ERC President delivers seminar in Skopje to share vision for continuous improvement

The President of the European Refereeing Commission (ERC), Mr Arturo Di Giacomo, delivered on Saturday a seminar in Skopje, which was attended by a diverse audience including international and national referees, coaches, as well as other representatives of the Macedonian Volleyball community. The workshop provided a platform to exchange views on the FIVB Rule Tests introduced in 2026 and that will be applied across all upcoming CEV competitions as well. 

The Evolution of Modern Refereeing
Mr Di Giacomo emphasised that refereeing should continue to evolve by focusing not only on the correct application of the rules of the game, but also on consistency, communication, prevention and the overall quality of the match. 

The Use of New Technology in Volleyball
Technology should be used as a tool to support referees and improve the fairness and transparency of their decisions. The Challenge System and video review can help correct clear errors, provided that their use remains efficient, understandable and consistent.

Development and the Role of the Referee Coach
The Referee Coach should play a central role in the continuous development of referees. This includes providing objective and constructive feedback before, during and after competitions, identifying areas for improvement and helping referees develop both their technical and interpersonal skills. The Referee Coach should also encourage self-assessment, establish clear development objectives, and ensure that feedback is consistent and adapted to each referee’s level.  

Strengthening the Relationship Between the ERC and National Federations
The relationship between the ERC and National Federations could be strengthened through more regular communication, joint educational activities, seminars, exchanges of best practices and clearer development pathways. National Federations should receive consistent information about expectations, evaluation criteria, and promotion opportunities. A closer partnership would help reduce differences between countries and create a more coherent approach to referee education, development, and evaluation throughout Europe.

Promoting Referees Based on Performance and Development
Promotion opportunities should be based primarily on performance, potential, commitment and continuous development. Referees should be evaluated according to clear, transparent and consistent criteria. 

The ERC President did also praise the warm welcome and hospitality of the local organisers, extending his gratitude to the Refereeing Commission of the Volleyball Federation of North Macedonia and their President, international referee Vlatko Ristovski.