Coctales No. 3

COCTALES
The Newsletter of BWF Technical Officials
FEBRUARY 2014
EDITION NO. 3
Embracing
Instant
Reviews
By Torsten Berg
& Juniarto Suhandinata
Referees Torsten Berg (foreground) and Juniarto Suhandinata were first to
officiate with the instant review system in badminton.
December 11, 2013, was a historic day for badminton’s
technical officials as their work came under the scrutiny of
the instant review system for the first time at the BWF World
Superseries Finals in Malaysia.
Initially, the players seemed shy about challenging and it
was not until the evening session when veteran Lee Chong
Wei raised his left hand that courtside referees were called
upon to judge badminton’s first-ever challenge. Thereafter,
players regularly used the system and all challenges
seemed reasonable, i.e. the shuttle falling either on the line
or within 2-3 cms outside the line.
The instant-reviews data from the BWF World Superseries
Finals is as follows:
Matches
played
Total
number of
challenges
TO decision
upheld
Line call
changed
No IRS
decision
44
33
19
13
1
Referees’ Observations:
More than 1000 shuttles which landed close to one of the
lines covered by the cameras were checked. In 14 cases
line judges’ errors were documented, even if players did not
challenge the call. This was due to the camera picking up
more than 200 frames a second, whereas the human eye
picks up around 25 frames a second.
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
The equipment and the operators functioned almost
perfectly. Out of a total of 35-40 hours of play on the TV
court, the cameras/IT system was only out of action for
a few periods, each lasting an average ten seconds. In
one case (see table above), the operator was interrupted
by a security guard and missed the shuttle landing, so no
decision could be given. In another case, the player’s leg
covered the best-placed camera but a decision was made
by looking at another camera angle.
In some cases TV cameramen and team officials looked
over the shoulder of the referee and the operator when they
were making the decision.
In the majority of cases the referees made decisions
confidently, although there were some decisions that
were close to call. The players, coaches, team managers
and technical officials were invited to view the calls and
decisions after the match – and many did. When studying
the replays, everyone was happy with the decisions.
The players were given the right to challenge twice in a
match (and keep the right if the challenge was won). There
was only one match where the players exhausted their right
to challenge.
The timeframe from the player challenging the line call to
the referee communicating the decision to the umpire was
between 5-15 seconds (initially 10-25 seconds). Umpires
www.bwfbadminton.org
PAGE 2
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
Welcome to the third edition of COCtales.
It’s been a while since our last newsletter and we hope
you are all well and enjoying your officiating duties.
This edition has information about the latest decisions
made by the Events Committee and some reports we
hope you will find useful and informative.
We are very pleased to welcome Chris Trenholme
to the new role of Technical Events Manager at the
Badminton World Federation.
Many of you will remember Chris who was a former
player, national coach and administrator. Most recently,
he served as Vice President of Badminton Canada
and chaired its High Performance Committee. He also
worked as Event Manager for an agency responsible
for the delivery of multi-sport games.
Chris therefore has all the experience to be an excellent
asset to the BWF and he will support the Technical
Officials’ Commission in all aspects of its business.
We wish him well in his new post and look forward to
working with him.
In our next edition, we would like to hear from you. If you
have any issues you would like to raise, please e-mail
Chris Trenholme: [email protected]
Regards
Vanessa Freeman
Editor-in-Chief
did not overrule any line calls on the IRS/TV court.
The hand signal system used to communicate the referee’s
decision was not ideal: (a) it was difficult to see the referee
from the umpire’s chair as the referee was sitting in the
dark outside the strong light of the field of play and (b) the
‘thumbs up/down’ regarding the technical official’s line call
could be confused with a reaction to the player’s challenge.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
1. The IRS system tested under ‘live’ conditions at the
BWF Superseries Finals in KL December 2013 worked
very well. It was recommended that this system (or
an equivalent) should be used by BWF, with further
refinements as outlined below.
2. The IRS system tested was reliable and in nearly all
cases provided the ‘correct’ result. However, it would
be recommended that the operator and the referee (or
other person delegated to take the decision) be placed
in a position where they are not disturbed.
3. The players did not abuse the right to challenge and
only uncertain line calls were challenged.
4. The IRS system and the decision-making process were
fairly fast and did not last longer than any normal break
between rallies. Challenging a line call must not be
used as a delaying tactic for a player to recover.
5. The instant review system requires immediate attention
by the operator and also by the referee who cannot
leave their seat during play. The IRS puts another
demand on the referee’s time and this may be too
much, particularly in events with play on several courts.
However, with a little experience, the decision-making
is not difficult and therefore this could be delegated to
another technical official.
6. The referee’s decision on a challenge should be
simplified to an ‘IN’, ‘OUT’ or ‘UNDECIDED’. The
umpire will then know what to call and how to continue
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
the match. One idea would be signaling via a green
light with appropriate lettering for ‘IN’, a red light for
‘OUT’ and a yellow light for ‘UNDECIDED’, this would
be easily understandable for spectators and television
audiences.
7. In due course appropriate graphics for television and
large screens in the stadium should be developed.
The Events Committee has since agreed the Instant
Review System will be used in 15 tournaments in 2014: the
MetLife BWF World Superseries (12 Superseries and the
Superseries Final) and two Major Events.
www.bwfbadminton.org
Technical
Officials
Commission
The role of the Technical Officials Commission is an advisory
group made up of experts. No decisions are made by this
group, but recommendations can be made and submitted
to the Events Committee and then on to Council if required.
Torsten Berg
Chair
Peter Tarcala
Chair Events Committee
Jean-Guy Poitras
Badminton PanAm
Confederation
Peter Cocker
Badminton Oceania
Ewald Cejnek
Badminton Europe
Nahathai Sornprachum
Badminton Asia Confederation
Jen Ponambalum
Badminton Confederation Africa
Chris Trenholme
BWF Technical Events Manager
Andy Hines-Randle
BWF Events Officer
At the last meeting the following recommendations and
decisions were made:
•
Recommended that referees use all of the certificated
and in particular the accredited umpires for the semifinals and finals at SSP, SS and GPG events to allow
PAGE 3
personal development and more exposure to officiating
at a higher level.
•
The Events Committee recommended BWF, SSP,
SS and GPG tournaments have an English-speaking
line judge coordinator as a mandatory role. For GP
and Level 4 Tournaments it is recommended that an
English-speaking line judge coordinator be appointed.
•
Rotation of Line Judges: It was recommended that
line judges remain on one line, with international line
judges preferably on the sidelines and back boundary
lines and that there be no rotation during matches.
•
Referee Note: Work closely with the line judge
coordinator who has been appointed at your event.
•
Line Judge Notes: A specific person should be
appointed as line judge coordinator at BWF and
Superseries events.
This person should speak
English.
•
BWF international line judges will receive a line judge
kit which will include such items as a pin badge and a
cap.
•Host organiser can use any colour for a line judge’s kit
apart from white or red.
Congratulations to the following
people who have been promoted:
BWF Certificated Referee
Carsten Koch (GER)
BWF Accredited Referee
Marcel Schormans (NED)
Girish Natu (IND)
Eric Lissillour (FRA)
David Cheng (TPE)
Ian Ross (ENG)
Monique Bastien (SUI)
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
Accredited Umpire
Sudip Barve (IND)
David Wong Peng Seng (MAS)
Christof Osebold (GER)
Liu Yun (CHN)
Takahiko Tsujinaka (JPN)
Certificated Umpire
Mark Wright (ENG)
Simon Au (HKG)
Louwrens Bester (RSA)
Eric Desroches (CAN)
www.bwfbadminton.org
PAGE 4
Roles and
Responsibilities:
Referee, BWF-appointed
Tournament Director
and Technical Delegate
Torsten Berg and Darren Parks
In general, the referee is in overall charge of events. The Laws of Badminton,
paragraph 17, makes that clear. However, badminton develops and grows fast,
and commercial elements become steadily more important at the top of our game.
In brief, where a BWF tournament director is appointed by BWF, the referee will be
in overall charge of all technical areas and the tournament director is in charge of
commercial areas and sports presentation.
Badminton has succeeded in becoming an official sport in many multi-sport
games over the last few years, and in such games – from the Olympics onwards
– a technical delegate plays an important role that sometimes overlap with the
responsibilities we normally allocate to the referee. The following text (recently
agreed by BWF) describes the roles and responsibilities in some more detail.
In BWF Major Events, Superseries and Grand Prix Gold,
the referee will work closely with the tournament director
(appointed by the BWF Secretariat to each tournament),
and in multi-sports events the referee will work with one or
more technical delegates and relevant BWF staff. Everyone
must share information, cooperate and be responsible for
their actions. Every decision may be crucial and will have
to stand up to scrutiny. Any mistake may reflect badly on
badminton in an international and exposed environment.
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
The Referee
The Referee is in overall charge of the tournament
competition. The referee must ensure that the tournament
is conducted in accordance with the Laws of Badminton,
the Rules and Regulations and any other regulations
pertinent to the specific competition. He/she shall ensure
that the players are given facilities (including practice) and
playing conditions of an adequate standard and safety.
www.bwfbadminton.org
PAGE 5
Approval of the programme of play, practice schedule,
ensuring appropriate transport, and an overall monitoring
of matters related to the fair and proper conduct of the
tournament for the players are essential.
The referee shall also ensure that there is an adequate
panel of technical officials who have a high level of
ability and experience with appropriate international
representation.
The Technical
Delegate (TD)
In multi-sport games, the Organising Committee will
The BWF
Tournament
Director
ask BWF to appoint a TD. There may be regulations
concerning the TD’s role and responsibilities in the
Games statutes and they may vary from one multi-sport
games to another. Generally, the TD will be appointed
very early on, sometimes years before the event is due
to take place.
Initially, the TD takes over the referee’s responsibilities
for the preparation of the badminton event in a multiThe BWF Tournament Director is in charge of the
commercial aspects including the presentation of the
game.
When the sporting and commercial/presentational areas
meet there will always be grey areas. It is important that
common solutions are found in these ‘grey areas’ and
any decisions made must be able to be defended to any
outside party. The order of play in the last rounds is an
example where good cooperation is crucial.
The BWF Tournament Director would have the final
decision in matters affecting the implementation of
BWF’s commercial and media rights contracts, including
the presentation of the field of play.
The BWF Tournament Director will provide the referee
with a recommended order of play on the televised courts,
based on consultation with the various stakeholders
(broadcasters, hosts etc.) and the Referee should follow
this order of play.
All parties must always work within the boundaries of the
regulations.
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
sport games. Once the referee is appointed, the TD
should keep the referee informed about major issues
related to the preparation of the event.
The TD would then hand over responsibility for the
delivery of the event to the referee in connection with
the team managers meeting, which would be run by
the referee. The TD would keep close contact with
the referee during the event and offer advice on any
matter, particularly relating to protocol, to the Organising
Committee, Olympic Family and to other sports.
The TD will liaise closely with the BWF Events Chair,
Secretary General, Events Director and the relevant
Events Department official/s in connection with the
general preparations of any multi-sport event on a world,
continental and regional level. Any overall principle
matters outside the normal oversight of technical
matters should be referred to the BWF Secretariat
and appropriate replies should be sent from the BWF
Secretariat. The roles and delegations between the TD
and the Events Staff team would be coordinated and
decided from time to time and may vary depending on
the nature of the multi-sport event.
www.bwfbadminton.org
DESIGNING
ISSUES
PAGE 6
The skeleton T-shirt is deemed
to be potentially offensive and
not ‘acceptable sports clothing’
as required by GCR 19.2.
The dragon T-shirt, although it
is not offensive, the dragon is a
figure/picture and it is not part of
an abstract design, so it is not in
accordance with GCR 21.2.
From time to time the referee will be presented with a new
shirt and asked whether the shirt is acceptable. Umpires
may also be uncertain on the legality of a shirt’s designs
and if so they should consult the referee.
When the referee decides, he or she would consult BWF
General Competition Regulations and the most relevant
regulations are 19.2 and 21.2.
GCR 19.2 says that ‘all clothing worn by players shall be
acceptable sports clothing’. Generally, this regulation will
rule out clothing which is not designed for sports, and
clothing that may be considered as offensive.
As norms differ slightly around the world, the referee should
judge the clothing within the environment/country that the
tournament is taking place and use his/her common sense.
The new wording of rule 21.2 says: “Designs should be
abstract and devoid of advertising, representational,
commercial or promotional content. Figurative and
pictorial representations may be included as part of an
overall abstract design. BWF are the sole arbiters of what
constitutes an abstract design.”
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
The blue T-shirt is an example of mixed abstract and pictorial design
so it would be allowed.
The advice is that 21.2 should be read with emphasis
on ‘devoid of advertising and commercial effect’ and that
figures and pictures are only allowed when part of an
otherwise abstract design. The design shall be essentially
abstract but may include ‘pictures’ of things within that
overall abstract design.
We will always have some designs being in a ‘grey area’
or rather subjective, but hopefully we will not see many
cases. Over time BWF will collect examples of shirts that
can and cannot be accepted, which will then help to support
referees’ decisions.
If ever in doubt, the referee should take a flexible approach
during the tournament. Allow the player to wear the shirt,
but advise the player and their team manager that advice
would be sought as to its legality. We would recommend
taking a photo of the article and e-mailing it to the BWF
Events Department to get advice. In that way we get one
point of contact to assess the shirt. Then it can be done
consistently.
www.bwfbadminton.org
PAGE 7
General
Information
The Umpire Training
Manual
Training Manual is now on the BWF website.
Admission to Team
Managers’ meetings
recent university games in Australia and it had apparently
received negative feedback. It also seems that Member
Associations are not keen on the experiment. It was
therefore recommended by the Commission to suspend
this experiment for the moment. It was felt more important
to focus on other major changes, such as the instant review
system and an alternative scoring system.
The Technical Commission agreed that the Team Managers’
Meeting is a closed meeting and is only open to team
managers, team representatives, interpreters or anyone
pre-approved by the Member Association or invited by the
referee. As it is a closed meeting there should not be any
form of media in attendance.
Timeframe at Start of
Matches
Score Sheets
It would also give television a timeframe from which to work.
No need to print out score sheets. The only reason to
print out a score sheet would be if something exceptional
happens on court, e.g. a card for misconduct or injury etc.
Team Managers Signing
Team Sheets
There is no need for team managers to sign team sheets
during team events, unless exceptional reasons apply.
Service Height
Experiment
Although the BWF has the equipment available for Member
Associations to experiment, the equipment was used at a
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
Currently the time taken for a player to prepare for the start
of matches, for example removing their training attire is
inconsistent. The Commission recommended two minutes
from the toss to the game beginning would be appropriate.
Travel Grants
The Commission recommended that inter-continental travel
for BWF umpires should be increased to a maximum of
US$1000 with continental travel grant limited to US$500.
BWF Workshops 2014
It has been confirmed there would be a combined workshop
for both certificated and accredited referees and assessors
prior to one of the Superseries tournaments in the second
half of 2014. It is hoped this combined workshop would be
held alongside the French Open. One day for certificated,
followed by two days for the accredited workshop which
would offer practical elements.
www.bwfbadminton.org
PAGE 8
BWF Umpires’ Assessments
During the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in New Delhi assessments will take place for BWF certification. The four assessors
will be:
Sudhakar Vemuri
Asia
Mike Walker
Pan Am
Malcolm Banham
Europe
Yau Lin Na
Asia
Mike Walker and Malcolm Banham will be appraising those BWF umpires who are not there for Certification.
The following assessors have been selected for MetLife BWF World Superseries events in 2014 and they will be responsible
for umpire appraisals to raise the standard and uniform performance of all BWF umpires attending the tournaments:
January
Korea
Peter Ganes
Europe
March
All England (Superseries Premier) - Birmingham
Sudhakar Vemuri
Asia
June
Indonesia Open (Superseries Premier) - Jakarta
Greg Vellacott
Oceania
June
Australian Open (Superseries) - Sydney
Malcolm Banham
Europe
Oct
French Open (Superseries) - Paris
Nahathai Sornprachum
Asia
November
China Open (Superseries Premier) - Guangzhou
Jean-Guy Poitras
Pan Am
The assessors during the World Championships in Copenhagen will be:
Peter Ganes
Europe
Yau Lin Na
Asia
Greg Vellacott
Oceania
Jean-Guy Poitras
Pan Am
Toasting
Torsten Berg!
Long-standing BWF referee, Torsten Berg, retired last December after
serving the world-governing body for 27 years.
The Danish national has officiated as referee in three Olympic Games
and is currently Chairman of the BWF Technical Commission. Berg’s final
assignment was officiating at the BWF World Superseries Finals in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, where he oversaw the introduction of the instant review
system.
Last May, he also bade farewell to the BWF Council on which he served
for 28 years, holding various capacities over the years. Berg, who began
as a deputy referee in the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in the
mid-1980s, has enjoyed the distinction of refereeing more than 20 BWF
Major Events
One of his most memorable and historic contributions was serving as
technical delegate, along with Sir Craig Reedie, during badminton’s
Olympic Games debut at Barcelona 1992.
“That was possibly the greatest experience of my badminton life. Many of
the decisions Sir Craig and I took 25 years ago still stand and positively
impact badminton’s Olympic performance today,” noted the veteran
administrator.
BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION
Retiring BWF certificated referee Torsten Berg (right)
received a token of appreciation from BWF President
Poul-Erik Høyer on the final day of the BWF World
Superseries Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“One of the things I learnt from working with Sir Craig was that our position
in the Olympic Movement is our finest gem. In Council, I sought to ensure
we achieved and maintained this. I had the pleasure of chairing the IOC
and International Relations Committee for many years as we consolidated
badminton and BWF’s place in the Olympic Movement. I have taken
initiatives to serve that purpose, which have later developed independently,
such as integrating para-badminton into the BWF and promoting women
in badminton.”
Berg, who will still kindly lend his expertise to BWF, was also responsible
for starting the federation’s Development Committee; a role he had already
fulfilled for Badminton Europe.
“It was great fun and very useful as badminton was among the first sports
to organise development programmes. Working with Emile ter Metz,
Charoen Wattanasin and Wang Wenjiao, we built a strong worldwide
organisation, with just a US$20,000 grant from Olympic Solidarity in the
first year,” he reminisced, thanking all his colleagues for their camaraderie
and assistance throughout the decades.
“I am happy to note the Development and Sport for All Committee for 2014
has a budget more than a hundred times larger and a top professional
staff. It’s been great to see ‘my baby’ grow and mature!”
www.bwfbadminton.org

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