Preseason seminar for referees, delegates and controllers ahead of 2026/2027 season

The Basketball Federation of North Macedonia and its Referees Committee will hold a three-day preseason seminar for referees, delegates and controllers from 25 to 27 September 2026 at Hotel "Drim" and the TIMI sports hall.

Agenda and purpose

The seminar is a core part of preparations for the 2026/2027 domestic season and combines theoretical and practical work: physical and theoretical testing, video analysis, and presentations of recent rule changes and refereeing procedures.

Participants will register on 25 September, followed by an evening opening ceremony. The first day closes with a short workshop aimed specifically at referees attending the seminar for the first time.

On Saturday, 26 September, referees will start the day with the physical "Leger" test, while controllers and delegates will review their work and the controls from last season and receive guidance for the season ahead.

Key lectures and workshops will cover topics such as the development pathway for referees, disruptive and flagrant fouls, changes related to the moment of the shot, covering the play, technical fouls, game control and communication under pressure, as well as new referee signals, scoresheet notations and changes to the IRS rules. Among the instructors are Manuel Maconi and Miodrag Licina from FIBA Europe and Petar Denkovski, national instructor at the Basketball Federation of North Macedonia.

The seminar will conclude on 27 September with a video workshop, analysis of last season's officials and recommendations for the new season, followed by a theoretical test for referees, delegates and controllers. The federation says the training aims to familiarise officials with the novelties, improve their performance and ensure a uniform approach to rule application across competitions in 2026/2027.

Photo: press material from the event