In the aftermath of the CEFL Bowl III, the Head Referee of the game, Michael Ulicny, has grown stronger ties with the league. He accepted the position to act as Head of CEFL Officiating, a newly formed part of the league that will form the backbone of the league’s available officials next year and in years to come.

“I’m looking forward to joining the CEFL. The goal is to raise the officiating to the next level in 2009, a task accomplishable in working together with the national federations and new officials willing to join the CEFL program”, said Ulicny.

At the moment, the CEFL Officiating has four regional coordinators that are assigned to provide information to officials from the region interested in joining CEFL Officiating. They are: Luka Fabiani for Slovenia, Damir Župan for Croatia, Siniša Ljubišić for Serbia and Ulicny himself for Austria; and they can be reached at their e-mails:

fabiani{at}european-league{dot}com

zupan{at}european-league{dot}com

ljubisic{at}european-league{dot}com

ulicny{at}european-league{dot}com.

* If you would like to be a part of the CEFL officiating, please contact your closest

Regional coordinator. No previous experience necessary – Adequate training will be made available by CEFL.

The league will work closely with the Slovenian Football Federation, a new federation looking to establish well founded structures in the next few years. CEFL-Officials who are not member of a domestic federation domestic federation will officially be associated with the Slovenian Federation, which will also give them access to official European competitions.

Aside from supporting the CEFL tournament, CEFL Officiating will be promoting international cooperation and development, supporting local officiating federations – through organizing clinics, education, other related activities and providing referees to local federations if required.

The League is convinced it has found the right person for the job in Mr. Ulicny, an officiating veteran, active since 1989. The 46-year old has officiated 485 games in that time, including nine Austrian Bowls, and plenty of international games — among others the European Junior Championship twice and the EFAF-Cup finals three times, and of course the CEFL Bowl twice. At the time, he was also a player from 1987 to 1992, and a licensed coach from 1995 to 2000.