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26 candidates from all over the world were confirmed as FIVB referees during the Boys’ U17 World Championship
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Four members of the FIVB Rules of the Game and Refereeing Commission served as course instructors
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The course included a theoretical part and a practical part with hands-on experience during the Boys’ U17 World Championship matches
As many as 26 international referees from all over the world not only whistled the matches of the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Sofia, but also successfully underwent an extensive course to be confirmed as FIVB referees, following their successful examination and practical performance.
The candidates – 25 candidates selected for the 2024 course and one candidate from Australia, who was selected for the 2021 course, but could not travel due to the anti-pandemic restrictions at the time – came from all five Continental Confederations. Africa was represented by seven referees, including four women. Seven came from Europe as well, five from the NORCECA region, four from South America, and three from Asia. The total number of female candidates was seven.
FIVB Rules of the Game and Refereeing Commission President Guillermo Paredes from Argentina was the Course Director, joined by another three Commission members – Alexander Steel from Scotland, Frans Loderus from the Netherlands and Guy Bradbury from Canada – as course instructors.
The four course instructors together with BFV President Lubomir Ganev
The course was organised by the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BFV). It included three days of theory, which covered various topics like the different referee roles, decision making, game technology with a focus on the Video Challenge system, physical and mental readiness, training attention and focus, and concluded with a written examination before the beginning of the U17 World Championship.
It was followed by practical on-court experience and assessment during the matches with the candidates taking on different referee roles. On the last three days of the competition, the referees received hands-on experience with the Video Challenge system, with Bolt6 experts offering them their extensive knowledge.
During the course, BFV President Lubomir Ganev visited and greeted the candidates, wishing them good luck with the course and a successful journey as FIVB referees.
BFV President Lubo Ganev greets FIVB Rules of the Game and Refereeing Commission President and Course Director Willy Paredes
“The work done by the instructors for candidates to approach the course with the most information possible paid off, judging by the results of the written exam they passed. The technology used allowed the instructors to be in touch with the candidates on a weekly basis for the last three months prior to the course in Bulgaria,” said Course Director Willy Paredes. “In the practical part, the possibility to have an age-group FIVB event and the very good technical level of the participating teams provided the candidates the opportunity to show their qualities, aspiring to the highest level of FIVB refereeing. We can say that this course was of a high level and matched the expectations to have better referees for the future and thus keep a fluent refilling of our refereeing system in the FIVB.”
