On Friday 17th April , the Liverpool Premier League delivered its first Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session for young match officials. Participants were selected by their appointment’s officers based on performance, commitment, and administrative standards—key attributes for progression within the officiating pathway.
The evening commenced with an introduction from Pat Farrel, Chairman of the Liverpool FA Referee Committee, who outlined the purpose of the session and the intended outcomes for those in attendance.
The theoretical component was delivered by Dave Horlick and Joe Pettitt. This session provided participants with a foundational understanding of the assistant referee role, including positional awareness across a range of match scenarios.
Following this, Elliot Bell offered valuable insight into the importance of teamwork within officiating. He emphasised how an effective assistant referee can positively influence the overall performance of the officiating team.
The group then moved onto the 3G pitch for a practical session led by Joe Pettitt, Joe Sconce, and Ciaran Williams. This element focused on core officiating techniques, including signal delivery, movement, and maintaining appropriate positioning during open play.
Participants engaged in a series of practical exercises, including crossover drills designed to reinforce the importance of positioning when judging offside decisions. All officials demonstrated strong progress, with clear and confident signal execution evident by the end of the session.
The evening concluded with closing remarks from Joe Sconce, who highlighted the development opportunities available and reaffirmed the league’s commitment to supporting match officials throughout their progression.
The league extends its sincere thanks to Dave Horlick, Joe Pettitt, Ciaran Williams, and Elliot Bell for their valuable contributions to the session and their ongoing support in future development initiatives.