MIES (Switzerland) – The journey to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup has officially moved into an intensive preparatory phase. On January 19, FIBA launched the Pre-Competition Program (PCP) for the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments. This phase ensures that referees are as prepared as the players for the events taking place in China, France, Puerto Rico, and Türkiye.

 

A Hybrid Approach to Excellence

The Pre-Competition Program is designed to bridge the gap between physical readiness and mental sharpness. While referees follow an intensive physical program, the technical side is handled through sessions focused on deep-dive video analysis.
Albert Joseph, Referee Instructor from Oceania, emphasizes the importance of this synchronization: "It is the perfect opportunity to see if referees are all on the same page and if their Individual Officiating Techniques are uniform. In a high-stakes event like this, we all need to act according to the same playbook. After a PCP like this, everyone will be ready to present their best."

 

 

 

Maximizing Face-to-Face Time

Carl Jungebrand, FIBA Head of Refereeing, highlights that the PCP is a strategic tool to streamline the on-site Pre-Competition Camp. By front-loading the theory, the "on-the-ground" time in the host cities can be dedicated entirely to practical application.
“The Pre-Competition Program has proven to be a great concept and tool to maximize the preparation for the Competition before the Pre-Competition Camp in the venue. Everything that referees can prepare and execute through online sessions and exercises, we will do. This will maximize our on-site time at Camp, when the main focus is on the application. We try to avoid the situation where, when referees are face-to-face, we use the time to explain & study theory. Every action is planned to apply the knowledge they have already acquired during the online phase."

 

The Future of Officiating: Autonomy and Advanced Tools

The PCP concept also shifts the responsibility for learning to the referees. You progress with your own phase, and you are not required to have a "coach" all the time telling you what to do. The integration of AI and avatars has opened a new learning landscape.

“The recent integration of AI and avatars into our materials and sessions has created a much more engaging learning landscape. While the 'wow factor' of this new technology is undeniable, it does lean toward a more singular, 'one-message' approach due to its pre-planned and programmed nature.”

 

The Stakes

A total of 44 referees—11 per site—have been nominated to officiate across the four global qualifying tournaments. These tournaments are the final gatekeepers for the Women’s World Cup, making the Pre-Competition Program's role in "one-playbook" officiating more critical than ever.

 

FIBA