By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

THE Northern Mariana Islands Football Association will hold its second series of clinics for would-be referees in preparation for the upcoming season of the youth and women’s leagues and the ongoing matches in the men’s league.
NMIFA women’s league board member and referee committee member Catherine Perry Anderson said the clinic will again be conducted by Guam Football Association referee director George Stewart.
“This is a great opportunity for parents of football players or players themselves to get first-level certification as a referee and to give (something) back to the game,” Anderson said.
The clinic will run from Jan. 5 to 7 and will be held at Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Claret Restaurant.
Referee committee director Dean Tenorio said they are encouraging everyone interested in volunteering as a referee to take the opportunity to participate in the quality training sessions.
“Please pass this along to coaches and experienced players who you think could benefit from this excellent training program,” Tenorio said in an email.
Tenorio added referees who have taken the first session are welcome to refresh their memory in the advanced class while the introductory course will be for newcomers.
The clinic is free and the NMIFA wants the participants’ commitment to complete the program in order to receive their training certificates.
The clinic opens on Friday, Jan. 5, with a classroom session at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the program starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday’s course will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a field session. An optional match between the referees will be held and will end with a classroom review and test.
The NMIFA held its first clinic from Aug. 11 to 14 last year also at Fiesta Resort & Spa where 20 participated in the three-day clinic.