WEEKLY LETTER - GD9

18.12.2023

Dear Referees and Video Observers.

Thank you all for your performances in the recent BCL games, GD 09.

Behind us are the first nine rounds of the BCL Competition, 2023/2024. Overall, your performances give a very positive big picture.

Some characteristics, of officiating GD 01 – 09, recognized from my point of view:

  • Some new names appeared in the area of very trusted officiating.
  • Some experienced referees didn't meet my expectations.
  • Some experienced referees had a late wake-up during the regular season.
  • In the last part of the regular season were your best performances.

The overall feedback BCL GD 09, recognitions by your Video Observers:

Points to keep/positive.

  • Good decisions in the decisive part of the games, this shows your quality and readiness to call tough decisions.
  • Game control by correct criteria and call/no-call decisions.
  • Communication with players and coaches.

Points for improvement

We should be focused on 'fine-tuning' our officiating. We didn't have anything spectacular as incorrect, but small details are ruining our good job. Again, from round to round, I can see the same details that we can easily avoid with the proper concentration, emotional discipline, and mental strength.

Details for improvement:

  • Concentration from the first until the last second of the game.
  • Discipline in areas of quick whistle, marginal calls, double whistle vs. patient whistle.
  • Active mindset – be ready to call the first illegal play.
  • IRS usage (explanation later in my text).
  • Usage of correct FIBA signals and reporting.

UF criteria

We are on the standard average in UF's area – 6 UF situations in 8 games. It means 0,75 UF decisions per game. This is our seasonal average in the last 10 years. Here I would like to point out, one incorrect final decision due to no delivery of the correct angle by the TV broadcasting company.

Per category, C1 1x, C2 2x, C3 3x.

Head Coach Challenge

Time-consuming per situation (average) - 62''

Time-consuming per situation (average) – 60''

Dear All,

The storm is here, next two game days will be decisive for a lot of BCL teams, players, coaches, referees.

I don't like to make too much of this situation, you all know the importance of the upcoming 16 games. For a lot of teams the next game is the last train to continue in our great competition, the BCL, because of it, all our teams deserve our best possible officiating, we need a strong effort to deliver excellence.

We should continue to follow our current upward direction, and finish the BCL Regular Season at the appropriate level. Be assured, as you know, we can deliver high quality officiating, yet still, there will be complaints and attacks. Please, stay calm, the winner in these conflict situations will be the side who stay calm. I can easily defend any of our proper decisions, call or no call.

Please, remember, each point counts, be ready, with proper AMI, and expect the expected.

One element I would like to share with you - IRS usage. My recognition in some games was that several times you didn't receive the proper angle to see clearly what happened. On one side this is your mistake, you need to know which angle is the best angle, and you should insist to have that angle. No time limit. In the case where you didn't receive the proper angle, now this is a problem for the TV broadcasting company. What is the reason for that? The quality of their job or something different? Be assured, soon, I will have a meeting with the responsible team.

I wish you a great week of officiating.

Davorin