Doha: Aspire Academy, in collaboration with the Refereeing Department of the Qatar Football Association (QFA), on Monday launched an application for referees, aimed at advancing the physical and coaching performance of elite referees through cutting-edge technological tools.
According to Qatar News Agency, Chairman of the Referees Committee of QFA, Hani Taleb Balan, emphasized that this move is a significant moment in the path of developing Qatari refereeing, suggesting that the application offers real added value for referees and manifests the fact that leveraging technology in serving football matters most.
This application will make a clear difference in terms of coaching and performance, especially as it provides referees with all essential tools required throughout their careers, Balan highlighted, emphasizing that belief in this technology and investing in it properly are fundamental factors in achieving the intended advancement.
Aspire Academy's Director General, Ivan Bravo, suggested that the operational nature of referees and the overwhelming pressures they encounter on the pitch require constant support. He noted that the application will be very beneficial for them, as the academy works to build a full data and knowledge archive with the objective of imparting these experiences to future generations and ensuring development sustainability.
Director of Football Performance and Science at Aspire Academy, Professor Valter di Salvo, presented the application and provided a full explanation of everything related to it.
Having been developed by the Academy's Football Performance and Science Department and Information Technology Department, the application has been professionally designed to meet the individual requirements of every referee, as referees can instantly access their personal data and performance.
The app is equipped with video clips of matches that include footage of referees recorded while matches are ongoing, alongside physical performance data during matches, which are literal indications that help calibrate match requirements and maintain their flow.
In addition, the app showcases training data, as referees can present comments on their physical status, something that virtually assists fitness trainers in rescheduling training classes in a way that best suits the individual requirements of every single referee.
The app integrates specialized performance testing results and body composition assessments conducted at Aspire Academy, enabling referees to track their individual and continuous long-term development based on precise scientific principles.
Overall, this application clearly materializes the commitment of the Academy and QFA to harnessing cutting-edge technologies and sports sciences in augmenting the refereeing system and promoting its performance in alignment with best global practices, and ultimately enhances football stature in Qatar across a variety of stages.