The Canadian Soccer Association’s annual pre-season camp for National List Referees and Assistant Referees will take place this 13-14 March in Toronto, ON. Thirty-one Canadian officials will take part in the weekend which includes fitness testing, education sessions, and an awards recognition evening.

“The Annual National List pre-season camp provides our match officials the opportunity to refocus in preparation for the forthcoming season,” said Canadian Soccer Association Director of Refereeing Joe Guest. “It also provides them with the occasion to recognize the significant achievements of Canadian officials during the previous season.”

From the group of 31 national-list officials taking part in the weekend, seven of them are expected to receive their National List badge for the first time. Those seven are Referees David Barrie, Carrie Belyea and Alain Ruch and Assistant Referees Marco Arruda, Marie-Josée Charbonneau, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho, and Christian Palavicino. Referees and Assistant Referees will only be awarded their 2010 badges after they successfully complete their fitness tests, which is a pre-requisite for officiating in professional soccer.

Canadian officials on the National List operate in professional soccer on a regular basis throughout the year. Officials appointed to the National List receive their national badge after completing their fitness test on an annual basis. Also present at the National List pre-season camp are members of the Canadian Soccer Association’s Referees Committee.