WEEKLY LETTER R16 GD5

Dear Referees and Video Observers.

Thank you all, for your performances during the recent BCL games, L16, GD 05.

Again, we can be satisfied with the overall level of your performances. You are keeping to the expected raised bar, which we attained in previous rounds of L16 games.

Watching all games live, one game was in my opinion, and feeling, below our raised expectations. In two reports, one quickly after the game, and the final Report from the Video Observer, it was confirmed that 2 of 3 Referees reached the STANDARD PERFORMANCE level. This acceptable performance is not good enough for my high and demanding expectations for our BCL competition. To remind you:

STANDARD performance is a performance that meets the minimum use of officiating techniques and criteria. An acceptable performance without demonstrating higher quality decision-making.

My conclusion, GD 5. You officiated with a strong quality delivery. In detail, we had several ICCMs, and ICNCs that influenced our image, built over previous periods of the BCL season, as a high-quality service provider. I understand pressure, but on the other side, your reaction under pressure, shows your mental strength and resilience. Your officiating quality is not being questioned, but we are seeing small cracks in your emotional discipline and mental strength.

BCL, L16, GD 05

Data received from Video Observers:

POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Standard package; QW, DW, MCs, AMI.
• Communication among the Crew during the IRS usage.
• Keeping quality decisions when the game becomes more tense.

UF SITUATIONS

In 8 games we have 2 UF decisions, both correct

HCC requests

We had 5 HCC requests (PF to UF 3X, GCRS 1x, L2M OOB 1x), with no original decision corrected.

IRS usage by the Referees

In 6 situations, Refs corrected 2x game clock time and changed the decision from a 2-point to a 3-point basket.

Dear Colleagues,

L16 GD06 is for many teams the last DO or DIE part of the BCL Competition. It is the beauty of our competition, tough exciting games, with tight results. For the teams, in some groups, exist several calculations by wins, and by points. For us, we have no calculation. ALL of you should provide your best possible performance; you should be the best version of you from the beginning until the last second of each game.

Talking with my friend, an ex-international Referee in two sports basketball and boxing. Mr. Theodoros Vidalis (GRE), told me, when a boxer is losing the match, are his arms up or arms down? His answer was his arms are down. This means, he has no physical readiness, no concentration, sometimes too relaxed, no respect for fundamentals, no mental strength, no power. The same principles are valid for us, as basketball Referees, we should respect the fundamentals, and be mentally ready to deliver high quality officiating. By following these principles, success is guaranteed.

One technical aspect of the upcoming games:

IRS usage – respect and follow the IRS protocol.

- focus on clear, understandable communication and language, using the basketball rules.

- no time limit/time consuming during the IRS check in the decisive part of the game

I wish you a successful week in officiating.

Davorin