WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) will begin its third referee training course of the year on September 28, with a particular effort to attract more women into refereeing.
According to the FFK, there are currently too few female referees, and the federation wants to increase their participation as it continues developing officials for Curaçao’s football competitions.
The course is open to both women and men from the age of 15. Participants will be trained to officiate matches in several FFK competitions, including youth, women’s and men’s leagues.
Beyond increasing the number of local referees, the FFK is also looking for candidates with the potential to advance to the international level. The federation hopes to identify and develop officials who could become eligible for placement on the FIFA international referees list within three years.
The training program will run from September 28 through October 26, when participants will take their final examination.
Passing the examination will not immediately result in a diploma. Successful participants must first complete a six-month internship, providing them with practical experience officiating matches before receiving their qualification.
The training itself is free, although applicants must pay an XCG 10 registration fee.
Registration remains open through September 23 and can be completed through the FFK’s refereeing department.
With the new course, the federation is seeking not only to expand its pool of qualified match officials but also to create a pathway for Curaçao referees, particularly women and younger candidates, to eventually officiate at higher levels of the sport.