New Zealand Football and the New Zealand Football Foundation have organised a campaign to provided new referees with a new green kit to get them started. The idea is that the shirt indicates that the wearer is a new referee, who is being supported and needs to be treated with care. Positive support is to be encouraged. 

The Green Shirt Respect Campaign has the following objectives: 

• To recruit and develop 20 new referees per Federation
• Address the issue of dissent and abuse directed at new referees
• Provide sideline support and mentors to new referees
• Improve the image of the game
• Reduce/remove cost as a barrier to becoming a referee
• To provide more competent referees for more games

These shirts have been worn throughout the Mainland Football region by new referees so keep an eye out for them this season. 

Zack Killick is one of the young referees in the region. Zack got into refereeing because of his Dad and Grandad who are/were referees.

Zack said, "I am starting to enjoy it more as I become more confident with it and starting to learn new rules I wouldn't have known while by just playing football."

"If I am to stick at refereeing then I would like to get to the highest level I can, which is a reason for me starting so young."

To find out more about the NZF & NZFF Green Shirt Respect Campaign, click here.
Article added: Thursday 13 May 2021