Mexico’s Maricarmen Duran
Duran, who took the referee’s oath at the opening ceremony of the competition, has become a very important representative of Mexican volleyball.
“I am very proud for being a referee,” says Duran. “Working in events like this one gives us a big chance to show our capabilities. I think we can see more women as referees in a near future, doing a good job like men”.
She has been nominated also to other international competitions which somehow projects her as an ambassador of Mexican volleyball outside of her native country.
In recent years Duran has officiated matches in relevant events such as the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara 2011, the Women’s U-20 Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru; and also the London 2012 Olympic Qualifier Tournament, held in Baja California, Mexico.
During the last competition she shared refereeing responsibilities with two other female referees of the NORCECA region, like Puerto Rico’s Aixa Sanfiorenzo and Cuba’s Lourdes Perez.
Maria Del Carmen has worked in grassroots level competitions in her country such as the National Elementary School Games that took place in Monterrey, Mexico. She was one of the referees assigned to officiate at the Mini-Volleyball contest.
Following the trend promoted by FIVB President Jizhong Wei, the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation has encouraged women to integrate to the work in different areas of the National Federations, with refereeing being one of the most important.
“International competitions like the U-18 Girl’s Continental Championship are a good stage,” she said. “Some other national referees, from different countries, hope to get a chance to prepare and open more doors.”
