22 6. EHF/National Referee Evaluation – Further Training 6.1. Delegate system “On-court and off-court officiating” have become major topics in all team sports due to the growing importance of appropriate game administration and professional event management with regard to the needs of the media, TV and the sport public. The current EHF delegate system is in discussion within the responsible EHF bodies in order to professionalise off-court officiating and event management. However, the referee – delegate cooperation has been improved considerably over the past years. It is based on a well-conceived feedback/evaluation system of referee observation and assessment, commonly developed by the EHF CC and MC. The abolishment of “just awarding points” for a referee performance has been highly appreciated by all parties involved. At the so-called “postmatch conferences”, the delegate is supposed to give feedback to the referees based on his observations as well as listen to their self-assessment (Compare annexes 8 and 9 Referee Performance/Delegate and referee sheets/Clarifications). The EHF internal results are statistically evaluated by an external expert, Anton Schlick/ AUT in order to have comparable data for the future. EHF delegates have been trained for the proper application of this system during regional EHF delegates’ courses as well as EHF courses for new delegates for many years now. The course basics, theoretical and practical topics as well as testing and evaluation criteria are laid down in the EHF Curriculum for EHF Delegates’ Courses as follows: 1) ORGANISATION: EHF in cooperation with National Federations as local organisers (High level handball tournament obligatory) 2) TYPES: a) educational courses for new EHF delegates every year b) regional training courses for EHF delegates (3 year cycle) 3) COURSE LECTURERS/ADMINISTRATORS: a) 3 lecturers from CC, MC, CC Lecturer Staff, or external specialists b) 1-2 administrators from EHF Office/EHF CAN 4) DURATION: 3 days