The Confédération Africaine de Volleyball(CAVB) has officially launched its first in-person Continental Refereeing Seminar in seven years, marking a significant milestone in its renewed commitment to technical excellence and capacity building across the continent.
Taking place from 17 to 20 April 2026 in Kigali, the seminar is expected to draw over 20 of Africa’s top international referees, including several members of the esteemed CAVB referees panel.
The initiative comes just ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 Men’s African Club Championship, reinforcing the critical role of high-level officiating in the success of elite competitions.
The program got underway this Friday under the leadership of CAVB Refereeing Commission President and FIVB Instructor Mohamed Badr Lazreug, alongside CAVB Refereeing Commission member and FIVB Referees Coach Ali Fadili.
The opening ceremony was attended by Rwanda Volleyball Federation President Raphael Ngarambe and CAVB representative Enzanai Tafara Madzivire.
In his remarks, Mr. Ngarambe expressed gratitude to CAVB and its President, Bouchra Hajij, for entrusting Rwanda not only with hosting the 2026 Men’s African Club Championship but also this important refereeing seminar.
“This dual responsibility reflects confidence in our federation and our capacity to deliver at the highest level,” he said.
CAVB has in recent months intensified its focus on refereeing development, organizing International Referee Candidate Courses for both volleyball and beach volleyball within a five-month period.
A beach volleyball course was held in The Gambia in September 2025, followed by a volleyball refereeing course earlier this year in Cairo, Egypt.
The seminar will combine both theoretical and practical sessions, covering key areas such as improving match flow through smooth refereeing techniques, the modified Rules of the Game recently approved for testing by the FIVB Board of Administration, integrating new technologies, and reviewing important match cases.
As African volleyball continues to grow in stature, this seminar reflects CAVB’s commitment to ensuring that its referees are fully prepared to meet the evolving demands of the modern game
