27 Teachers, Mentors and Student Leaders Complete Basic FIFA Futsal Officiating Training

FundLife successfully trained 27 teachers, mentors, and student leaders through the “Fair Play, Clear Calls: Essential Futsal Officiating Skills” sessions held on August 27–28, 2025 at the Dulag Town Plaza, Dulag, Leyte, and on August 29–30, 2025, at the SBM Hub of Sagkahan National High School, Tacloban City.

The training aimed to prepare educators and mentors to understand the understanding the fundamentals of futsal rules and refereeing, enabling them to support their players during matches and assist in officiating local tournaments. Participants were introduced to FIFA’s futsal rulebook, referee roles, and the structure of the game.

Hands-on exercises allowed participants to practice referee signals, call fouls and misconduct, and apply correct positioning on the court. By the end of the sessions, attendees gained confidence in managing real-game situations and ensuring safety, fairness, and respect during play. Organized in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Tacloban Division and partner schools in Dulag, the initiative also responded to concerns from teachers who are often assigned as futsal coaches during local competitions despite having limited knowledge of the game. The program gave teachers,  youth mentors and student leaders the skills to view futsal from a referee’s perspective, building their capacity to officiate and support their peers with discipline and respect both on and off the court.

Student leader Nina from Cabacungan National High School said the training gave her a deeper appreciation of the referee’s role: "It was exciting to explore the futsal court and understand fouls and misconduct. The most valuable lesson for me was learning the roles and responsibilities of a referee, especially in maintaining discipline."

From a teacher’s perspective, Teacher Ma. Lanie C. Villamor from Antonio Balmes National High School highlighted how the sessions improved her understanding of the game: "Applying what I learned during this training helps me understand the sport better. I found it fascinating to learn about the importance of everyone’s roles on the court."

Meanwhile, FundLife Youth Mentor Kenneth Villalino emphasized how the training built confidence among mentors: "This training was a fantastic opportunity to deepen our knowledge of futsal, especially on the technical side. Now, we feel confident to officiate matches even in the absence of FundLife Coaches."

 The sessions were facilitated by Coach John Rex P. Acuin, a faculty member and Football/Futsal Coach from Sagkahan National High School, and a member of the DepEd Football Referees Association, with support from FundLife Youth Mentors.

With 27 new referees and mentors trained, schools in Dulag and Tacloban are now better equipped to organize safe and fair futsal matches, strengthening grassroots sports while instilling discipline and respect among young players.