SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 14, 2009.- The Course for International  Referees Candidates held in the FIVB Regional Development Centre in Dominican Republic concluded on Wednesday and was rated as “very successful” by its director Tom Blue of USA.

All nineteen participants approved the course lectured by Blue and Jose Sanler of Cuba. Blue is currently the Secretary of the FIVB Refereeing Commission and Sanler is member of the Rules of the Game Commission.

Italian Daniele Rapisarda and American Michael Gale had the best theoretical and practical scores respectively.

The participants had the opportunity to officiate the matches of a men’s tournament organized by the Development Centre with several Dominican teams that included members of the national squad.

During his speech during the closing ceremony, Mr. Blue reminded the referees their role as part of the game and the kind of good relationship they must maintain with coaches and players during the development of the matches.

Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, President of Norceca Confederation and FIVB First Executive Vice President attended the ceremony. He was accompanied by Mr. Yunior Arias Noboa, Under Secretary of Sports of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Nelson Ramirez, Director of the Centre, and Mr. Ramon Garcia, President of the Dominican Republic Volleyball Federation.

The participants in the course were: Brazilians Paulo Picanco and Felipe Turchiari, Americans Gale and William Stanley, Puerto Ricans David Reyes and Miguel Angel Figueroa, Salvadorians Hector Rivas and Jose Menjivar, Trinidadians Sheldon Sandiford and Betty-Ann Ruth, St. Lucians Wendell Jean Baptiste and Terry Faisal, Bajans Sherry Yearwood and Dale Addison, the Italian Rapisarda, Andew Cameron of Canada, Darko Savic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Blaz Marjelj of Slovenia and Marcus Blondel of Dominica.