By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The 26th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials, held in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, enjoyed the participation of all 65 officials who will referee EuroLeague and EuroCup games next season, along with 12 referee coaches and distinguished guest speakers. Among those special guests were David Blatt, former EuroLeague champion and current Darussafaka Istanbul head coach, and Ronnie Nunn, former NBA Director of Officials.
Among the instructional points of emphasis over the weekend was preparing referees to apply in Euroleague Basketball competitions during the 2017-18 season a newly reworded definition for travelling that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recently adopted for implementation worldwide starting October 1 (ed.note: the rule now follows the NBA standards and is described by FIBA as following: “While moving and having one foot on the floor while catching the ball or ending a dribble the next foot or feet to touch the floor is „Step 1“ and will become the pivot foot”).
From dawn until dinner on Saturday and Sunday, the officials took physical and written tests, pored over game situations and points of emphasis, and reviewed on-court trends with the Euroleague Basketball Officiating Department. Discussion groups and technology instruction added to the collective depth of knowledge as the referees focused on how to enhance both the fairness of the game and the fan experience.
“Our officials are dedicated to keeping themselves at the cutting edge of the game’s trends, and this weekend we saw their enthusiasm as they look forward to the new season,” said Richard Stokes, Euroleague Basketball Director, Officiating. “It’s all about constantly improving and ensuring that fans can enjoy Euroleague Basketball competitions to the fullest.”
The clinic, which took place at the Metropole Palace Hotel in Belgrade, coincided with the opening of many team training camps in recent days and pointed to the final destination for Euroleague Basketball competitions at the culmination of the 2017-18 season. The Serbian capital is where the new season will reach a crescendo next spring with the crowning of a continental champion at the 2018 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.
Source: EuroLeague