Ramsey: Referee Recruitment Disappointing
CONCACAF Refereeing Development coordinator Malcolm Ramsey expressed frustration after only two of 10 people registered turned up for a BVI referee recruiting workshop. While praising FIFA hopeful Guillaume Parkins and existing FIFA referee James Ramprashad, Ramsey warned that fitness levels among local referees must improve for BVI officials to reach regional tournaments.
CONCACAF Refereeing Development coordinator Malcolm Ramsey has voiced disappointment with the turnout and fitness levels of referees in the British Virgin Islands after a recent recruitment workshop produced just two attendees out of 10 registered names. Ramsey said he spotted Kilyn La Plante training at the A.
Shirley Grounds, asked if she had ever refereed and invited her to join the workshop. La Plante and Gerald McKelly were the only recruits to take part in the introductory sessions designed for people who have never refereed before. "Numbers are disappointing to say the least. I expected more people," Ramsey told The Island Sun, noting that several people apparently put their names down but backed out.
The shortfall frustrated Ramsey, who has been conducting refereeing training in the BVI over the years and had hoped to expand the territory’s pool of officials. Ramsey said time constraints limit classroom instruction during the BVI course. Although it is nominally a five-day programme, he typically gets only about three hours on weeknights and a little more time on weekends because matches are being played concurrently.
That reduces opportunities for practical coaching and in-game assessment. Fitness is the main concern highlighted by Ramsey. He praised Guillaume Parkins for passing his first FIFA fitness test and for refereeing at the CONCACAF U15 Boys Group A tournament over the summer, calling Parkins a "good sign" with potential to become a FIFA referee in 2026.
Ramsey also noted that James Ramprashad is a current FIFA referee representing the territory. "If they’re not fit, they won’t be able to keep up with the men’s game," Ramsey said. He pointed to the differing pace of youth tournaments — citing Kenesha Chesney’s assignment to the U14 Girls competition as relatively slow — and warned that officials who lack fitness would struggle at higher-level CONCACAF or FIFA assignments.
Ramsey urged regular, active training in the BVI, saying there is no reason not to have weekly sessions and that even one recruit justifies training. He recalled that in his native Nevis the pool has reached about 15 referees at a time and said similar development in the BVI would open more regional opportunities for local officials.
For BVI football, improving recruitment and fitness of referees is key to raising officiating standards, keeping pace with the game domestically and creating pathways for officials to represent the territory at CONCACAF and FIFA competitions.
Primary source: Island Sun