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

On the second day of pre-season, and much like what happened last year, the FC Porto B team players took part in a training session dedicated to refereeing and the laws of the game, led by Bertino Miranda, an advisor and instructor in this field. “A large number of the youngsters came from the under-19s and under-17s, where there was no VAR,” explained the official, who covered the “various changes affecting the game,” including the “effort 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 regarding 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, a plan is drawn up for all age groups, from the professionals, with whom we started today, 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 youngsters 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 also 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 affecting the game. There is a push against time-wasting, to increase effective playing time, and there is also the introduction of a countdown on throw-ins. There is also the issue of the substitution protocol, under which players may have to stay off the pitch for one minute. There is also the matter 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“At the video refereeing level, 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 can also review an incorrectly shown second yellow card, where a team could be left at a numerical disadvantage unfairly. It can also review mistaken identity involving players who are wrongly cautioned or sent off. From this season onwards, VAR will be able to correct these situations, and it is important that all players know this.”

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