ICSBF referee training successfully under development – also for CSIT Single Championships 2026

Together with ICSBF Vice President Anu Rajajarvi, she has developed the roadmap for the coming months, also with a focus on the CSIT Single Championships in Finland in March 2026.

The training documents were provided by Catch'n Serve Ball Austria, combined with those from TUL, and edited by Svetlana.

An ICSBF referee page has been set up: LINK

The first steps have now been taken.

An online seminar and written test for new referees have been held. Participants received practical training at the tournament in Numella, Finland, on December 6-7.

Several referees who had already been practicing in their clubs and local leagues - and who recently completed the referee training and passed the referee quiz - were assigned to officiate real National matches with on-court mentoring by Anu Rajajärvi and Svetlana Fedostseva.

They successfully completed their National Certification!
A few of them are already ready to move toward International ICSBF Certification.

We will now continue with feedback meetings and then the training for the CSIT Single Championships, which will take place on site in Pajulahti on March 12, when all those who will be actively involved in the CSIT Single Championships will join us.

Of course, they also have online appointments before.

This also includes everyone who would like to participate in ICSBF referee training in general.

Please note that the practical introduction will start:
on Thursday, March 12, at 4 pm and will last until 6:00 pm.

After dinner, the technical meeting for captains and coaches will take place at 8:00 pm.

More detailed information will follow soon!

The ICSBF supports the first phase of training, so participation is free of charge until April 2026.

 “We at the ICSBF ExCom of course support the training of uniformly highly qualified referees and the establishment of a Referee Academy. Only with excellent referees can we remain true to our ideals, such as ‘fair play’. Thank you, Svetlana!” said ICSBF President Elisabeth Speiser-Havel.

Meet Svetlana - A Referee with a Bigger Vision

When Svetlana first stepped onto the court as a Catch’n Serve Ball referee, she didn’t just see lines, whistles, and rulebooks. She saw possibility. For her, every match is a chance to make the game safer, clearer, and fairer for everyone involved.

Svetlana is committed to growing as a professional referee - learning, reflecting, and improving with every tournament. But her dream goes beyond her own development. She wants to help others follow the same path. Her long-term vision is to create a Referee Academy for Catch’n Serve Ball: a place where referees from all over the world can train, share experiences, and build a common standard of excellence.

Together with future “referee ambassadors” across the globe, Svetlana imagines a network of officials who bring more structure, clarity, and fairness to the game. Through shared education and support, she believes referees can become true guardians of fair play, not just rule enforcers.

For Svetlana, Catch’n Serve Ball is about fair play first.“Our job as referees is to make the game safe, respectful, and enjoyable, while applying the rules consistently,” she says. “Players and coaches should leave feeling the game was about them - not us - because we made it fair, safe, and fluent.”

With her enthusiasm, leadership, and vision for a global referee community, Svetlana is helping shape the future of Catch’n Serve Ball - one well-officiated match at a time.

Contact: Svetlana Fedostseva: referee@catchandserve-ball.com