DIMAPUR — The selection of volleyball referees from Nagaland for the forthcoming Nagaland Olympic Games and Northeast Olympic Games was conducted by the Nagaland Volleyball Association (NVA) on January 23 and the 24th, at the Sports Training Centre (SAI), Half Nagarjan, in Dimapur.
Yanbemo Humtsoe, NVA's Technical Secretary, announced on Wednesday that a referee refresher class is being held to select 24 qualified referees for the upcoming Nagaland Volleyball Olympic Games, which will be held from February 12 to the 17th at Sovima, Chümoukedima, as well as the North East Olympic Games, which will be hosted by Nagaland on March 23.
He stated that 34 certified referees (32 males and 2 females) from across the state are participating in the selection process, of which 24 will be chosen. He added that the main goal is to select the best referees to conduct the matches.
Participants are from different districts, including Mokokchung, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Wokha, Kohima, Peren, Tseminyu, Longleng, and Dimapur, he said.
Humtsoe explained that on the first day, they held a personal practical test, followed by written exams on the second day, and that referees would be selected based on their performance in both exams.
Two observers from the Department of Youth Resources, a state coach and a junior state coach, as well as Humtsoe, will assist with the selection.
He stated that in order to become a certified volleyball referee, they must have certain educational qualifications as well as knowledge of volleyball rules. He also mentioned that three senior Nagaland state volleyball players are taking part in the selection process.
According to Humtsoe, to become a certified referee in the state, the district unit of the NVA holds a clinic for five to six days where interested people can come and attend, and from there, participants are given a certificate to referee at the district and state levels.
To become a national referee, they must take an exam at the national arena, which is administered by the Volleyball Federation of India, he explained.
He stated that there are currently no national-qualified volleyball referees in the state, but that the NVA intends to send some referees from the state by the end of this year, when the Volleyball Federation of India conducts the referee exam.
He added that the NVA is conducting this type of selection process for the first time.
Notably, the state has 67 certified volleyball referees, but only 34 were able to participate in the selection process due to their own busy schedules.