ERC delivers seminar to educate new Referee Coaches

Shortly before their first plenary meeting of the 2024-2028 term coming up later this week, some members of the European Refereeing Commission (ERC) came together on Wednesday and Thursday at the home of European Volleyball in Luxembourg for a seminar specifically addressed to the newly elected ones now due to fulfil the key role of Referee Coach at future CEV competitions. 

ERC President Arturo Di Giacomo and ERC member Cor van Gompel shared their vision and understanding of this function, thereby aiming at ensuring consistency and the application of common, high standards among all those working as Referee Coaches. The delivery of this seminar further solidifies the emphasis placed by the ERC on the continuous education of referees and all other members of the refereeing family. It also shows the ERC’s commitment to involve all members of the Commission and to utilise everyone’s unique skillsets for the good of the sport. 

While discussing the role and its duties, Mr Di Giacomo and Mr Van Gompel played video material and used other tools as well to share useful tips and insights into the ‘world’ of a Referee Coach. Much focus was also placed on the steps to follow to ensure a correct and proper submission of the R4 form, which is used to evaluate the performance of all international referees.

The four new ERC members and consequently Referee Coaches attending the seminar are all highly accomplished international referees, who recently finished their careers after officiating at major events such as the Olympic Games, multiple World and European Championships. These are Fabrice Collados (France), Roy Goren (Israel), Goran Gradinski (Serbia), and Juan Mario Bernaola Sanchez (Spain). ERC Secretary Avelino Azevedo will join the pool of Volleyball Referee Coaches in 2025 as well. Through their skills and by sharing their unparalleled knowledge of the game, they will certainly help the ERC grow the next generation of elite international referees.