Football Federation SA is pleased to announce that its match officials will be using Communications Equipment for the 2013 South Australian Premier League season.

The initiative marks the first time technology of this kind has been used in SA and is a result of a partnership between FFSA and the Soccer SA Referees Federation Branch.

The technology will see improved communication on the pitch between the referee and the assistant referees who will each wear a vest which contains a receiver and transmitter.

Referees will have an open microphone while assistant referees will have a push-to-talk button and all three officials will have an air-tube earpiece.

The system will allow the officials to communicate better and improve the decision making amongst the officials.

Referee assessors will also be linked into the communication equipment, allowing them to listen to the match-day communication between match officials and assist with feedback in their Officials Match Report.

FFSA CEO Michael Carter said he was looking forward to seeing the new technology implemented in the 2013 Premier League campaign.

“We strive to use the best technology possible and this initiative will continue to see the level and professionalism of refereeing in this state develop further,” he said.

“We must also pay tribute to the Soccer SA Referees Federation Branch whose contribution has helped make this possible.”

Soccer SA Referees Federation Branch Chairman Herb Clarke was equally excited with the initiative for 2013.

“The Soccer SA Referees Federation Branch is pleased to be the initial sponsors of this innovative system for match officials,” he said.

“We are positive the technology will benefit all match officials and lift the standard of refereeing in South Australia.”