APF Strengthens Development of Women’s Football Referees
Paraguay.- 30 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Paraguayan Football Association has launched the FIFA RAP Course for Women’s Football Referees, a training programme designed to strengthen the technical and physical preparation of female officials.
The initiative is taking place at APF headquarters and forms part of the FIFA Forward programme, with direct involvement from the association’s Refereeing and Development departments.
Five-Day Programme
The course runs over five days, with its closing session scheduled for Friday 21 August.
The programme combines theoretical content with physical training, providing an integrated development pathway aligned with the current demands of international refereeing.
International FIFA Instructors
Two international FIFA instructors are taking part in the programme.
Peru’s Ana Pérez is responsible for the theoretical sessions.
Uruguay’s Ana Leite is leading the physical training component.
Their involvement brings international expertise and FIFA-aligned methodologies into the development process.
Technical Development
One of the main objectives is to update referees’ technical and regulatory knowledge.
The programme is designed to strengthen interpretation of match situations, refereeing criteria and the tools required to officiate at higher levels of competition.
Physical Preparation
Physical preparation is also a central component of the course.
Referees are working through specific training designed around the speed, endurance, positioning and decision-making demands of international competition.
Combining theoretical and physical preparation forms part of the programme’s integrated approach.
International Standards
APF wants its female referees to continue progressing towards the standards required in international tournaments.
The growth of women’s competitions is also increasing demand for refereeing teams capable of supporting the sporting and professional development of the women’s game.
Officials Attending
The course presentation included representatives from FIFA and the Paraguayan Football Association.
Those attending included:
- Sebastián Cornejo, Development Manager at FIFA’s Regional Office.
- Douglas Martínez, APF Development Director.
- Éber Aquino, Director of the Referees Commission.
- Pablo Silva, VAR Director.
Their presence reflects the strategic importance given to referee development.
FIFA Forward
The course forms part of initiatives supported through the FIFA Forward programme.
The framework helps fund and develop projects focused on the institutional, sporting and technical strengthening of member associations.
In Paraguay, women’s referee development is one of the areas benefiting from this cooperation.
Professionalising Women’s Refereeing
The continued growth of women’s football also requires parallel development of refereeing structures.
Training referees and assistant referees is essential for improving competition standards, supporting professionalisation and increasing Paraguayan representation in international appointments.
Development Beyond Players
The programme reflects a wider understanding of women’s football development.
Progress does not depend solely on players, clubs and national teams but also on referees, coaches, administrators, physical trainers and other specialist professionals.
Strengthening these roles helps build a more robust structure around women’s competitions.
Industry Context
South American football associations are increasing investment in education and professional development across the women’s game.
As domestic and international competition calendars expand, demand is also increasing for female referees capable of meeting higher technical and physical standards.
FIFA-backed programmes provide an important tool for supporting that development.
Next Steps or Impact
The course will allow participants to update their knowledge and continue preparing for future domestic and international appointments.
For APF, the FIFA RAP Course represents another stage in its referee-development strategy and strengthens the professional structure supporting Paraguayan women’s football.
The integrated development of female referees will be important for improving competition quality and expanding Paraguay’s presence in international refereeing.
Editó: Cristobal R.
