MIES (Switzerland) – For a third year in a row FIBA’s Global Referee Camp joins Youth BCL tournament to provide a weeklong learning experience to a group of global referee talent. This year the event is held in Laktasi, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The camp brings together 16 FIBA referees and offers them a unique opportunity to train their refereeing skills. The relaxed schedule allows for thorough conversations, enabling more in-depth feedback sessions than are typically available during regular FIBA Championship events. Four very experienced FIBA Referee Instructors, Cristiano Maranho from Brazil, Terry Moore from the USA, Nadine Crowley, and Mike Thomson from Canada, plus several supporting staff, are on-site to assist referees in honing their skills and provide them with valuable insights. The event is a high-level experience that provides an excellent platform for personal and professional growth.

As FIBA Head of Refereeing Carl Jungebrand explains, “The more informal environment and more dedicated time enable us to have a more holistic but still individual approach with the referees. Focus is on the basic refereeing techniques and smaller details that generate better quality and consistency in their performance for the good of the game.”

This attention to smaller details in classroom sessions and breaking down game tape will undoubtedly contribute to the development of future officiating talent in the sport.

Tradition of its own

This year marks the 31st edition of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. FIBA has used this event for referee training for numerous years. This year’s edition has FIBA referees from 20 different countries. European Referee Instructors Chantal Julien (FRA), Johnny Jacobs (BEL), Georgios Tanatzis (GRE), and Murat Biricik (TUR) are working with them throughout the week-long tournament.

Davorin Nakic, FIBA Referee Manager Europe, says: “The organization in Mannheim is excellent. We are working with potential FIBA referees, and this tournament provides a great environment to evaluate them in a highly competitive setup.”

Excellent opportunity

In Laktasi, a second-year FIBA referee, Shannon Jennings from Australia, shares her experiences: "Game-wise, it has been fantastic to experience basketball outside of my region."

When asked about what has been the most interesting aspect so far, she responds without hesitation. "Breaking down the coverage of play has been a real eye-opener for me. These protocols will enhance my decision-making moving forward," she explains.

Karol Kowalski (FIN), who is in the Mannheim tournament for the first time, says, “The level of play here in Mannheim is very high, and it definitely helps me. It challenges me to stay focused, react quickly, and be consistent in my decision-making.”

“The atmosphere is very open and supportive here. Everyone is always willing to share knowledge, give constructive feedback, and help each other improve“, he continues.

Carl Jungebrand sees these events as having a huge impact on referees’ personal growth.

“We could describe the opportunity these Camps generate as a boost for mastering the details, but also enforces each referee to take the responsibility of their own development and learning,” concludes Jungebrand.

FIBA