Technical progress
In the last two decades since the founding of reftools.ch, your first contact point for referee equipment in Switzerland, significant technological advances have taken place in the refereeing world. Here are some important innovations that have had a direct or indirect impact on our company:
2004
Since our foundation in 2004, we have been proud official partners of ErvoCom Schweiz AG in Feusisberg. Their customized tools, combined with state-of-the-art transmitter and receiver electronics, form the innovative RPS, which continues to be manufactured entirely in Switzerland. Since the year 2000, our Referee Paging Systems have been used at international matches and major events, be it at all European and World Cups or as standard equipment for UEFA referees since 2000. Who could imagine officiating matches in the regional 2nd division or even internationally without RPS these days? It seems like only yesterday... 😉
2009
Vokkero is the world's leading provider of wireless headset solutions for professional sports and has long been used in numerous major sports leagues and championships. We have been working with the French manufacturer since the launch of the VOKKERO EV03 in 2009. The first communication system for sports (see image) was followed by the VOKKERO SQUADRA in 2012. With the introduction of the VOKKERO ELITE system in 2020, one of the most professional communication systems on the market was launched. In 2020, Vokkero launched the SQUADRA ONE for amateur use. This was replaced by the VOKKERO UNITY in summer 2023. The new, affordable system based on the ELITE system will also shape the Swiss sports landscape over the next few years. Among other things, the system will be used in lower leagues of football, floorball and handball.
2012
Goal-line technology was not permitted in football until July 2012. However, it had already been used in tennis since 2006. Shortly after the 2012 European Championship, FIFA decided to introduce goal-line technology to determine whether or not the ball had completely crossed the goal line. The permitted systems are goal cameras (Hawk-Eye und vieww) to monitor the line and a radio chip in the ball (GoalRef-System).
2018
The 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia already saw a small revolution in communication. For the first time, FIFA allowed direct communication between the coaches' bench and the analysts in the stands. In the Bundesliga, the first trials started in the 2018/19 season. The right headset solutions for this area of application have already been tested and can be ordered from us, whether in football, field hockey or volleyball (Guardian Staff)
2019
Football, the players and all coaches are constantly evolving thanks to the use of innovative technologies. This is and has always been a major challenge for refereeing. In order to also provide technical support to the referees on the pitch, the clubs of the Swiss Football League (SFL) decided at the General Assembly on November 23, 2018 to introduce the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Super League for the 2019/20 season.