Jamie Salvin, one of our highest level international beach referees, has recently been appointed to the Euro Beach Championships, held this year in the Hague in the Netherlands. Kicking off straight after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, the draw for both the men and women’s competitions is full of the big names from the Beach Volleyball world, including 9th in the world Łosiak and Bryl.
Jamie gave us a little insight into his beach volleyball refereeing career since completing his FIVB refereeing course last year: “Here is a little piece about my last year’s refereeing and my pathway to the Euro Championships 2024.
“After successfully completing the FIVB grading course in Thailand last November I wondered what things would be different for me in the following season as a referee.
“I knew that moving into the FIVB grading system potentially could open other doors for me but the first refereeing opportunity for me came whilst I was assessing volleyball referees in Dundee in early February 2024. I received a message from an old friend in Australia asking if I would be prepared to come and assist them with some tournaments later in the month.
“This was a great opportunity for me as I could referee some of their national tournaments and two FIVB future events. After smoothing out some of the details and checking I could take the time away from work I agreed on the trip.
“Whilst attending the FIVB futures event in Mollymook, NSW, I received the email from CEV assigning me to the European Championships (Men) in August.”
He continued, “After reading the email I had mixed emotions of excitement and trepidation and shared the news with some of my colleagues. After spending a little time with my brother in Sydney I then moved up to Coolangatta beach, QLD. This is where I finished up doing the last national and FIVB tournaments before flying home from Brisbane. It was very nice to get back to Coolangatta beach as this was where I refereed Beach Volleyball at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
“Knowing that I still needed more preparation before the Euro Champs I was looking to referee a couple more international events and these came back to back in June where I attended a NEVZA in Norway and then the NEVZA Youth Beach Championships in Bridlington, England.
“It has been interesting following the Olympic Games in Paris and the iconic venue of the beach volleyball. I don’t imagine many of the European teams from Paris will have much time at home before heading for the Netherlands where we will meet.”
