The Ref Stop

IberCup Cascais 2026

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norfolkref

norfolkref

New Member
Level 6 Referee
Hey!

I've somehow been accepted by my CFA to attend this, this year March 30-April 5th

Just wondered if anyone else has done this and can tell me roughly what its like, what I'll need to bring with me etc?

Thanks!
 
The Ref Stop
I did Estoril in 2019 (which somehow is different to Cascais despite us spending a large amount of time in Cascais... (possibly an excuse to have 2 in a year)

Excellent experience for me... but will largely depend on what your CFA make it to be.

Back in 2019, our CFA filmed all games and we had a debrief every night watching the footage with their notes. It was the first time I'd seen footage of myself back so was very eye opening and a fantastic learning experience. Veo is everywhere these days so that aspect may not be so groundbreaking, but would imagine you'll still learn alot.

It's very hard work though. My feet were absolutely dead by the end of it and if there was another day I don't think I'd have managed. The games are largely on poor quality 4g pitches and you're doing usually 4 or more games a day in different roles (ref, AR, 4th)

Enjoy it!
 
Cascais twice 2019 and 2023. Overall great, lots of commuting to matches as the pitches are all over. So be prepared for yomping. There’s not much time for socializing so do as much as you can. A day or two in Lisbon alya good idea. There are mix of team ages and that means 7-a-sides as well as 11s. Depending on the group, if there are freelancers (like me), if there are some power plays from some groups, then there can be politics and some disappointment. Day 1, you think you’re not bothered about getting a final, but by night 1 it’s all you think about! And of course not everyone can.

I’ve been to three Referee Abroad Ibers tournaments and the good times and happy memories easily outweigh the silly stuff. 4 red cards and an ambulance! Amazing friends👌
 
I went last summer to Estoril. It was an incredible experience but also incredibly demanding! As some of the posts say above, you may have 4 or 5 games on the bounce in 25-30 degree heat. My advice would be to eat as much as you can whenever you get the opportunity (usually lunch and dinner is included and provided in a local school). I think I was burning around 4000 calories a day! Other musts are a pair of astro boots/shoes or just trainers. All of the pitches are 3g but I don't think they ever replace them or do any maintenance on them so they're all rock hard and worn out. A massage gun or foam roller to reduce some soreness before bed/in the morning, electrolyte powder/tablets is also a must in my opinion (I think we all lived of these whilst we were out there!).

It's amazing but hard work, you may want a week's rest when you get back! Congrats on the selection, good luck!
 
Echo that. Barca was 30+. Cascais high 20s. No restrictions on footwear (like UK 3G?) so your Copa Mondials will be OK but Hokas rule. I have taken almost every shirt I own and used them all (you English guys with one stinking black shirt after day 1!). I took own stash of protein bars and drinks. There is a central lunch place (a school) but on some of the days you will be in the a*** end and a packed lunch “should” be provided but you might want to be prepared.

Goes without saying but appointments are discretionary, there will be changes and opportunities - so be your best self, take it all and enjoy!
 
norfolkref said:
Hey!

I've somehow been accepted by my CFA to attend this, this year March 30-April 5th

Just wondered if anyone else has done this and can tell me roughly what its like, what I'll need to bring with me etc?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hey! I'll also be attending this year, from what my fellow referees told me that also attended is that it's grueling and generally energy consuming but it's an opportunity that you apparently literally shouldn't miss and should soak up as much knowledge as possible. When I applied through my association, the original dates were the 31st till the 5th, so sadly I'll miss out on the newly allocated matches.

But if are up for sharing deets so we can socialize (if there'll be time) or debrief during Cascais hit me up in my dms!

And congrats on being accepted!
 
Hey all, our CFA have booked us with just a 10kg bag and a under seat bag for the plane. No checked baggage, is this gonna be enough - lol? appreciate its only 5 days but accumulated weight + boots. We are flying the Tuesday morning and returning Sunday evening, appreciate the help above I've already started a cardio regime in the gym, i've been told by a ref I know who did a final last year that I will need it. Is there a particular colour list of kits or am i best to pack the colours I have already as I have practically all of them, albeit in long sleeve xD


RunningTheLine said:
Hey! I'll also be attending this year, from what my fellow referees told me that also attended is that it's grueling and generally energy consuming but it's an opportunity that you apparently literally shouldn't miss and should soak up as much knowledge as possible. When I applied through my association, the original dates were the 31st till the 5th, so sadly I'll miss out on the newly allocated matches.

But if are up for sharing deets so we can socialize (if there'll be time) or debrief during Cascais hit me up in my dms!

And congrats on being accepted!
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and yes - drop me a message! I'm the lowest level out of the 3 of us selected so a bit anxious given it's a big responsibility but looking forward to it nonetheless
 
Can those that commented recommend some decent trainers that might hold up, I've looked at trail runners before but not there they're what I'm after? The ones I looked at before were the adidas tracerocker gtx, I think these can be worn by referees as they were on refstore.
 
I’ve rambled in about Hokas here before. The Challenger 8 wide is in the post as I write and will be next ref shoe. I have Clifton wide models as well that I l’ve done about 500 matches in. I already know the new Challenger model as I already have a non-black pair.

Challenger is a trail shoe, lower profile, lots of cushion, can be had with goretex that makes the upper a bit stiffer. But there are a million shoes out there.
 
If there's one thing I've learned at great expense recently it's that shoes and feet are all very different and what is comfortable for one person can be extremely uncomfortable for another purely because of the shape and mechanics of the foot. Sadly, sometimes these problems don't come to light until you've done a fair bit of mileage in a shoe.
 
norfolkref said:
Hey all, our CFA have booked us with just a 10kg bag and a under seat bag for the plane. No checked baggage, is this gonna be enough - lol? appreciate its only 5 days but accumulated weight + boots. We are flying the Tuesday morning and returning Sunday evening, appreciate the help above I've already started a cardio regime in the gym, i've been told by a ref I know who did a final last year that I will need it. Is there a particular colour list of kits or am i best to pack the colours I have already as I have practically all of them, albeit in long sleeve xD
Click to expand...
No chance I would say. Unless there are laundry facilities you are going to need one kit per day, and even with laundry you are going to need multiple colours of shirts (recommend yellow, blue and green). Then any undergarments you may need, boots, flags, box of tricks, any clothes you need for non-refereeing activities, toiletries, and so on.
 
Thanks all, we had our pre-pre chat call. Arriving Tuesday leaving Sunday. Apparently last years group 10kg was enough, and the hotels used have laundry facilities. Most pitches are 4G albeit not the best condition, I have trail runners and Team Mundials I'll bring with me. Fortunate enough to have a good selection of kits and colours as well. I've already started mashing out cardio in the gym, my cardio isn't bad by any stretch but I don't do 3-4 games a day in potentially much warmer weather than we have here. Or I could be completely wrong and it's caning it down all week :(
 
norfolkref said:
Thanks all, we had our pre-pre chat call. Arriving Tuesday leaving Sunday. Apparently last years group 10kg was enough, and the hotels used have laundry facilities. Most pitches are 4G albeit not the best condition, I have trail runners and Team Mundials I'll bring with me. Fortunate enough to have a good selection of kits and colours as well. I've already started mashing out cardio in the gym, my cardio isn't bad by any stretch but I don't do 3-4 games a day in potentially much warmer weather than we have here. Or I could be completely wrong and it's caning it down all week :(
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Still seems to be a bit tight expecting you to survive 5 days refereeing on hand luggage.

Also surprised it’s your CFA organising as I thought Referee Abroad had exclusive rights on referee allocations for that tournament.
 
RustyRef said:
Still seems to be a bit tight expecting you to survive 5 days refereeing on hand luggage.

Also surprised it’s your CFA organising as I thought Referee Abroad had exclusive rights on referee allocations for that tournament.
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It's a stretch I'll admit but it's been done before. So we were asked to fill in and expression of interest, paid for flights when selected and still have the tournament fee to pay them directly so I presume it's all through then it's just our RDO is point of contact. One of the other referees from my county who is coming did the Italy World Games and that was planned the same as this.
 
AFAIK Ref Abroad organize all the foreign refs for the relevant Ibers. Sometimes there are local refs as well. Then, some refs come as groups with RDOs, observers/mentors, some come as mates, some on their own. Every one I’ve been to has had a mix. Of course, nice to have quality groups - but that does also lead to the politics sometimes. In the end there’s a balance to be struck and it’s youth tournament football so lots of moving parts. I can look back at being observed by a Serie-A ref and getting to know some very cool prem and champo officials - as well as plenty of new friends. Especially for younger refs, I recommend⚽️😍
 
Quick update, it was incredible. Some of the places we refereed at were breath-taking. Certainly a language barrier with teams. My favourite word for the week being "aqui" for here 😂 Absolute highlights were AS Roma vs AEK Athens in the elite category, Roma vs Select Brasil and Met Oval Academy vs a elite Nigerian team.
Covered 3 games a day as a Teamof3, last day I did the 7v7 category on my own. I'd say a lot of the elite U13 teams were the equivalent of U18 back home, very quick technical football.
Some drawbacks, the appointments didn't come out till 1,2am most mornings so if you had 8.30am games you were knackered. I blistered loads and took FGs and turf trainers. Managed to get 13x kits and non buzz flags in hand luggage, as well as both boots so certainly possible!
Games were 2x 25mins with no HT. I wasn't observed by my CFA took our RDO who coached us for the week.
Hotel was decent, London FA, Hampshire, Lincoln and a few others were in our hotel whereas the international referees were at another hotel.
Pushed me far outside my comfort zone but learnt so much in a week that I would have for the rest of this season at least!

I've said yes to doing the Paris World Games in July so I must be mad enough ;) and I'd certainly recommend Cascais to anyone thinking of doing it next year. Helped that the weather was 22-25 degrees each day!
 

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norfolkref said:
Quick update, it was incredible. Some of the places we refereed at were breath-taking. Certainly a language barrier with teams. My favourite word for the week being "aqui" for here 😂 Absolute highlights were AS Roma vs AEK Athens in the elite category, Roma vs Select Brasil and Met Oval Academy vs a elite Nigerian team.
Covered 3 games a day as a Teamof3, last day I did the 7v7 category on my own. I'd say a lot of the elite U13 teams were the equivalent of U18 back home, very quick technical football.
Some drawbacks, the appointments didn't come out till 1,2am most mornings so if you had 8.30am games you were knackered. I blistered loads and took FGs and turf trainers. Managed to get 13x kits and non buzz flags in hand luggage, as well as both boots so certainly possible!
Games were 2x 25mins with no HT. I wasn't observed by my CFA took our RDO who coached us for the week.
Hotel was decent, London FA, Hampshire, Lincoln and a few others were in our hotel whereas the international referees were at another hotel.
Pushed me far outside my comfort zone but learnt so much in a week that I would have for the rest of this season at least!

I've said yes to doing the Paris World Games in July so I must be mad enough ;) and I'd certainly recommend Cascais to anyone thinking of doing it next year. Helped that the weather was 22-25 degrees each day!
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Well done!

“There’s no one on Jamor 6”

😂🥳⚽️❤️
 
norfolkref said:
I've said yes to doing the Paris World Games in July
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I did Paris last summer, and it was amazing, unfortunately I was stuck at the same ground the whole tournament due to going with Suffolk FA and some appointment decisions, but you will love it and the appointments usually came out between midnight and 1am so a bit nicer for you 😂
 
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