TALES COCTHE NEWSLETTER OF BWF TECHNICAL OFFICIALS JANUARY 2020 • EDITION NO. 26 TOKYO 2020 FROM THE CHAIR BY By Gilles Cavert GILLES Chair – BWF TOC CAVERT Let me first wish all of you a happy and prosperous new year 2020…… 2020 is a special year with two Major Events being organised: the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. With less than 200 days to go, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are approaching at a very high speed, not only for players, coaches, spectators and TV viewers, but also for TOs. Here, TOs will probably have one of the most exciting weeks of their officiating careers. The Olympic Games, for players, is a dream which come true and every match is played as if it was the match of a lifetime. The search for the gold medal is an incredible challenge, which requires decades of preparation and hard training. This should inspire the BWF TOs selected for both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to continuously increase their level of performance and willingness to improve, in order to be in line with the players’ expectations. Be prepared in the most efficient way; mentally, physically and technically. Your preparation for Tokyo starts now… www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 2 UPDATE FOR REFEREES By Jane Wheatley We also said goodbye to Juniarto Suhandinata A very busy year Chair – BWF Referee Assessment Panel (INA) whom, after many years of service as a BWF Certificated Referee and in recent years We began January 2019 with a Referee By the time this magazine goes to print 2019 a BWF Referee Assessor, is now retiring. A Workshop. Seven candidates participated in will be a memory and we are hurtling along man of wisdom, he was always considered in the Accreditation Workshop and I am pleased into another decade….2020. his reply, calm and with firmness of decision. to welcome four new BWF Referees into our During his years as a referee, Juniarto was fold: At the close of 2019 we said farewell and considered by the BWF to be in the top ▸ Yau Lin Na (MAS) thank you to many of our technical officials echelon of the referee team. Juniarto will be ▸ Julien Nys (BEL) who have contributed countless years of missed and we wish him well and many happy ▸ Artur Zaluzhnoi (EST) service. As the incoming Chair of the Referee years ahead with his family. ▸ Zheng SanLiang (CHN) Assessor Panel, I often reflect on the legacy created by Torsten during his tenure as the Amongst our family of referees 2019 was the We also welcomed Suvashini Chair of the Referee Panel and member of the year of retirement for five referees: Sivapathasundram (Suva) as Technical BWF Technical Official Commission. So many ▸ Gretha Prinsloo (RSA) Officials Manager. The workload in the office years of wonderful service, a man whom ▸ Ronny De Vos (BEL) is immense and we are very pleased to have I consider to have the gift of empathy and ▸ Ahmad Azad Pahlavan (IRQ) Suva on-board and sharing the load across compassion for his fellowman. ▸ Ajith Wijayasinghe (SRI) the technical official’s area. Suva comes ▸ Susana Maldonado (POR) to us with a background of working for the May I suggest that we all take on board some Badminton Association of Malaysia, so was of his skills: be approachable, understand the My heartfelt thanks to you all for the many well able to step into this role in the office. importance of listening before jumping in with years of service you have contributed. I wish both feet and know that showing a softer side you well in whatever pathway you now choose In terms of technical issues, referees have is not a weakness; it is a strength. to take. I hope we see you still involved with been putting forward recommendations your Continental Confederation as you have across many areas of the GCR and ITTO’s with Fortunately, for us all, Torsten is still in an enormous amount of knowledge and the express purpose of improving our game. the wings with his continued contribution wisdom to share with our up-and-coming and support. technical officials. Continued on next page www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 3 There is often the question as to what happens alongside a BWF Semi-Professional Referee We have a clear grading system to keep our to these recommendations. Chris Trenholme, or Certificated Referee, as well as a BWF referees performing at their best. Senior Technical Events Manager, diligently Referee Assessor to help support. records these recommendations/ suggestions Referees who are passionate about their job for internal review and, if necessary, they are Candidates are: and who want to be the best will work hard, put forward for consideration to the Events ▸ Chris Lawrence (USA) improve their skills and grades and gain Department Meeting Group who are tasked to ▸ Shirly Gabay (BRA) recognition and duties at the highest level. review these proposals submitted by you, the ▸ Diraj Gooneadry (MRI) BWF stakeholders. The Group meets at least ▸ Cleopatra Monco (ITA) As with any new system, constant review is once a year, or more at the direction of BWF ▸ Carmen Martinez (ESP) required to ensure it is sensible and relevant. Council, Events Committee or Staff. ▸ Nicos Vladimirou (CYP) We have been carefully monitoring the ▸ Jozef Kuprivec (SLO) 360-degree system and have made slight An excellent Level One Referee Manual is ▸ Artur Zaluzhnoi (EST) adjustments to the 10 levels of scoring. available online and the Level Two version is in progress. We are finalising the PowerPoint One level of BWF Referee BWF Referee Assessor Panel Terms presentation slides that will be the template of Reference for referees in their preparation the Team Over the past three years, we have been using Managers’ Meeting and Technical Officials the 360-degree appraisal system. This system It was recommended and adopted that the Briefing. Full discussion on these templates will is now firmly in place and whilst the current candidates for BWF Accreditation be 57 be covered at the workshop in February. format is to appraise each referee at least years of age or younger. Our next intake of once over a two-year period, it is envisaged candidates for BWF Accreditation will be held BWF Referee Master Class that this will become an annual appraisal. in 2022. Programme With the involvement of our stakeholders, Grade 3 and CC Championship A BWF Referee Master Class Programme this programme is robust. Appraisals clearly Experience for BWF Referees proposal has been accepted and adopted by identify strengths and weaknesses, and Council and is scheduled for implementation the good and the not so good performers. Discussion was held concerning the need for in 2020, starting at the Referee Workshop. Appraisals and evaluations are the opportunity Continental Confederations to ensure BWF The programme is available to those referees for improvement. Referees are integrated as much as possible retiring from 2032 onward. into their Grade 3 tournaments and Junior Because this appraisal system is so International tournament circuit to ensure The programme will comprise two parts: transparent, we have confidently moved to access to more regular experience. BWF will ▸ Candidates will participate in a specific one level of “BWF Referee”. We acknowledge work with the CC’s to assign BWF Referees to workshop with BWF Staff, selected Semi- that the change is very disappointing to some, Grade 3 tournaments and CC Championships. Professional Referees and BWF Referee however, in the past there was a ceiling on Assessors to further develop their refereeing the number of BWF Certificated Referees and Thank you for your support and dedication to skills; and now the door is wide open. There is no longer the job in your role as a BWF Referee in 2019. ▸ Candidates will be given one additional a situation where, having achieved a certain I wish you well in 2020 with safe travels and a appointment in 2020 as a deputy referee level, referees are resting on their laurels. happy and prosperous New Year. www.bwfbadminton.com PAGE 4 UPDATE FOR UMPIRES By Malcolm Banham throughout the event. Chair – BWF Umpire Assessment Panel There is also a review of the ITTOs underway, so please keep I hope you all had a fantastic your eyes open for the updates Christmas and hope you all have coming out in the near future. a prosperous and peaceful new I will be asking questions in year. The last year seems to have the workshops. flown by with much activity. There has been a lot of very good We have welcomed Kelvin Martin feedback from the workshops (BAR) to our Umpire Assessment that have taken place, so Panel. Kelvin has been with us for please remember they are your the last 12 months and is a good workshops to ask questions asset to our team. We welcome or put your mind at rest on David Turner (AUS) and look Assessor workshop being held discuss various points to make any umpiring matters that are forward to David adding value to during the YONEX All England sure we are all consistent in our bothering you. the panel. Open 2020 in March, which feedback to the umpires. enables the assessors to transmit Remember knowing the Laws and I would like to thank the Umpire information to the CC Assessors As there is no assessment for understanding them helps with Assessment Panel for their as to what we are looking for in BWF Certification this year, quick clear decision making when commitment and dedication in a BWF Umpire. This in turn helps the assessors will have the in the chair.