Education, Refereeing & Technical Programs

EDUCATION, REFEREEING & TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

Football Skating World Cup 2027

Federation International Football Skating - FIFS

Education, refereeing development and technical programmes are essential components of the Football Skating World Cup and the long-term international development of Football Skating.

Federation International Football Skating - FIFS may organize, approve or require educational, technical and professional-development programmes before, during and after the World Cup.

These programmes may be delivered in cooperation with IPTC Organization, acting as the authorized strategic and operational partner of FIFS for education, certification, accreditation, technical development and professional training.

All official programmes remain subject to FIFS authority, technical approval, quality control and institutional supervision.

Purpose of the Programmes

Official programmes may include or address:

Improve the professional standard of Football Skating worldwide;
Prepare qualified referees, coaches and technical officials;
Establish consistent international competition standards;
Support the development of national federations;
Protect athlete safety and competition integrity;
Improve understanding of the official FIFS FUTINS Laws of the Game;
Prepare officials for World Cup duties;
Develop future technical leaders;
Create a structured international certification pathway;
Support the sustainable growth of all official FIFS disciplines.

Programme Categories

Official programmes may include or address:

International Referee Education;
Referee Certification and Revalidation;
Coach Education;
Technical Director Training;
Match Commissioner Training;
Table Referee and Score Table Training;
Competition Management Education;
National Federation Technical Development;
Laws of the Game Seminars;
Safeguarding and Athlete Protection;
Ethics and Integrity Education;
Medical and Safety Awareness;
Event Operations Training;
Schools and Universities Development;
Junior and Women's Development;
Technical Workshops for new disciplines;
Leadership and Governance Education;
Online and hybrid education;
Practical court-based assessment.

Authority of FIFS

FIFS retains final authority over:

Programme approval;
Educational content;
Technical standards;
Instructor appointments;
Examination requirements;
Certification criteria;
Referee classification;
Coach and technical-official eligibility;
Accreditation requirements;
Suspension or withdrawal of certification;
Recognition of national education programmes;
Interpretation of the Laws of the Game.

No national federation, academy, private organization or individual may issue an official FIFS qualification without written authorization.

Role of IPTC Organization

IPTC Organization may support FIFS in:

Programme design and delivery;
Instructor appointment and coordination;
Registration and applicant communication;
Education administration;
Examination and assessment systems;
Certification;
Accreditation;
Digital learning platforms;
Seminar organization;
Training materials;
Quality control;
Record management;
International technical missions;
Professional development programmes.

Certificates issued through the approved FIFS-IPTC system are valid only when they carry the required authorization, identification and verification.

World Cup Education Programme

The World Cup Education Programme may be conducted before and during the competition and may include:

Pre-event online education;
Official technical briefing;
Referee seminar;
Coach and Team Manager briefing;
Match Commissioner meeting;
Score Table training;
Medical and safety meeting;
Safeguarding briefing;
Media and communications protocol;
Venue and accreditation orientation;
Practical court familiarization;
Post-event evaluation.

Attendance may be mandatory for designated delegation members and competition officials.

Referee Education

Official programmes may include or address:

FIFS FUTINS Laws of the Game;
Court positioning;
Movement and skating technique;
Decision-making;
Advantage and game control;
Yellow, Red and Black Card procedures;
Team Fouls and Short Penalties;
Substitution control;
Goalkeeper actions;
Player and bench management;
Radio communication;
Score Table coordination;
Referee signals;
Match reporting;
Disciplinary reporting;
Injury and emergency procedures;
Ethics, neutrality and conflict of interest.

All referees appointed to an official FIFS World Cup must complete the required education and technical preparation.

Referee Practical Assessment

Referees may be required to complete:

Written examination;
Online examination;
Physical and skating assessment;
Court-positioning test;
Laws interpretation assessment;
Video decision analysis;
Radio-communication assessment;
Practical match evaluation;
Fitness and mobility test;
Final technical interview.

Successful completion of education does not automatically guarantee World Cup appointment. Final appointment remains subject to performance, fitness, experience, neutrality, conduct, communication ability, availability and FIFS approval.

Referee Classification and Development

FIFS may establish progressive referee categories such as:

National Development Referee;
National Referee;
International Candidate Referee;
International Referee;
Senior International Referee;
Referee Instructor;
Referee Assessor;
Chief Referee.

Promotion may require education, examination, match experience, national activity, international assessment, professional conduct, continued participation and periodic revalidation.

Participants at an IPTC and FIFS international refereeing seminar

World Cup Referee Seminar

An official World Cup Referee Seminar may be organized before the competition and may include:

Review of the Laws of the Game;
Event-specific technical instructions;
Court inspection;
Radio-system training;
Score Table coordination;
Practical positioning drills;
Video analysis;
Fitness assessment;
Match-allocation procedures;
Ethics and confidentiality;
Emergency protocols;
Final examination.

Failure to attend or pass the required seminar may result in removal from the referee list.

Referee Instructors and Assessors

Authorized instructors and assessors may be responsible for:

Delivering official education;
Evaluating referees;
Reviewing match performance;
Conducting examinations;
Issuing technical recommendations;
Supporting referee development;
Reporting serious weaknesses;
Recommending promotion, revalidation or suspension.

Referee instructors and assessors must remain neutral and professionally independent.

Coach Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Introduction to Football Skating;
Technical skating skills;
Ball control on skates;
Passing and movement;
Team tactics;
Goalkeeping;
Match preparation;
Athlete safety;
Junior coaching;
Mixed-gender team management;
Physical preparation;
Recovery;
Ethics and safeguarding;
Competition regulations;
Bench conduct;
Communication with referees;
Injury prevention;
Talent identification.

Coach Certification

FIFS and IPTC may establish structured coach-certification levels. Each level may include:

Theory;
Practical training;
Examination;
Teaching assessment;
Match analysis;
Safeguarding education;
Professional-conduct requirements;
Continuing education.

Completion of one level does not automatically authorize a coach to act at every competition level. FIFS may require minimum certification levels for national teams, Junior teams, World Cup participation and official development programmes.

National Team Coach Requirements

A national team coach may be required to provide:

Valid official certification;
Coaching history;
National federation authorization;
Safeguarding clearance where applicable;
Medical and emergency-awareness training;
Agreement to follow FIFS regulations;
Attendance at the official World Cup technical briefing.

A coach who has not completed the required education may have restricted technical-area access or may be refused official accreditation.

Team Manager and Head of Delegation Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Team registration;
Match documentation;
Accreditation;
Protest procedure;
Disciplinary rules;
Competition schedule;
Transport and venue access;
Medical protocols;
Safeguarding;
Media obligations;
Ceremonies;
Official communication procedures.

They are responsible for ensuring that the entire delegation understands and follows FIFS requirements.

Table Referee and Score Table Training

Official programmes may include or address:

Match timing;
Score recording;
Team Fouls;
Short Penalties;
Card records;
Substitution records;
Player eligibility;
Official Score Sheets;
Radio communication;
Match interruption procedures;
Incident reporting;
Coordination with the Main Referee;
Final result verification.

Only authorized and trained persons may work at the official Score Table.

Match Commissioner Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Venue readiness;
Team and referee arrival;
Match documentation;
Accreditation control;
Competition regulations;
Technical inspections;
Security coordination;
Medical readiness;
Match reporting;
Protest and disciplinary procedures;
Ceremony and protocol requirements;
Emergency decision support.

The Match Commissioner acts as the official operational link between FIFS, the refereeing team, the Host Organization and participating teams.

Technical Director Programmes

Official programmes may include or address:

National technical planning;
Coach-development systems;
Referee-development systems;
Athlete pathways;
Junior and schools programmes;
National competition structure;
Talent identification;
Technical reporting;
International participation preparation;
Implementation of FIFS standards;
Long-term federation development.

FIFS may require national federations to appoint an approved Technical Director as their programmes develop.

Laws of the Game Education

Official Laws education may be mandatory for:

Referees;
Referee instructors;
Coaches;
Technical Directors;
Match Commissioners;
Competition officials;
National federation representatives.

Only interpretations officially issued or approved by FIFS are valid. Informal national interpretations may not replace the official international Laws.

Technical Workshops

Official programmes may include or address:

Court design;
Playing surfaces;
Walls and protective netting;
Equipment standards;
Ball specifications;
Goalkeeping;
Tactical development;
Match analysis;
Referee technology;
Scoreboard systems;
Athlete-performance monitoring;
Injury prevention;
Broadcast and event production;
Development of new disciplines.

Practical Training Sessions

Official programmes may include or address:

Referee positioning;
Skating movement;
Whistle and signal technique;
Radio communication;
Match simulations;
Team-Foul situations;
Short Penalty procedures;
Substitution control;
Bench management;
Emergency situations;
Practical coaching;
Technical demonstrations.

Online Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Recorded lessons;
Live seminars;
Digital manuals;
Laws updates;
Online examinations;
Video-analysis assignments;
Technical forums;
Certification renewal;
Pre-World Cup preparation.

Online completion may be combined with mandatory in-person practical assessment.

Examinations and Assessment

Official programmes may include or address:

Written examination;
Multiple-choice examination;
Oral interview;
Practical demonstration;
Video analysis;
Teaching assessment;
Match evaluation;
Portfolio or activity report;
Attendance requirement;
Professional-conduct assessment.

FIFS may establish minimum passing standards and may require reassessment where performance is insufficient.

Participants holding official certificates after an international seminar

Certification and Accreditation

Official programmes may include or address:

Certificate of Participation;
Certificate of Completion;
Professional Qualification Certificate;
Referee Licence;
Coach Licence;
Technical Official Accreditation;
Instructor Certificate;
Assessor Appointment;
Event-specific Accreditation.

Certification and event accreditation are separate. A valid certificate does not automatically guarantee appointment or event access.

Certificate Validity and Renewal

Certificates may be:

Permanent validity;
Fixed-term validity;
Annual activity requirement;
Revalidation;
Event-specific validity;
Continuing education.

Renewal may require updated education, examination, match activity, ethics compliance, payment of applicable fees, national federation confirmation and FIFS approval.

Suspension or Withdrawal of Certification

Official programmes may include or address:

Serious technical incompetence;
Fraud or false documentation;
Inactivity;
Ethical misconduct;
Disciplinary violation;
Safeguarding concerns;
Abuse of authority;
Unauthorized use of FIFS materials;
Misrepresentation of qualification;
Failure to complete revalidation.

Recognition of National Programmes

Recognition may depend on:

Approved curriculum;
Authorized instructors;
Official registration;
Quality-control procedures;
Examination standards;
Use of official materials;
Submission of participant records;
Certification through the approved FIFS-IPTC system.

National federations may not independently alter official technical content or issue unapproved international qualifications.

Instructor Eligibility

Official programmes may include or address:

Advanced technical qualification;
International experience;
Teaching ability;
Ethical standing;
Understanding of FIFS regulations;
Communication skills;
Continuing education;
Formal appointment by FIFS or IPTC under FIFS authority.

No person may publicly present themselves as an official FIFS instructor without written appointment.

Education of National Federations

Official programmes may include or address:

Governance;
Technical development;
Competition management;
Safeguarding;
Ethics;
Financial responsibility;
Athlete registration;
International communication;
Congress and voting responsibilities;
World Cup preparation.

Completion of required education may affect voting rights, licence status, committee eligibility, World Cup participation, recognition level and access to development programmes.

Junior and Safeguarding Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Professional boundaries;
Appropriate communication;
Travel and accommodation safety;
Reporting concerns;
Prevention of abuse;
Parental communication;
Photography and media consent;
Medical and emergency responsibilities;
Anti-bullying principles.

Failure to complete required safeguarding education may result in refusal or withdrawal of accreditation.

Medical and Safety Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Basic first aid;
Concussion awareness;
Skating injuries;
Emergency response;
Hydration;
Heat management;
Recovery;
Safe equipment;
Venue evacuation;
Medical reporting;
Coordination with event medical teams.

Ethics and Integrity Education

Official programmes may include or address:

Respect for referees;
Anti-corruption;
Match manipulation;
Betting restrictions;
Conflicts of interest;
Non-discrimination;
Harassment prevention;
Social media conduct;
Confidentiality;
Reporting duties.

International Technical Missions

Official programmes may include or address:

Coach education;
Referee education;
Federation assessment;
Court and venue inspection;
Schools development;
National competition development;
Talent identification;
Instructor preparation;
World Cup preparation;
Certification programmes.

The scope, authority and financial terms of each mission must be officially approved.

Programme Fees

Fees may vary according to:

Programme level;
Duration;
Country;
Number of participants;
Instructor requirements;
Travel;
Venue;
Materials;
Certification;
Administrative services.

Official fees must be communicated through authorized FIFS or IPTC channels.

Intellectual Property and Training Materials

Official manuals, videos, presentations, examinations, diagrams, educational systems and certification materials may not be, without written authorization:

Copied;
Resold;
Translated;
Modified;
Published;
Recorded;
Used for commercial education;
Distributed online.

A FIFS referee officiating during competition

Quality Control

Official programmes may include or address:

Instructor performance;
Participant feedback;
Examination quality;
Training records;
National programme delivery;
Certificate issuance;
Technical consistency;
Safeguarding compliance;
Use of official materials.

A programme may be suspended, corrected or cancelled if required standards are not maintained.

World Cup Technical Programme

Official programmes may include or address:

Referee arrival and registration;
Referee seminar;
Practical court training;
Technical meeting;
Team Manager meeting;
Coach briefing;
Score Table training;
Match Commissioner briefing;
Venue inspection;
Laws clarification;
Match-allocation meeting;
Daily referee review;
Post-match assessment;
Final technical evaluation;
Certificate or appointment ceremony.

Final dates and times will be published after confirmation of the Host, Venue and Official Match Schedule.

Mandatory Attendance

Official programmes may include or address:

Appointed referees;
Referee instructors and assessors;
Match Commissioners;
Table Referees;
Team Managers;
Head Coaches;
Technical Directors;
Other persons designated by FIFS.

Failure to attend may result in refusal of accreditation, removal from appointment, technical-area suspension, ineligibility for certification or disciplinary review.

Official Language

English shall normally be the official language of international education and technical programmes. Interpretation or translated materials may be provided where approved. Where different versions conflict, the official English technical version shall prevail.

Final Authority

FIFS retains final authority over:

Programme interpretation;
Technical content;
Certification;
Appointments;
Examinations;
Referee classification;
Coach eligibility;
Recognition of national programmes;
World Cup technical requirements.

FIFS may issue additional technical circulars, education standards, instructor guidelines, examination procedures and event-specific requirements.

Current Programme Status

Detailed information concerning World Cup 2027 education, referee seminars, technical meetings, qualification requirements, registration procedures and programme schedules will be published after final confirmation of the Host Country, Venue and Official Event Programme.

education@footballskating.com

referees@footballskating.com

worldcup@footballskating.com

Education, Refereeing & Technical Programs