Guest speaker, Kevin covered a session on player and conflict management, drawing on his own experiences and how to overcome potential issues; a fantastic insight into Premier League refereeing.

The session started by breaking off into groups and discussing on and off field influences and the warning signs to look out for. This then flowed into player management and controlling yourself when it comes to approaching any conflict, leading onto how and when to use humour on the pitch.

Kevin is also involved in The FA Referee Development Programme (FA RDP) in Derbyshire, so an analysis took place on some of Derbyshire's FA RDP referees and how they use their body language, the importance of getting it right and the effect it has on the perception of the referee.

The evening came to a close with Kevin discussing the best cooling down strategies and top tips to defuse any confrontational issues on the pitch. Referees of all ages and levels were able to learn something to help them improve on their next game. 

The Erewash Valley would like to once again thank Kevin Friend for taking the time to come and deliver the session.

The next Erewash Valley RA meeting is on Thursday 10th December, 7:30pm-9:30pm for the Christmas meeting where there will be a festive quiz and buffet. All referees are welcome.