The Saudi Basketball Federation’s refereeing course wrapped up today in Medina, running from September 16th to 19th. Thirty referees from across the Kingdom participated in the course, which is part of the Federation’s preparations for the tip-off of the new 2025-2026 season.

This course marks a first-of-its-kind refereeing event to be held in Medina, a move that underscores the Federation’s commitment to expanding its development programs to all regions of the Kingdom and boosting the sporting presence in cities with suitable sports infrastructure.

The course featured international refereeing expert Mr. Stalios Koukoulidis, who delivered a comprehensive training program that included theoretical lectures and practical field applications. He covered the latest amendments to the rules of the game and methods for developing refereeing performance according to the highest standards approved by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

The course focused on the technical and tactical aspects related to game management, in addition to enhancing the referees’ communication and decision-making skills, ensuring a professional administrative performance that contributes to raising the quality of local competitions.

This course is part of a series of development programs that the Saudi Basketball Federation is keen to implement regularly, with the aim of building a strong refereeing base capable of keeping pace with the developments of the game and actively participating in regional and international tournaments.