Board Member in charge of Club Licensing Affairs and Disabled Federations; Müslüm Özmen, TFF Executive Board Member, Board Member in charge of Super League and Süleyman Kocasert, TFF Board Member.
TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi said: “The Referee Academy was established with an up-to-date training approach.”
Speaking at the opening of the signing ceremony, TFF President Büyükekşi stated the following: “Today, we have come together to share another first in Turkish football. The Referee Academy and the cooperation of the Referee Academy with universities, may it be auspicious for Turkish football. Today, the understanding of education has developed and changed. The old way of education, where the educator tells the story and the student listens, is now behind us. FIFA and UEFA have now adopted a practical education approach based on the principles of adult education, with the student at the center. In line with this change, the Referee Academy was established with an up-to-date training approach. It started its activities with an interactive training approach that utilizes all the opportunities of technology and takes refereeing beyond the knowledge of rules and position interpretation. Since referees need to have leadership skills on the field, management modules and trainings that increase athletic performance are also provided at the Referee Academy. Today, there is a serious decrease in the number of referees in the world. New generations do not want to become referees. With efforts to encourage refereeing, the Referee Academy opened 'Candidate Referee Courses' and started referee candidates in their refereeing careers in a short time. With the 'Referee Coaching Project' within the scope of the Referee Academy, Super League referees work one-to-one with referee coaches after the matches. They evaluate the matches they officiate with referee coaches. In this way, they both evaluate their performances in the matches themselves and receive advice from the referee coaches. On the other hand, in the psychotechnical laboratory established at the Referee Academy, referees have the opportunity to measure and evaluate their skills, competencies and personality traits. The scientific data obtained will be decisive in promotions. The Referee Academy consists of layers such as referee training, promotion exams for referees, observers, referee coaches, referee trainers, stakeholder training and promotion system. Today, we are signing a cooperation protocol between the Referee Academy and the sports science faculties of our universities. Within the scope of this protocol, a 'Football Referee Certificate Program' will be opened in universities. Thus, we will have the opportunity to train more qualified referees. We will be able to benefit from the facilities of the sports science faculties of our universities. We will enable the academic staff of our universities to conduct scientific studies on this subject. This cooperation, which we started with Ankara University, Ege University, Gazi University, Marmara University and Pamukkale University Faculties of Sports Sciences, will continue with the participation of new universities. I would like to thank our universities, Referee Academy professionals, board members and TFF professionals who contributed to the realization of the Referee Academy and its cooperation with universities.”
Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan: “We are proud to make significant contributions to the development of this project led by the TFF.”
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan delivered a speech after TFF President Büyükekşi and said the following: “On behalf of my university, I am very happy to take part in this signing ceremony organized to carry out the ‘Football Referee Certificate Program’ under the Referee Academy in cooperation with the Turkish Football Federation and universities. Within the scope of this project, the 'Football Refereeing Certificate Program' will be carried out for our students studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences and cooperation will be provided in many activities to be carried out by the Turkish Football Federation on refereeing. We are proud to have made significant contributions to the development of this project, which is carried out under the leadership of the Turkish Football Federation, by approaching it with excitement and meticulousness from the first day. In this sense, I would like to congratulate the people who worked hard for this project in both institutions.”
Rector Kutluhan: “We have a lot of resources to solve the problems that arise in football or in other fields, as long as we are patient and use science as a guide.”
In this sense, I would like to thank Mr. Mehmet Büyükekşi, President of the Turkish Football Federation, and Mr. Ahmet İbanoğlu, President of the TFF Central Referee Board, for their open attitude towards cooperation with universities. I would also like to state that we have full faith that together we will carry Turkish football refereeing to an important point. On this occasion, I would like to express that we are open to similar collaborations in other fields of football and sports as a university and that these should continue to increase, and I wish the protocol to be beneficial to the football community of our country, I present my regards.”
TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi said: “The Referee Academy was established with an up-to-date training approach.”
Speaking at the opening of the signing ceremony, TFF President Büyükekşi stated the following: “Today, we have come together to share another first in Turkish football. The Referee Academy and the cooperation of the Referee Academy with universities, may it be auspicious for Turkish football. Today, the understanding of education has developed and changed. The old way of education, where the educator tells the story and the student listens, is now behind us. FIFA and UEFA have now adopted a practical education approach based on the principles of adult education, with the student at the center. In line with this change, the Referee Academy was established with an up-to-date training approach. It started its activities with an interactive training approach that utilizes all the opportunities of technology and takes refereeing beyond the knowledge of rules and position interpretation. Since referees need to have leadership skills on the field, management modules and trainings that increase athletic performance are also provided at the Referee Academy. Today, there is a serious decrease in the number of referees in the world. New generations do not want to become referees. With efforts to encourage refereeing, the Referee Academy opened 'Candidate Referee Courses' and started referee candidates in their refereeing careers in a short time. With the 'Referee Coaching Project' within the scope of the Referee Academy, Super League referees work one-to-one with referee coaches after the matches. They evaluate the matches they officiate with referee coaches. In this way, they both evaluate their performances in the matches themselves and receive advice from the referee coaches. On the other hand, in the psychotechnical laboratory established at the Referee Academy, referees have the opportunity to measure and evaluate their skills, competencies and personality traits. The scientific data obtained will be decisive in promotions. The Referee Academy consists of layers such as referee training, promotion exams for referees, observers, referee coaches, referee trainers, stakeholder training and promotion system. Today, we are signing a cooperation protocol between the Referee Academy and the sports science faculties of our universities. Within the scope of this protocol, a 'Football Referee Certificate Program' will be opened in universities. Thus, we will have the opportunity to train more qualified referees. We will be able to benefit from the facilities of the sports science faculties of our universities. We will enable the academic staff of our universities to conduct scientific studies on this subject. This cooperation, which we started with Ankara University, Ege University, Gazi University, Marmara University and Pamukkale University Faculties of Sports Sciences, will continue with the participation of new universities. I would like to thank our universities, Referee Academy professionals, board members and TFF professionals who contributed to the realization of the Referee Academy and its cooperation with universities.”
Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan: “We are proud to make significant contributions to the development of this project led by the TFF.”
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan delivered a speech after TFF President Büyükekşi and said the following: “On behalf of my university, I am very happy to take part in this signing ceremony organized to carry out the ‘Football Referee Certificate Program’ under the Referee Academy in cooperation with the Turkish Football Federation and universities. Within the scope of this project, the 'Football Refereeing Certificate Program' will be carried out for our students studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences and cooperation will be provided in many activities to be carried out by the Turkish Football Federation on refereeing. We are proud to have made significant contributions to the development of this project, which is carried out under the leadership of the Turkish Football Federation, by approaching it with excitement and meticulousness from the first day. In this sense, I would like to congratulate the people who worked hard for this project in both institutions.”
Rector Kutluhan: “We have a lot of resources to solve the problems that arise in football or in other fields, as long as we are patient and use science as a guide.”
In this sense, I would like to thank Mr. Mehmet Büyükekşi, President of the Turkish Football Federation, and Mr. Ahmet İbanoğlu, President of the TFF Central Referee Board, for their open attitude towards cooperation with universities. I would also like to state that we have full faith that together we will carry Turkish football refereeing to an important point. On this occasion, I would like to express that we are open to similar collaborations in other fields of football and sports as a university and that these should continue to increase, and I wish the protocol to be beneficial to the football community of our country, I present my regards.”