Volleyball BC is proud to announce Anna Tereshchenko as the recipient of the 2026 Female Leadership in Refereeing (FLIR) Award, recognizing her outstanding commitment to officiating, her leadership within the referee community, and her dedication to advancing opportunities for women in the sport.
The FLIR Award provides $1000 annually to support one female referee in accessing training, mentorship, leadership development, and resources that help remove barriers to participation. Established as part of Volleyball BC’s strategic plan to improve the female experience in refereeing, the award addresses the ongoing gap between the high number of female athletes in volleyball and the significantly lower number of women advancing through higher levels of officiating.
She emphasized that the award represents both acknowledgment and encouragement:
“It means a great deal. Both as the recognition of the work I put in, but more than anything, the encouragement that I’m on the right path as a referee… It requires significant personal investment to get development and higher level opportunities, whether that be both my time and finances, especially when it comes to travel. So opportunities like this make it more possible to pursue higher level development, that I might not otherwise have access to, per se.”
Anna intends to use the award funds to support travel costs associated with pursuing higher‑level officiating development opportunities and assignments, particularly those in the United States—an essential step for referees seeking advanced certification and exposure to elite competition.
Beyond financial support, Anna highlighted the broader impact of visibility and representation:
“Beyond the financial support, what means the most is the opportunity to continue growing and to give back to the sport. I hope to be someone that newer officials, especially young women, can look up to. Visibility matters, and when girls see another woman on the ref stand it normalizes the idea that it’s a place they belong too.”
She also spoke to the award’s role in shaping a more inclusive future:
“Overall I think this award will allow me to continue to develop as an official and also help retain more women as referees, and that means so much more than personal recognition… The chance to contribute to a more inclusive future, and a future where more women can be involved in the sport of volleyball.”
Volleyball BC congratulates Anna on this achievement and celebrates her ongoing contributions to the refereeing community. Her leadership, passion, and commitment continue to inspire the next generation of female officials across the province.