FIAS International Seminar in Casablanca: Interactive Format and New Approaches to SAMBO Coach and Referee Training

The International FIAS seminar for coaches and referees took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from April 24 to 26. The event, attended by 49 specialists from different African countries, was led by FIAS Sports Director Sergey Tabakov.

The seminar programme was divided into two tracks – refereeing and coaching – each with its own specific focus and methodology.

The refereeing track centred on analysing the amendments to the International SAMBO Rules adopted at the FIAS Executive Committee meeting on March 31. Participants worked through the updated documents and regulatory framework in detail.

Addressing the criteria for refereeing excellence, Tabakov outlined three key factors: a referee must have a thorough understanding of SAMBO and the nature of a competitive bout, know the International SAMBO Rules inside out, and be able to defend their professional position without yielding to internal or external pressure.

The coaching track was designed to be as interactive as possible. The foundation of the sessions was the FIAS Regulations on the Certification of SAMBO Athletes and Coaches. The document was examined in depth: participants were divided into groups, each preparing a report and presentation on the belt patches corresponding to a specific qualification level, as well as demonstrating the relevant techniques. Challenging points were worked through collectively.

A defining feature of the seminar was the involvement of local experts. Sergey Tabakov brought in Moroccan specialists holding FIAS Level 2 coaching qualifications to serve as assistants. According to the FIAS Sports Director, this decision served a dual purpose: to lend additional authority to the sessions for the participants, and to give the specialists themselves hands-on experience in delivering a seminar. Athletes coached by these trainers were also present and actively involved in the process.

Another innovation was the inclusion of material drawn from research conducted by Professor Tabakov's postgraduate students – health-preserving approaches to SAMBO technique grounded in anatomy, biomechanics and physiology. The response from participants, in the Sports Director's assessment, was genuinely positive: rather than the resistance that new ideas often meet, there was engagement, questions, and a real effort to understand and apply what was being presented.

“I'm not expecting an instant transformation – that you'll abandon everything you've built and start from scratch. But pausing to reflect, taking something forward into your practical work – that could prove valuable,” Tabakov told the participants.

The seminar concluded with an examination. The practical component was delivered through a hidden assessment format, with the instructor evaluating the quality of technique demonstration throughout the sessions. The theoretical component took the form of an online test, with participants answering questions by scanning a QR code. Certification was conducted at the first coaching level.

The Casablanca seminar is part of FIAS's ongoing work to develop refereeing and coaching expertise directly at the continental level. As Sergey Tabakov put it, the central goal is to build a system in which continents and national federations can independently train and develop specialists across all areas of the sport.