WEEKLY REPORT - ROUND OF 16 - 4

Dear BCL officials.

Thank you to all nominated Referees and Referee Instructors for your officiating delivery last week. We have a very intensive round of BCL games in front of us and our best work is required. After the L16 GD04, a lot of teams have the chance to go forward to quarter final rounds. From the Referee Instructors' feedback, and my monitoring, I can tell you that this week the overall performance was the best officiating week this season. With the note, that one game unfortunately, was decided by our mistake.

Feedback from the Referee Instructors, BCL L16, from 9 games:

UF SITUATIONS

In 9 games we have 8 UF situations.

Per criteria:

C1 = 3 situations (one wrong final decision)

C2 = 3 situations

C4 = 2 situations

IRS USAGE

Regarding the importance of the L16 final stage, we had an increase in the number of IRS usage.

Coaches asked in 10 situations for HCC. Our Referees used it 16 times to clarify their decisions. The most important is, all 26 IRS situations ended with the correct final decision. In 3 games (from 9) we had 17 IRS usages. The average length of a review was 68 seconds.

IRS HCC

IRS REFEREES

POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

· Marginal fouls vs. Obvious fouls

Last week we decided several marginal contacts were a personal foul, and a number of obvious illegal contacts were left as no calls. At this important part of the season, incorrect marginal fouls, and incorrect no-calls on obvious fouls will ruin all our efforts and image. The worst thing is that with this approach, we did influence the result in one game.

· Fake being fouled recognition and reaction regarding valid Protocol.

It is your big area for improvement. You have different tools and methods to deal with a very unpopular area for the basketball community. It looks ugly, it goes against the idea of sportsmanship. Our players have increased, from round to round, the level and number of fake being fouled situations. After your preventative communication, please, just follow the valid Protocol. Simply the best.

· Mechanics – guess calls, because of a closed angle.

Again, in GD04 we are witnesses to inappropriate use of a great tool, our Mechanics. As usual, the result is an increased number of guess calls. Déjà vu again. You are experienced referees, educated to our highest level; you need to concentrate, and use all the fundamentals of officiating.

· Active mindset vs. ''surprised'' Referee

From now until the end of the BCL season we cannot have the luxury of correction during the upcoming games. Every foul, every point is vitally important, we need you to be mentally ready for each moment of the game. There is very little time for the teams to make small adjustments, in an effort to prolong their season, each game is decisive, the knockout period is in front of us. We must make sure we are also ready.

Dear Referees.

This week you, as Elite FIBA Referees, are nominated for the games in different but very important Competitions. Not only in BCL competition. All upcoming games in FIBA Europe competitions are decisive, no time for corrections. You must concentrate from the first to the last second of each Game. We are expecting your very highest standard of delivery. Be ready for tensions, emotional behavior, for the disappointment of players or coaches. The period in front of us is your seasonal exam. Receiving the nominations is a sign that we have TRUST in your personality, quality, and performance.

I wish all of us a successful officiating week, many exciting games, and high delivery from any of you.

Davorin