ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - As the world comes to terms with life amidst the coronavirus pandemic, FIBA Africa has started a journey to empower referees across the continent through webinar courses launched on May 18. 

A total of 67 referees from six countries including Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Republic of Congo undertook the second of many phases led by FIBA Referees Instructor Mathurin Nguessan on Tuesday. 

"THIS WEBINAR IS AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY THAT FIBA AFRICA OFFERS TO NATIONAL FEDERATIONS TO UPGRADE THEIR REFEREES IN THIS PERIOD OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND CESSATION OF ALL SPORTING ACTIVITIES. "- Nguessan

The main talking of this session was the game while the upcoming ones will be an insight on substitutions and timeouts, throw ins and out as well as the rules and regulations surrounding player injuries, the block charge, traveling, duties of the chief crew and how to handle the last two minutes of a game. 

Speaking to FIBA.basketball, Nguessan explained in detail that, "It gives the occasion to newly admitted FIBA Referees Instructors to establish a first contact with a fairly large group of national referees and to share their experiences with them."

"This e-learning is also a big opportunity for young referees to reinforce their capacity from their different places of residence. They will be able, as soon as the domestic leagues are authorised by the different countries to implement what they have learned while waiting for the face-to-face training courses that FIBA Africa will organise in the future."

FIBA Africa has over the years invested in increasing the quality and quantity of referees across the continent and with the diverse activities on the calendar, opportunities like this present the young and upcoming referees a chance to dream and target growth and development. 

This webinar also serves as a refresher course to help them gain more confidence, stay in touch with the latest adjustments to certain rules of the game while also emphasising the age-old ones through demonstration of videos from recent high-level tournaments. 

"This webinar is an interesting opportunity that FIBA Africa offers to national federations to upgrade their referees in this period of travel restrictions and cessation of all sporting activities," Nguessan pointed out. 

The webinar courses have been divided into the French-speaking and English-speaking groups so as to benefit the whole continent and will run till July 10 with Botswana, Namibia, Uganda and Zambia attending the very last one.  

FIBA