Refereeing Commission delivers seminar to grow next generation of elite international referees
News
The European Refereeing Commission (ERC) delivered earlier this week the eagerly anticipated ‘Refs on their way to the top’ seminar – held in conjunction with the CEV EuroVolley 2021 Women matches in Belgrade specifically in order to grow and inspire the next generation of young, talented international referees.
This action continues the mission set by the ERC a few years ago as other such seminars had taken place also before the outbreak of the pandemic in order to provide an opportunity for the next generation of elite referees to learn from their more experienced colleagues. It is indeed the core of the ERC’s vision to make sure that European referees remain an international benchmark and continue to play a leading role at major Volleyball competitions.
ERC President Zorica Bjelic briefed the attendees on the latest changes to the rules of the game, and ERC Secretary Arturo Di Giacomo reviewed the importance of the challenge system, its use and benefits not only for the referees, but for the overall flawless management of an elite Volleyball match as well.
Two highly accomplished international referees – Juraj Mokry of Slovakia and Simone Santi of Italy – shared their wealth of experience when it comes to the management of misconducts and the ideal routine to follow in order to prepare for an important, potentially challenging Volleyball match. It is always inspiring to be able to learn from the best in the business and the 19 young and talented referees attending the seminar held in Belgrade took many valuable lessons from the experience and words of their senior colleagues.
Next to this Dr Zoran Nikolovski, Secretary of the European Medical Commission (EMC) addressed another important item for referees wishing to perform at the highest level – stress management and to this extent, the role of slow-pace breathing.
Vasileios Vasileiadis (GRE)“All lectures provided us with so much useful information and so many assets (game management, flexibility and authority, how to do the things right, etc.), to improve and to have the chance to move to the next level of refereeing. One of the highlights of the seminar were the workshops where we worked together in groups.”
The seminar was not only filled with interesting workshops and discussions in the ‘classroom’, but included a practical session too, as the referees went to the Stark Arena in Belgrade to observe the work and performance of their more experienced colleagues at CEV EuroVolley Women matches.
The 19 young and talented referees who attended the seminar are Fuad Aghayev (AZE), Kanstantsin Asipchyk (BLR), Lyubomir Sirakov (BUL), Roman Marschner (CZE), Dominik Biegajlo (ENG), Mariola Rodriguez Machin (ESP), Mathias Ewald (GER), Vasileios Vasileiadis (GRE), Agnes Batkai-Katona (HUN), Dominga Lot (ITA), Andrei Taran (MDA), Vlatko Ristovski (MKD), Magdalena Niewarowska (POL), Raquel Portela (POR), David Cormie (SCO), Gregor Novak (SLO), Jovan Jovanovic (SRB), Yavuz Akdemir (TUR), and Vitaliy Parshyn (UKR).
The ERC organised earlier this week a webinar as well, specifically addressed to all CEV Referee Delegates in order to standardise the procedures in place and share useful practices when mentoring and observing international referees. ERC President Zorica Bjelic and ERC Secretary Arturo Di Giacomo reviewed the latest changes to the Volleyball rules and the management of the challenge system, respectively, as ERC Member Jarmo Salonen analysed the key criteria used by the ERC to observe and assess the performance of international referees. ERC Member Andrei Zenovich reviewed the Challenge System Regulations before the webinar ended with one last session where the attendees shared their impressions on the performance of the referees running the EuroVolley Women match between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After all, a busy and exciting week for the European refereeing family which continues to spare no efforts in order to help international referees grow their skills and perform to the best of their ability!