“It’s vital that all age groups get the same coaching” | OneFootball

On the second day of pre-season, and much like what happened last year, FC Porto’s B team players took part in a training session dedicated to refereeing and the Laws of the Game, led by Bertino Miranda, an adviser and instructor in this area. “A large number of these young players came from the under-19s and under-17s, where there was no VAR,” explained the official, who covered the “various changes with an impact on the game,” including the “fight to increase effective playing time,” while also stressing that it is “essential for the coaching teams and staff to be up to date.”

Preparation for 2026/27“It is essential for the coaching teams and staff to be up to date with the changes to the Laws of the Game. It is important that all of them are prepared for a new season, and only through continuous, ongoing training will they be ready.”

Cross-cutting training, from the youngest age groups to the seniors“At FC Porto there are several age groups, and it is essential that everyone receives the same training. Together with the Youth Development Department, planning is carried out for every age group, from the professionals, with whom we started today, down to the youngest players. In addition to receiving initial training, which is the same for everyone, they will then also receive more specific training as they progress to the final stages of their respective competitions.”

A different reality“A large number of these young players came from the under-19s and under-17s, where there was no VAR. Right there, we already have a major change. FC Porto’s structure seeks to create an identity and an approach in relation to refereeing. It is essential that players value the referee’s role. Besides VAR, these players will encounter a different type of referee in professional football, the best in the country, and, naturally, those referees do not have the same style as the referees who officiate youth competitions.”

More effective playing time“This season there are several changes with an impact on the game. There is a fight against time-wasting, to increase effective playing time, and there is also the introduction of a countdown for throw-ins. There is also the matter of the substitution protocol, under which players may have to remain off the pitch for one minute. There is also the issue of goal kicks, where a countdown will now also apply. It is important for players to be familiar with this.”

Changes to the VAR protocol“As far as video refereeing is concerned, there is an addition to the VAR protocol. The video assistant referee will now have more situations that can be reviewed, namely the issue of corner kicks when they are awarded incorrectly. It will also be able to review an incorrectly shown second yellow card, where a team could be left at a numerical disadvantage unfairly. It can also review cases of mistaken identity involving players who are cautioned or sent off in error. From this season onward, VAR will be able to correct these situations, and it is important that all players know that.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.