Association sought ways to ease their officiating crisis.

Joe DiCiommo, from Hamilton, Ontario, ran the line or refereed a total of four First Division and Commercial League games at BAA Field and Southampton Oval during his week-long stay.

DiCiommo, 55, has been refereeing for nearly 30 years and is a level one official who also acts as an instructor and assessor in his native Canada.

And in a presentation to Bermuda Referees' Association, the former player stressed the differences in thinking between officials and coaches and players.

"There's a huge difference between being a referee and being a player,'' Di Ciommo, who played until he was 26, later told The Royal Gazette . "It's a different level of thinking.

"A referee develops a higher level of appreciation of the game itself, its skills and its laws. They have to determine when to whistle, when to issue a card. They have a lot better understanding than many people give them credit for.'' DiCiommo, who first visited the Island on a referees' exchange visit nine years ago, said he knew the BFA were planning to introduce eight new officials in the near future but he had been happy to help out.

DiCiammo's visit came at a time when official Aldwin Savery was calling on November to be declared `Love the Ref' month, with coaches and players being urged not to verbally abuse them.