27 Oct 2024
Aspire Academy’s ongoing cooperation with the Qatar Football Association (QFA) continues, with the latest project supporting the nation's referees.
The Academy’s Football Performance and Science has launched a series of lectures and workshops for the match officials, covering nutrition, running technique, and other sports science support.
In early August, all of the QFA’s referees attended a performance assessment held by experts from Aspire Academy in order to gather relevant data on how best to help the officials.
The first in the series of lectures was held at Aspire, with some opening remarks from Professor Valter di Salvo, the Director of the Academy’s Football Performance and Science department.
There was also a welcome speech from Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, Executive Committee member of Qatar Football Association and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Stars League.
A total of 50 referees attended the afternoon session, which featured an introduction to assessing optimum running technique by Aspire Academy’s Head of Football Biomechanics Sami Kuitunen.
That was followed by Marcus Hannon, Aspire and the QFA’s Lead Performance Nutritionist, who offered an introduction to nutrition, body composition and supplements.
Further sessions on topics linked to nutrition – fueling, recovery and hydration – will be held between now and March.
Workshops and lectures for the other subjects will also be held at dates yet to be confirmed over the coming months.
The support for the QFA’s referees is just one of the areas that Aspire Academy and the Association collaborate on to help develop and improve football in Qatar.