The course aims to develop fistball referees ©Getty Images

Pan American Fistball Association sports director Gastão Englert has begun the first women-only international fistball referee course.

Englert, who is also the International Fistball Association's (IFA) Olympic education officer, conducted a first online theoretical coaching session on April 6 from São Paulo in Brazil.

The second theoretical training session is scheduled for Wednesday (April 20).

The programme is due to be concluded with a practical assessment between June 3 and 5.

To pass the course participants are required to score a minimum of 85 per cent in two practical evaluations.

The initiative has so far attracted four candidates, three of whom are from Brazil and one from Chile.

A day of theoretical coaching has already been held ©IFA
A day of theoretical coaching has already been held ©IFA

The IFA claims the course meets principals of good governance set out in the International Olympic Committee as well as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal Five (SDG5), which concerns gender equality.

SDG5 is one of 17 goals and is the aim to "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls".

It has nine targets and 14 indicators to guide global organisations.

The IFA is a Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and International World Games Association member, but does not have IOC recognition.