Letter to Officials

03.04.2020

Dear Colleague,

I hope you and those who you love are well.

Discipline, and/or better self-discipline, is key in the battle against the COVID-19 virus. In our job as basketball referees, discipline is the 6th element that helps us be successful. We must now use this discipline in our private lives to help combat the current situation.

I hope the material you have received from our experts, Chema and the Fitness team, helps you maintain you mental and physical readiness. Chema has given us some very useful tips on how to overcome some of the current difficulties we face whilst the fitness material should enable us to stay active, with a level of variety to stop us from becoming too bored. Please feel free to share all of the information with your families, friends and National/Local basketball communities.

From the BCL Referee Department, we have prepared for the next phase of 'Plan B':

  • We will start to post video material from our BCL 2019/20 season, primarily from our POE
  • We will start your 'Personal Discussions' with the Referee Instructors; emphasis will be on analysing your performances during the 2019/20 season. We will produce a protocol on how these conversations will be conducted along with what should be prepared by both sides.
  • A new package of learning material based around theoretical questions and analysis of real play situations. The purpose of these tests will be to get an overview of thinking, opinion and criteria officials use before making a decision to call or not call. Some of the test answers and results will be published on the website whilst others will be Kahoot-based quizzes.

I would like to make it clear that none of the above is mandatory for any of you who have potential problems with the COVID-19 situation. Please see these activities as an opportunity to make personal progress, to consider and challenge your officiating philosophy and to prepare yourself for the beginning of a new season.

I wish you, your families and friends healthy days, weeks and months ahead holding Chema's message in your thoughts: "please wear your positive glasses"

Kind regards,

Davorin