WEEKLY LETTER R16 GD6

Dear Referees and Video Observers.

Thank you all, for your performances during the recent BCL games, L16, GD 06.

Behind us is an extensive period of BCL L16 games, 48 in total. The best eight teams are advancing to the next BCL level, our quarter-final round/games. Our officiating teams showed their quality and provided a significant contribution, by allowing all teams to show their quality. Last week in the BCL office, I was proud to express my conclusions regarding your performance in L16 BCL cycle. In front of the entire office, I said that Team 17, our BCL Referees, probably, were the best team in the competition last week. It is a great achievement, but also a big responsibility to maintain this level, or even raise the bar to a higher standard. It will not be easy, but it is achievable as we move into the KNOCKOUT/DO or DIE competition. The eight clubs are so close, but also so far from Final Four BCL.

MY CONCLUSION, OFFICIATING L16, GD 06

We have finished the BCL L16 series with officiating at the level we set up before this Competition phase. The nominated Referees fulfilled our expectations, we cannot talk about any influence on the winners of any game. You made mistakes, some situations could have been with better judgment, but mistakes are part of the game, by any game participant. Your priority is high-class delivery, avoiding any big/bigger mistakes, and minimizing mistakes that happened because of no respect for the officiating fundamentals. I would like to share with you, in one game, a great cooperation between the Technical Delegate and Referees, you can see it in the Tough Call section, regarding concrete details. In continuation of my letter, you can see the feedback from the Video Observers.

BCL, L16, GD 06

Data received from Video Observers:

 As you can see, we are on our expected level of officiating for the L16 phase, you raised the bar; with two examples which we should increase from STANDARD to ABOVE STANDARD performance.

POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

1. FUNDAMENTALS - Standard package; QW, DW, MCs, AMI.
2. Discipline/respect the Primary.
3. Judgment of UF situations.
4. Contacts – call the action, no reaction.
5. Focus on TV with influence on illegal advantage.

UF SITUATIONS

From 8 games, we had 6 with single UF decisions.

By Video Observers, second opinion, and my final opinion we had 2 incorrect decisions. One situation should have been upgraded to a DQ and one situation should be downgraded.

HCC requests

We had 7 HCH requests.

Six of them, by criteria, were OOB L2M. Coaches were successful in 3 situations and the referees corrected their original decision.

Last week, during an all-Zones Global officiating meeting in HQ Refereeing, Geneva, I pointed out a situation that we have recognised as a weak part in officiating. It happens mostly after the rebounds, quick taps of the ball by the rebounders, on the weak side, close to the baseline. It is very important to have good communication between the Lead and Centre Referee.

IRS usage by the Referees

Referees' performance L16, GD 1 – GD 6, games - 48

Mathematics is an exact science; numbers talk more than words. Our bar is visibly, ABOVE STANDARD, and we should now be aiming to consistently achieve VERY GOOD officiating.

Dear Colleagues,

The Draw, held at the FIBA House of Basketball, has created a great, intensive, and exciting next part of the BCL Season 2023/ 2024.

Our targets in quarter-final games are:

1. Officiating 50:50
2. High-quality delivery.
3. Respect of fundamentals.
4. Proper communication.
5. IRS usage – respect and follow the IRS protocol.
6. Keep the dignity of our hard and honest work.

I wish you successful officiating in the Quarter-Final round of the BCL Competition.

Before that, I wish to all nominated Referees, successful officiating in other FIBA Europe Competitions: FEC Semi-Final games, ECW Final games, and the ELW F4.

Davorin