English officer Chris Kavanagh considers his latest UEFA Youth League project a career success.
Chris Kavanagh sees his appointment as referee of the UEFA Youth League not only as an ideal opportunity to gain valuable professional experience, but also to use his skills to take advantage of the opportunity for young players.
Kavanagh looks to the prospect of directing tomorrow’s stars in Tuesday’s big match between Benfica and Real Madrid at the Colovray Stadium in Nyon.
“I am proud to have been selected,” says the 34-year-old Manchester player, who began refereeing at thirteen and climbed the pyramid to a high-pressure officer. Fast environment of the English Premier League.
“This is a vital day for me and the entire arbitration team, it’s a vital step in our career, and it’s up to us to get it right that day.”
Kavanagh and his compatriots, assistants Daniel Cook and Sian Massey, and fourth-year official David Coote, are also well aware of their key role as “mentors” of young players in the final draw.
“It’s very important that we also help players throughout the game,” he said. “It’s a wonderful pleasure for them, they’re still learning the game. Of course, our main task is to arbitrate but, where possible, we can act as ‘educators’ by reminding players to show respect to referees and the other team. . “
Kavanagh, who still lives in the area of his home, began refereeing when his coach begged him to take a course when he was still young. “He basically told me that my brain and feet didn’t coordinate as well as a player! So he told me about this arbitration course. I felt like I had nothing to lose and would inform me more about the game and its legislation.” in any case. I took the course, refereeed my first game and never looked back … »
Impressive progress in his career has led Kavanagh from local league assignments to English design to the Football League and, despite everything, to the top, to the Premier League, where he made his debut in 2017. His FIFA foreign badge followed in 2019.
“When I started refereeing Football League games in England, I saw this as an opportunity I shouldn’t waste,” he says. “It was a time to learn, to expand, and to progress. I felt it was time to take my arbitration and my paintings even harder seriously. When I became a Premier League referee, I was extremely happy with what I had achieved, not only for me, but also for my circle of relatives and others who helped me along the way.”
Among the many attributes needed to be a more sensible referee, Kavanagh has worked on calm as a key priority. “A lot of things happen around you, a lot of things happen in the environment, and if you allow yourself to square yourself in situations, it’s easy to lose focus,” he says.
“I think it’s more productive to take a step back and remind yourself that you’re there to be at an index of such conditions: if you can maintain your composure and concentration when the stress is high, it will help you find the right resolution. Do. Take. “
Howard Webb, the Englishman who has had a match rate at the highest national and foreign levels, adding up the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup finals, has been a special role-playing style in Kavanagh’s career. “I was more sensible at their game when I went through the ranks of referees,” he says. “The total package I had – to handle the players, their movements on the field, how he behaved – were things he admired.
The crusader enthusiast, golfer and psychology book reader says the absence of spectators in Premier League matches has not reduced the degrees of intensity on the course. “Of course, he’d like the enthusiasts to be there, they’re on the drama,” he says. “But I found that the intensity hasn’t changed at all, the matches are very competitive, of the best quality and fast.”
The team’s total concentration and paintings will be on the calendar at Colovray on Tuesday. “I, Dan and Sian officiated as a team, so we know how to paint together, and I know David very well,” Kavanagh says.
“There may be some nerves, honestly, but let’s prepare calmly for the game. We may not allow the emotion of the instance to take over us, we will simply be looking for the game. Then there will be time to savor the good fortune of the arbitration of a European final.”
Finally, what recommendation would Chris Kavanagh give to a young user who, as he did at 13, needs to review the arbitration? “Go ahead! Don’t regret it later thinking, “I’ve done it.” If you think” Should I? “Array … then do it!
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