WEEKLY LETTER - GD1

24.10.2023

Dear Referees.

With the first day, and one of the busiest rounds, of the 2023/2024 season behind us, your desire to deliver high level performances was visible.

Below you can find feedback received from the Video Observers:

Points to keep/ positive.

  • Processing the Play.
  • Judgment of illegal screening situations.
  • Overall game control.
  • Off the ball play control.

Points for improvement

  • Discipline – double whistle, quick whistle, guess calls.
  • AMI - readiness and focus.
  • Marginal calls.
  • Concentration in any part of the Game.

UF criteria

In 16 games we had 6 UF decisions, less than the average in previous seasons. From the 6 decisions 2 ended with incorrect final decisions. 1 of 2 calls, made during transition, we looked for UF criteria, but the correct decision should have been a no call.

A positive in this area is that we are looking at the big picture and not using the 'microscope approach' in possible UF situations. A very positive change.

Head Coach Challenge

In 16 games we had 11 HCCs.

IRS usage by Referees

In 16 games, we had 8 IRS usages by the Referees.

My comments

The big picture regarding our officiating in the games, GD 01, is very positive. We used 48 Referees, mostly all of you being standard level or above standard. However, we had 2 significant mistakes and whilst these can happen they are not acceptable in a such high level of competition as BCL.

Simple, but painful, 2 mistakes in 2 different games:

  • We had the wrong shooter close to the end of the game.
  • We didn't recognize the game clock mistake – 1-minute time.

During half-time, after receiving the timekeeper's information, the Referees did correct the time according to the OBR and followed all the correct protocols. After the game, we received a Protest from the guest team, but OBR was on our side.

We can say that at the end of the game, everything was okay, but inside our officiating community, we cannot accept that we missed one minute of the game.

Concentration from the first second until the last second in every game is crucial. The mentioned mistakes are not because of your lack of knowledge, both are results of your lack of concentration and lack of proper communication amongst the crew. We also recognized another element in these situations, distraction by the coach due to too much communication with the referees. This was not the first time, and certainly won't be the last time, but we must learn, we cannot allow our concentration to be broken in this way as it will lead to referees without nominations due to these mistakes. So, please find the balance in referee/coach communication, the way you did in the first round with UF criteria and IRS usage, the necessary only.

I wish you a great week of officiating in all our competitions.

Davorin