PKL: Pro Kabaddi League continues to develop technical officials, trains 38 referees at training camp

Telugu Titans will take on Gujarat Giants in the opening match of Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 in Ahmedabad on December 2.

The referee camp in the Pro Kabaddi League took place in Kolhapur. (Image: PKL)

Kolhapur: The Pro Kabaddi League has not only focused on developing a robust player pool through various initiatives such as Future Kabaddi Heroes, but has also built a fantastic group of technical officials over the last nine years. Just as the players view the Pro Kabaddi League as an aspirational career, the technical officials have also been able to view the league as a suitable career option.
Pro Kabaddi League Technical Director E Prasad Rao identified the need for a high standard of referees for a world-class competition and explained how the organizers created PKL Referee Training Camps.

“Ahead of Season 1, we conducted a coaching course to get the technical officials used to the innovative rule changes such as 30-second raids and do-or-die raids implemented in the Pro Kabaddi League. We selected about thirty officials from among those who conducted the course. More than 100 people attended the workshop, which lasted about a week. This was the first workshop for technical officers of PKL.”

Rao further detailed the changes in referee training programs over the course of the last nine seasons: “We plan to appoint a total of 42 officials for Season 10, while in Season 1 we had a total of 35 officials. for technical officials has changed over the years due to technological advancements in the game. We have had to learn how to use the different cameras at our disposal.”

Building on building the group of technical officials and identifying new talent, the Pro Kabaddi League organized a referee training camp in Kolhapur ahead of the milestone tenth season, which kicks off in December. The camp, in which around 38 officials prepared for season 10, was conducted by E Prasad Rao from November 18 to 29, 2023.

Talking about the preparations of the officials for the tenth season, Rao said, “We conducted three online workshops ahead of the referee training camp in Kolhapur. The referees were divided into two groups: new officials and experienced PKL officials. Through these workshops we have identified ten talented referees. These referees will be performing in PKL for the first time this year.”

When asked about the training camp schedule, the technical director said: “From 6:30 am to 8:30 am, the officials underwent a physical activity to develop their speed, agility and reaction time. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., the officials attended a theory session, during which match situations were analyzed. The final session of the day was then held between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM, during which the referees underwent practical exercises by officiating matches between club teams.”