GER - Petra Kremer female referee alone among men

BERLIN (Bundesliga) - Former basketball national player whistles in the coming season in the highest German division. She is the second referee after Silvia Otto in eithties
in the first German Division.

Alone among men, Petra Kremer will have to accustom themselves to it. Finally, she is the single female Referee, that is put Bundesliga (BBL) into action in the forthcoming season of german basketball. But that is normal, I finally also did this during my active time. If the game starts, one doesn't waste any more" thought on it, the 39-year old one says, that from the 30. September all over in Germany on the way, in order to pursue her new hobby..

The former national player (158 uses), that constructed years into the nineties together with her twin sister Martina Kehrenberg the distinctive face of the Barmer TV and drew jointly responsible for seven German championships and eight national Cup-titles.In 1999 began her second career. The bank clerk, mother of two children belonged to the regional league cadre of the West German basketball association (WBV). Beyond the head league, it was into the regional league (2001) finally up where she pursued her second passion with husband Stefan together. One year later, the first deployments in the 2 . federal league of the ladies followed.. 2003 she celebrated her first game in the 1. Division of the ladies; later came uses in the 2. league of the men . Since 2005, she is in the possession of the FIBA-licence and she is authorzied to lead international games.

Petra Kremer looks forward to this challenge and calls Chantal Julian from France her example that stands as woman on international level after her international career. "In the men's world, I don't fear any authority problems, she sais and immediately clarifies." If a player grumble about my decision, he risks to be sent off the match.."
As I saw Petra Kremer myself at the preparation tournament of some BBL-teams last week I could conform the compliments of the spectators "The woman only whistled the best".

Hanns Peter LUTZIG
FIBA correspondent in Germany