Cebu to host PVF Referees Congress

CEBU, Philippines - For the very first time, the Qeen City of the South will host the biennial Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) Referees Congress on September 17-19 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Five international referees will be conducting the extensive exams during the three-day congress for the would-be national referees, which is held in coordination with the GUV Cup and the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA).

PVF-RC vice president for Eastern and Central Visayas Nona Catipay said that they all have been waiting for this congress to be held in Cebu as assigned to them during the PVF-RC in Tacloban last 2007.

Upon her appointment as vice president, it was decided that Cebu will be the next host. It was on time as the sport is very booming here especially with annual staging of the biggest volleyball competition in the country – the Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup.

The GUV Cup and CEVA officers and members went to Tacloban in 2007 for the PVF-RC, which only happens once after every two years.

The congress will be inviting national referee candidates from Dumaguete, Siquijor and Bohol and other candidates who wish to join and were not able to participate in the last PVF-RC.

Catipay, who is also the CEVA executive director, stressed that only those who have taken the referees’attestation course last 2008 and 2009 could attend the congress since that course is a pre-requisite of the congress.

“If all the participants will pass the extensive examinations that they will undergo during the congress, then we will be glad to have more national referees by the end of the congress. They will be awarded as level 1 referees and will be qualified to officiate in major tournaments,” said Catipay.  (THE FREEMAN)