FIBA Europe's Referee Department started its 2006 Clinics for National Referee Instructors and it's Potential Group of Referees in Gran Canaria, Spain this week.

Two clinics will be held for around 50 instructors, each of whom are responsible for the training and development of referees in their respective countries.

"We are here not only to teach or instruct, but also to learn from each other," said former top official and current FIBA Europe Referee Co-ordinator Miguel Betancor.

"Many of our instructors have come here with their own projects to share ideas, or concepts in how we can improve the training of officials across Europe.

"We don't have all of the answers - many of the problems are solved by us as a group.

		As part of the clinic, referees took part in physical training.

"We have a lot of experience, across all the countries and we must involve all of these people."

The referees also listened to a clinic from Domingo Diaz, the Spanish Women's national team coach.

Diaz spoke about how he prepares a team for top competitions and his expectation of referees in each game.

"As a coach, I need the referees to be inside the game," said Diaz, who has coached in Europe for the last 30 years. 

"The referees are important for me in what they do. I need to know their job and, they need to know and understand mine. We cannot exist without each other."

The referees also officiated local games and reviewed the teaching materials that will be used in the 2006-07 season.

"We have some excellent referees in Europe as evidenced by the number that are selected for tournaments around the world," said former international referee Richard Stokes, who now works in the FIBA Europe Competitions Department.

"However we must always look to the future, and where our next crop of talent will come from.

"We must continue to work with the officials and if everyone improves only 1%, the overall standard will increase.

"In this respect there is no finish line for us. We are constantly looking to improve all officials, not just the international ones."

Other parts of the clinic included the physical preparation of the officials throughout the season, plus the lessons that were learned from the changes in the sport in the last 12 months including the EuroBasket competitions.

This is only one part of FIBA Europe's programme for this summer. All referees at each tournament this summer will be evaluated and many more mini-clinics will be held each day with instructors and tutors nominated by the Referee Department.