The IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Russia is not only an opportunity for young players to gain experience at an international tournament but also for referees too.

As part of our ‘4-4-4’ series, IHF.info asks four referee couples from four continents four questions.

Fadel Diop and Abdoulaye Faye are both physical education teachers from Senegal and along with the referee couple; former international referee Aime Mbengue is also present as an IHF Technical Delegate - making the Senegalese contingent three at Russia 2015.

IHF.info: When did you first meet and can you remember your first game together?

Abdoulaye Faye (AF): We first refereed together at an adult handball tournament in Senegal in Dakar back in 2006 and after we refereed that we started refereeing together regularly.

I was with another referee partner for two years before meeting Fadel, but at that time I met him I was changing because the one I was with was older than me.

Fadel Diop (FD): Right at the beginning of knowing each other, before he was my referee partner, we were friends because we played handball. He played in a team in Saint-Louis (town in north-west Senegal) and I played in one team in Dakar.

I was a centre back, left-handed and he was a centre back and a wing, using both hands. We always had strong games when we played together - I think that’s why it is easy for us to work together, it’s easier to referee with someone who is the same as you.

IHF.info: Can you remember when you got your IHF refereeing badge and can you remember your first IHF nomination?

AF: We got our badges in Hammamet, Tunisia back in April 2013 with Dawud Tawakoli (member of the IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission).

FD: We were very proud and happy on the day we got our IHF badges. For about four of five years Senegal has not had international handball referees so we were very happy - we are currently the only two.

In the past there were some difficulties in Senegal with handball refereeing so when we gained the IHF badge we called other referees to meetings and training.

We want a lot of people to become referees, so we help to promote and train referees.

AF: Last year we received a nomination for the IHF Women’s Youth World Championship in FYRO Macedonia and we were very happy to go to an IHF competition and represent African handball and African referees.

FD: When we got our badges we arranged a meeting with everyone at the Senegalese handball federation and then we told everyone that we had a nomination for the World Championship - it was a very happy day.

AF: We had a little pressure when we went to FYRO Macedonia, but that’s normal because when you arrive at a new competition you don’t know what will happen.

FD: All the referees there really helped us, but as we arrived late due to some visa issues en route in Istanbul we got there two days late.

AF: We arrived with the referees from Congo and because we were late we had no time to meet everyone as all the referees had already to departed to their venues but when were all together at the end they were all nice, they all helped us a lot and we discussed handball and life.

FD: When we returned to Dakar, we organised a meeting with the Senegal federation, the coaches and the referees to let them know what really happens in handball - at the highest level and what we had to change and develop in Senegal.

IHF.info: Tell us about handball and refereeing in Senegal.

FD: In Senegal everyone likes handball; north, south, east and west.  It is big in Dakar, Saint-Louis, Thies - all of the cities.

AF: Handball is for everyone around Senegal, of course you have lots of teams in Dakar, but in all the other cities you have one small team who represents that city.

In the past all the handball champions were from Dakar but now the other cities have got stronger.

In the past students from across Senegal would have to come to Dakar to complete their baccalaureate to enter university so handball was always strong there, but the other cities are now fighting for championships and there is more competition in these places which is good for Senegal.

FD: Also the IHF are helping to get handball into schools with their after school development programme and support.

AF: We do not feel any pressure to help the young referees, we love doing it. We love getting people who are not in handball or even sport to come into handball to play or referee.

We are Physical Education teachers so when we find young people who have the capacity to play handball we tell them where to play or referee.

I have two boys in my school, and I am nurturing and training them as a couple for refereeing. Each day we work together I teach them a bit more about the refereeing courses.

IHF.info: What are your views on the rule experiments at Russia 2015?

FD: I looked at Brazil 2015 (where the rule change experimentation first started) on the internet and when we came to Russia it was good as we knew it already.

One important thing is the time taken for injuries during matches has been cut so you don’t get too many difficult players now.

AF: We knew what to expect before we got here as they had already been tested Brazil, so we had a little idea already.

New rules are very good, the time of the match now is longer now so players who do not have continue to play.

The blue card is very good as it shows what happened to the player; it’s easier, it’s clear and we don’t have to go to the coach and explain to them.