While beaming with gratification after walking away with the respective top prizes at the Red Stripe Premier League Awards Ceremony, two football referee officials believe more can be done to assist them and their colleagues.

Kevin Morrison, named the best referee for the 2014-15 season, said the use of video technology to aid assessments could improve the standard of officiating.

Assistant referee Garnet Page, declared number one throughout the just ended campaign, said educating clubs and players about the laws of the game could help relations between them and referees.

Morrison, who won the award on two previous occasions – in 2006-07 and in 2011-12 – said local referees could benefit from video replay when their assessors are providing an overview after a game.

“I really feel delighted because I worked very hard throughout the season and to be seen as top referee is a good thing,” he told the Jamaica Observer after picking up his award at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Thursday.

“But there are things that can be done to improve refereeing in Jamaica. Something that can happen is to have assessments using video so that we can get clips of a game. We could show referees exactly where they may have gone wrong. That can only enhance refereeing in Jamaica,” Morrison, 37, explained.

Morrison added: “I want to say thanks to our FIFA instructors because they have stuck with us throughout the season. They have worked hard with us and they are the reason for our success.”

Around the globe, and even in Jamaica, referees are constantly under scrutiny. Page, named top assistant referee for the second time in his career, says more can be done to build awareness.

“There is a lot of ignorance as it relates to the laws of the games. Sometimes it creates so much misunderstanding and creates this divide as if it’s referees on one side and the clubs and the players on the other side, but we are all one,” said Page.

The two are on the FIFA list of officials, but are at different stages of their career.

Morrison was among the elite referees in the CONCACAF region in 2012, but fell out of favour. His goal is to return to those heights.

“I’m still young and my objective is to get back there. I have to first take care of things at home and being appointed the top referee in Jamaica is a good step. I just want to take it stage by stage,” he said.

Page, basking in the glory, has an eye on the exit door.

“I feel elated simply because at age 44 I’m coming to the end of my career as a referee on the international list. It is a great challenge to maintain a level of fitness throughout the season, and to be rewarded like this is a fitting end to the season for me,” he said.

— Sanjay Myers