Young referee Sar Smith has returned to the island after attending the Caribbean Football Union Next Generation Referee Course in Barbados last week.

The Bermudian was one of 22 match officials who attended the three-day course from Friday to Sunday last week but was unable to participate in some of the activities as he has not yet reached the age of 20

Smith was the third Bermudian to attend the course after Satia Burchall and Amaury Majors.

“It was my first time travelling as a referee so it was really exciting,” the 17-year-old said.

“I learnt a lot of things that I need to work on. The course also showed me what I was good at, so now I have a better view of what I have to improve on.

“Because I wasn't old enough, I only attended as an observer. On the first day, the other participants did a fitness test and I wasn't allowed to do it because you have to be 20 years old to participate in it.

“They also took some video tests and I did them on my own, but it wasn't an official thing for me. I was invited to the course because they saw one of the games I did in Bermuda, and I might get the chance to be one of the match officials for the CFU Under-14 competition in August.

“My dream is to officiate at the World Cup and I’ll continue working towards that. I've to be 25 years old to get on the Fifa panel, so there is still plenty time for me to achieve that.

Sar, who ranks the FA Cup preliminary round match between Tuff Dogs and Vasco at Goose Gosling Field this season as his biggest game as a referee, represents part of the future generation expected to solve the island’s refereeing crisis, together with Isaiah O'Brien and Dunstan Desa.

An under-18 player for Dandy Town, Smith is happy to have found the balance between playing and officiating.

“Officiating has helped me as a player and the other way round,” he said.

“Days for playing and officiating don’t usually come on the same day. If I have to play, I just tell them I can’t make it, but for the most part it really works out well.”