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provide referees with video clips of their action
FIBA U19M - Australian referee uses FIBA steps to improve work
PRAGUE (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Australian referee Christopher Reid has been one of the many beneficiaries in FIBA's concerted efforts to improve the preparedness and game-calling of its officials before and during global competitions.
As part of a new initiative by FIBA's Referee Department, Reid and his refereeing colleagues at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship were provided with a package of material on the organisation's intranet system accessible to the referees prior to their arrival in Prague.
"The material gave us good guidelines in regards to points of emphasis we were to follow going into the tournament. And it came prior to the one-day meeting before all the games," said Reid, who is officiating in his second FIBA World Championship following the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship in Kaunas.
"It was good to get us all on the same page prior to even coming to the tournament."
The package includes documents and articles on a wide range of refereeing issues, going from game management to preparing yourself and being ready for the event mentally to specific information about game issues such as how hand-checking will be addressed.
"I will definitely be taking the information from the intranet site to Australia and the (Australian domestic league) NBL and pass it along to our NBL manager and pass it on to further leagues down the track," said Reid, who next season will be entering his ninth as a referee in Australia's domestic top flight.
The other major purpose of the FIBA intranet system is to provide referees with video clips of their action during the game. The clips can be put into the system in time for the referees and instructors to discuss directly after the game.
"The clips emphasize some good things as well as areas to improve upon. That's been really good to develop and give you things to take back after the tournament and put into play in local games," said Reid.
"It's really good to highlight not only the calls but also the movement around the court."
With the tournament drawing to a close, Reid has already identified a few areas in which he needs to work on his craft, thanks to the video feedback and post-game discussions with the instructors.
"You will never have a 100 percent perfectly called game. That's what we are all aiming for. But there will always be the odd one here or there. It's about minimizing those," said Reid, who would like to work on his positioning on the court and clock management among other areas.
"Those are things I can take back into my local country and work on."
Reid's big goal is like many of the players whose actions he is refereeing.
"Tournaments like this are what you aim to get to. The ultimate goal for any referee like a player would be to go to the Olympics and World Championship for Men and Women," said Reid.
