Future of New Zealand refereeing at Kanga Cup
By: Ashlee Buckley
The Canberra Times 15/7/09
The Kanga Cup is normally used to sharpen the skills of its young players, however a group of New Zealand referees are using this week’s tournament to develop their own game.
Auckland referee coach Paul Smith brought the youngsters to the Cup to boost their experience.
One of his protegees, Nick Van de Sar, has been refereeing for a few years, but this is his first Kanga Cup.
Van de Sar said Smith, as well as coaching, played a support role.
“[He provides] reinforcement. Especially when I go through some of the tougher things,” he said.
“He’s been FIFA accredited, so that was my inspiration.”
The pair met in Auckland where Smith develops and recruits up-andcoming referees to bring to Canberra.
Smith sees the affiliation with the Kanga Cup as a long-term venture.
“Three years ago I was sent by New Zealand Football to the Cup as a referee coach,” he says.
“Then that stopped. Now I’m with Auckland Football, so we just followed it on. This is my third year now, and I’ve brought three referees with including this trip. We hope to continue that on a yearly basis.”
He said coining to Australia gave referees the chance to officiate continually for a week, in a different environment, and control different styles of play.
Smith said Auckland Football had links to clubs in Brisbane and uses them as a stepping stone in referees’ development.
Developing referees attend a New Zealand academy before going to the Kanga Cup.
They then go to a second academy in New Zealand, before taking the final step in their development, by refereeing in Brisbane.
Smith enjoys watching his pupils’ development.
“I enjoy seeing the talent of people that are out here, even back home and out here,” he said.
“You can just see so much enthusiasm, so much potential amongst people, and if you can contribute something to help that person progress even slightly, you feel a sense of achievement.”