The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in collaboration with Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), recently ran an intensive three-day technical and sports-science workshop for match officials preparing for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2025-26 season. The course held from 24–26 October 2025 in Mumbai aimed to sharpen on-field decision-making, update referees on current Laws of the Game, and build competency in injury prevention and match-day medical coordination.
Over 23 women match officials from across India took part in the programme, representing multiple AIFF centres. The workshop combined classroom theory with on-pitch practical sessions: referees reviewed match situations, practiced positioning and advantage play, and participated in simulated scenarios to improve real-time judgment under pressure. Medical briefings focused on recognizing common injuries, concussion protocols and managing player welfare during matches, an increasingly important part of modern officiating.
Led by Maria Rebello & Uvena Fernandes, the course featured experienced instructors including the AIFF’s Chief Refereeing Officer and course directors who brought international best practices into the syllabus. The interactive format encouraged officials to discuss difficult calls, use video analysis to break down key moments, and apply sports-science principles to recovery and match fitness. RFYS provided logistical and programmatic support, reflecting its wider push to professionalise women’s football infrastructure in India.
This workshop forms part of a broader RFYS-AIFF collaboration to upskill female match officials nationwide. Earlier in 2025 the Reliance Foundation announced a series of women referees workshops intended to empower more than 170 match officials through regional training hubs, a move aimed at strengthening referee pipelines from grassroots to top domestic competitions. The Mumbai workshop is a practical follow-through of that nationwide capacity-building effort.
The timing of the workshop is strategic, improved referee education helps raise the standard of competition in the IWL and supports player safety as the league grows in intensity and visibility. For the referees themselves, such programmes offer a clear pathway for career development from state leagues to national fixtures and potentially international assignments. AIFF and RFYS emphasised that continuous education, combined with sports-science backing, is critical to producing match officials who can keep pace with the tactical and physical evolution of the women’s game.
Stakeholders welcomed the initiative. AIFF framed the workshop as a step toward consistent officiating standards across the IWL, while RFYS described it as part of its commitment to holistic development not just for players but for referees, coaches and support staff who together shape a professional ecosystem for women’s football in India. With further regional workshops already planned, the initiative seeks to expand the pool of competent female match officials, improving both the quality and fairness of competition at all levels.
As the IWL 2025-26 season approaches, this RFYS-backed referee training sets a practical benchmark better prepared match officials, stronger player welfare practices, and a more professional on-field environment, all foundational for the continued growth of women’s football in India.