Ibtissam Kachi, a 20-year-old regional referee from the city of Casablanca, is determined to change this and open up a new path for women in refereeing.

It was during a training course organised by FIBA Africa for female referees from 10 African countries in Dakar, Senegal, in conjunction with the Women's Basketball Africa League (WBLA), that the young referee realised her potential.

This experience, unique for a young Moroccan official, has strengthened her ambition to become an international referee.

"In reality, there are more opportunities for women," she tells FIBA.basketball. "In Morocco, very few of us go into refereeing, which gives us the chance to stand out quickly. You just have to dare to take the first step."

She began her refereeing career with the support of Said Boukbir, an international referee and experienced coach.

It was he who encouraged her to perfect her skills and take part in major events such as the Dakar Rally.

There, she immersed herself in rigorous training, focusing on the fundamentals of refereeing. "We went into detail about gesture signals, positioning on the pitch and the mechanics of refereeing in duos and trios," she explains.

These mechanics, which determine how referees divide up zones and responsibilities on the pitch, are crucial in top-level competition.

The sessions alternated between theory and practice. "I realised that I was making mistakes in my body language, which I'm gradually correcting," she admits. "These are details that seem insignificant, but they play an essential role in the fluidity of a match."

Back in Morocco, Kachi was selected to referee two matches at the BAL Combine, a camp that brings together the best African players in search of exposure.

"I quickly put into practice what I had learned in Dakar," she says.

"My coach guided me step by step and, thanks to him, I became more aware of my mistakes. Shortly afterwards, I refereed a friendly match with players from the Division Excellence. Together with my referee colleague, we identified our shortcomings, but we worked together to improve".

These matches gave the young Moroccan the opportunity to deal with complex situations, such as analysing contact to determine whether it was a defensive or offensive foul or just simple contact. She also refined her interpretation of the rules in order to better manage decisions relating to infringements.

Thanks to these experiences and the skills she has acquired through her training, Kachi feels ready to aim higher. Her goal? To become a certified international referee. "That's my biggest dream," she says with determination.

"It's a long way off, but I'm ready to work hard to get there. We all have our place in this sport, and I hope my journey will inspire other young Moroccan girls to join the ranks of referees".

With her passion, rigour and ambition, Ibtissam Kachi embodies a new generation of referees ready to rise to the highest level.

By breaking down barriers, she is paving the way for a future in which more and more female referees will represent Morocco on the international stage.

FIBA