WEEKLY LETTER GD8

11.12.2023

Dear Referees and Video Observers.

Thank you all for your performances in the recent BCL games, GD 08.

The main characteristic of your job, games GD 08 was the quality of improvement and moving your officiating to the next level. Finally, a number of you decided to join us on this journey and presented the expected level of officiating. This was confirmed by my live watching of the games, through the short VOs' feedback immediately after the game, and through the main VOs reports. I can confirm that the officiating of GD-08 is, at this moment, the best-performed round of the BCL season 2023/2024

Below you can find data:

I must congratulate you on continuing this excellent effort, but also, I now have an expectation of further performances of this level, plus the storm is coming.

The overall feedback BCL GD 08, recognitions by your Video Observers:

Points to keep/positive.

  • Visible trust and proper communication inside the Referees' Teams.
  • Game control by correct criteria and call/ no-call decisions.
  • Communication with players and Coaches.

Points for improvement

  • Lack of emotional discipline and strength with influence on
    ''STANDARD PACKAGE'' as:
  1. Marginal calls.

  2. Double whistles.

  3. Readiness to call obvious play situations.


  • Specific situations (single cases), interesting as a reminder:
  1. Shot clock check, before re-start the game.
  2. Usage of correct FIBA signals and reporting. I can confirm a visible virus to be 'original' or 'innovative' with signals and reporting. You are our European role models; the young generation are learning from you.

UF criteria

In this round, in 8 games, we had a small number of UF decisions – only 3. All 3 with proper judgment and final decision. By criteria - 1x C2, C3 and C4.

Head Coach Challenge

Time-consuming per situation (average) - 54''

IRS usage by Referees

Time-consuming per situation (average) – 51''

As you can see, the data from IRS usage is confirming your proper job in games GD 08. A small number of the situations, with shorter time.

Dear All,

The storm is coming, expect the expected!

This has been our motto for the past few seasons when it comes to the last two game days in the BCL Regular Season.

Our destiny, our story as sports officials will be under close scrutiny. Again, you will have heard this saying many times before, a referee is only as good as his/her last game or last decision but I am confident because if you continue with your performances, as in the last few rounds but especially in the GD 08 round where you set another level of standards, we will be ready for the expected. Let's continue to follow our current upward direction.

On another side our teams, players, and coaches are also under intensive pressure to continue their BCL season. As you can see, only a few teams have already secured positions for the next level of BCL competition. This means each point counts, and each of our decisions, call /no call, is extremely important. Expect emotions, pressure, and finger pointing towards the Referees, when some of our teams are unsuccessful.

My final message is simple; show your quality both indiviually and as a crew. Provide the highest officiating standards, be calm in hot situations, respect the game members, and protect our image as excellent service providers.

I wish you a great week of officiating.

Davorin