VTB United League had held a series of online seminars for referees, commissioners, coaches and teams’ captains from September 17 to 19. From the League’s side CEO Ilona Korstin, officiating department head Nikolaos Picilkas and League’s sporting director Alexey Chudin participated in seminars.
Firstly, the League drew attention to the precaution and safety recommendations on games due to COVID-19 spreading: relocation rules before and after the game, clean zone definition, logistics peculiarities in the upcoming season.
Moreover, League representatives told about FIBA basketball rules changes that enter into force this season.
Besides, 2 seminars for statistics’ operators were held as a part of the preseason preparation. Over 60 specialists were instructed on assists, steals and turnovers accounting, and also the right indication of fast breaks.
League’s CEO Ilona Korstin:
– The League hold coaches and referees’ seminars annually with the help of our FIBA and Euroleague colleagues. Every year the rules of the game of basketball are changed, thus it is important to deliver relevant information to all games’ participants to be qualified enough for our League.
We are discussing specific moments, reactions and players’ behavior. I reckon that we got on well with the coaches, and the head of the officiating department Nikolaos Picilkas is doing a great job in analyzing game moments and answering relevant questions. This year we discussed precaution recommendations a lot. As for captains, this meeting was held for the first time. It is very important to have a direct connection with our players and to hear their opinions. I hope that seminars like these will become annual and players will express their positions more actively.
All meetings were held in an online format for the first time. Perhaps, it leads to a loss of face to face communication but anyway everyone took part in the meetings and asked important questions. Coaches and players usually have tough schedule, and they all can’t arrive to Moscow on a one date. Although in an online format, we have quickly delivered relevant information to all the participants.
