The second half of the year will bring a busy calendar of ETTU events and league matches. To prepare match officials for the new season and ensure consistency, the ETTU URC held two webinars in recent weeks. The strong participation numbers demonstrated the officials’ eagerness to further develop their knowledge.
The first webinar was dedicated mainly to referees and their responsibilities. Marcin Fidala, ETTU URC Deputy Chair responsible for Referees, discussed key topics such as the draw, medical time-outs, and misbehavior regulations. Various real-life scenarios from previous events were also analyzed. More than 30 European International Referees attended this session.
One week later, Asko RÄSINEN, ETTU URC Deputy Chair for Development, together with URC member Tom Purcell, hosted a webinar for European umpires. This event drew an impressive turnout of over 140 participants.
Sessions were led by ETTU URC members as well as Gold Badge Umpires including Mircea STEFF, Kerstin DUCHATZ, Mark BECKMANN, Elena SEMENOVA, and Matej HAMRAN. Topics covered included match management, handling misbehavior, and recent rule changes. Special attention was given to mental health, focusing on how umpires can manage conflict situations and cope with pressure during matches.
European match officials are now well-prepared for the new season.
