WEEKLY LETTER - GD7

04.12.2023

Dear Referees and Video Observers.

Thank you all for your performances in the recent BCL games, GD 07.

At the beginning of my Letter, I would like to share my recognition, during watching last week's games GD 07 – there was a visible effort from each Crew, and each Referee, to provide the best possible performance level. Reports from the Video Observers confirmed my opinion. Below you can see a significant improvement, in comparison with Performances GD 4 – GD 6. I must congratulate you on this excellent effort, but also, I now have an expectation of further performances of this level.

Please continue in this upward direction as ahead of us we have a very important period: the last 3 rounds in the Regular Season. The ''storm is coming'', expect the expected….

The overall feedback BCL GD 07, recognitions by your Video Observers:

Points to keep/positive.

  • Correct game control, by accurate decisions and proper communication
  • Criteria ''normal'' fouls vs. UF; No UF approach as ''hunting or microscope''
  • Correct no calls, leading to fluent and nice game

Points for improvement

  • AMI, read the play

            Focus and recognition of helping defender actions

  • Fake being fouled recognition

            We are too deep into the season; we should know the FK problem players

  • Focus on fundamentals/ basic:

            Avoid quick whistle > leading to marginal call or incorrect call

            Avoid double whistle, as sign of weakness in mental discipline

UF criteria

In this round, in 9 games, we had a small number of UF decisions – only 2. Both with the correct decisions, one C1 and one C4 criteria. No one had an ICNC in the area of UF contacts.

Head Coach Challenge

Time-consuming per situation (average) - 77''

IRS usage by Referees

Time-consuming per situation (average) - 68''

Dear All,

The storm is coming, expect expected!

During the next 3 BCL rounds, teams will increase their effort to be successful and to continue with their games in such a great competition as the BCL. It means that we'll have intensive games, and a lot of emotions delivered by the teams, and their fans. For them, the coming period is a ''do or die'' period.

On our side, we should recognize the importance of each point and each foul, each call or no call decision. Our judgment should be on the highest level. I know that all of you have had a long officiating year during 2023. During the year you have officiated a lot of games, now is the end of the year and a short break is coming. Over several seasons of monitoring, I can recognize that many of you are influenced by December's festive season and often your performances have dipped. This December we can't see this trend continue during our games, these next 3 rounds are too important for our Teams.

With that recognition, we should concentrate on fundamentals, and your delivery should be with the effort to achieve excellence. No relaxation in any play situation. Now we must show how good and strong we are both individually and as a collective. Finally, we must deliver high quality decisions, with respect for all game members.

I wish you a great week of officiating.

Davorin