The ISMF Referee Forum returned to Cervinia from 13 to 16 November 2025, bringing together the full international officiating community for three days of alignment, training, and preparation ahead of the 2025/26 season. Hosted at the foot of the Matterhorn, the gathering offered a focused environment for technical development, operational discussions, and on-snow practice.
The Referee Forum began on Thursday with a dedicated session for International Technical Officials and selected National Technical Officials appointed for Milano Cortina 2026. Participants established a common understanding of Olympic-specific officiating structures, clarified roles and reporting lines, reviewed Rule 50 compliance expectations, and prepared for operational scenarios and simulations. They also analysed photos and videos of the new Olympic course, gaining practical insight into its layout and key challenges. This session laid the foundation for effective coordination during the Games.
The full Referee Forum officially opened on Friday, welcoming referees, Technical Delegates, Jury Presidents, International Technical Officials, and members of the ISMF Sport Department. The day focused on debriefing the 2024/25 season, strategic updates, and a detailed review of the ISMF Rules & Guidelines for 2025/26, including penalty application. The Forum also introduced two new Sport Department members: Monika Strojny, Development & Event Coordinator, and Shiva Keshavan, Head of Sport & Events, who met the referee cohort and participated in the discussions.
On Saturday, referees moved onto the snow for practical workshops, analysing race elements and refining in-field decision-making. The morning session focused on officiating simulations reflecting sprint and relay conditions, while the afternoon featured an extended discussion on penalty attribution, supported by photo and video analysis, and clarified penalty communication procedures. These exercises ensured consistent approaches across upcoming World Cup and Championship events.
The final day returned indoors for a structured review of the simulations and an in-depth focus on the use of VAR. Case studies, incident assessments, and group reflections helped reinforce common standards and decision-making frameworks. The Referee Forum closed with collective commitments for the season ahead, highlighting a shared drive to maintain high officiating quality throughout the ISMF calendar.
With unified objectives and renewed alignment, the 2025 Referee Forum marked an important step in strengthening the professionalism and consistency of ISMF officiating worldwide.
