I was met at the airport by Patrick at 12.15 pm. We then drove north to his office to pick up his laptop, and it was at a close by Portugese restaurant that we had lunch. At 2 pm we set off for Chaumont which was a 275 km journey by car (approx 170 miles). On a good day it would take about two and a half hours, but since the roads were bad with snow and it was minus 8 in Paris, dropping as we moved south it took three and a half hours. So we were there at 5.30 pm, to be greeted by temperatures at minus 15 degrees! No hotel had been booked so we searched for 15 mins and found the Royal Hotel at 35 euros per night. Managed about an hour rest, before a 5 minute journey to the hall.

The hall was fairly old, but spacious with 800 seat capacity. Roof was quite low but plenty of space at side and rear of playing court. There was a permanent taraflex floor, with pink playing court, white lines and green free zone. There was basketball as well as volleyball markings, but the court markings were very clear and no problem to see. I made two remarks on the score sheet after the game, no markings for the subs warm up area, and no markings for the penalty zones. Patrick said that they would be fined for this!

The match was fast paced with powerful hitting, as you would expect from teams positioned 1st and 5th in this league. There were 2 or 3 players from Chaumont who could easily fit in to playing CEV Cup or Challenge Cup.

Chaumont fairly breezed through the first 2 sets, always ahead and winning comfortably. As has happened previously with our games the 10 minute break between sets 2 and 3 tend to find the team down comes back with a bang and Canteleu played superbly in set 3 to win it 25-20. The fourth set again was going Canteleu’s way and they were 20-16 up and 22-19 up but Chaumont came back strongly to clinch it 27-25 and 3 sets to 1. Home crowd very noisy and at some points aggressive towards the away team by shouting at some players. The 2 linejudges were excellent and came from the local area. Very decisive with their signals and no need to overrule at all – their positioning for the lines again was first class.

Patrick said to me before the match that he was here to 2nd referee this match and was not here as an ERC member to do a written formal assessment of myself. He did say that between sets 2 and 3, and at the end of the match, we would discuss my performance and the match as a whole.

I felt very comfortable doing the match and felt that I was in control. Both teams were generally sporting throughout, although I had to call the captain of the away team across because of over celebrating by his setter through the net. Patrick said that I should have just called the player across and given him a verbal warning, rather than going through the captain. During the game I noticed Patrick with a couple of odd facial expressions after 2 of my signals for out balls. After the match he said that I called 2 ‘out’ balls – (both of which flew off the arms of receivers and hit the side wall) which he said should have been ‘touch’ calls. I mentioned outside objects, but he said CEV guidelines are only to call ‘out’ if it touches the ceiling, everything else is ‘touch’ including when the ball goes into the spectators. Obviously there is still ‘out’ calls for ball touching post, ropes etc. He went on to say that there was one call I should have made for a double touch, when a player tried to set the ball from position 1 to position 4. I recognised the point mentioned and thought it borderline as he had made a great effort to get to it (spectacularity?). Overall he said my handling calls were consistent for both teams and at a good level.

Patrick was pleased that I had taken on board all of the remarks he hade made with my written assessment in Paris in October(Out, Serve and Touch signals, and toss procedure). He stated after the game that he thought the match was ‘easy’, but we only made it ‘easy’ by being in total control of the match as a refereeing team. He said that I had a ‘very good’ match.

There was a small reception after the match, in the corridor of the hall where beer was flowing for the sponsors and officials. Patrick and I went to a local hotel were there was a pizza restaurant inside, and it was delicious. We were joined by the President of the club with his family.

It was then back to the hotel at around midnight (quite early for us referees!) Temperatures fell to minus 18 overnight, and I required the extra blankets from the top of the cupboard to keep warm. In the morning I awoke to no hot water – the boiler at the hotel had packed in due to the severe temperatures – so no refreshing shower! Had breakfast with Patrick at 8.30 am, the set off back to Paris. The roads had got worse by now and it took us 4 hours to get back to his suburb of Paris.

We had a Chinese Lunch at 1pm with Patrick’s wife Dominique joining us. After lunch we drove to a park in north Paris and went for a winter wonderland stroll which was welcome after a heavy lunch. It was then back to Patrick’s for a couple of drinks then we all went to the airport and I was dropped off at 7pm. Plane was on time – I was glad I travelled from Glasgow as I heard later that Edinburgh airport was closed and I would have had to spend another night in Paris if I was going to Edinburgh.

So, a very cold trip, quite hazardous roads, but a worthwhile one, with great experienced gained once again. A good standard match – better than anything I would get in Scotland, with a top class 2nd official from whom I learned a lot just by watching his movement, his posture, his positioning and his relationship with both coaches. For that it was worth the trip alone. Another great experience. Roll on January!!!

John Swan
29th December 2009