Young sport officials play a vital role in the future of European sport, and now their voices are needed more than ever.
The EU‑funded REFS project – of which EuroHockey is a partner – has launched a new online survey for all young sport officials aged 14–20, including referees, umpires, judges, and all other officiating roles.
This research initiative aims to better understand:
– What motivates young people to begin officiating
– How they perceive officiating roles
– The barriers they face
– Their current experiences
– Their future intentions within officiating
The survey is available in English, French, Dutch, and Spanish, making it accessible to young officials across Europe.
👉 Take the survey here:
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/REFS
Dutch: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/REFS?lang=nl
French: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/REFS?lang=fr
Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/REFS?lang=es
Why Your Participation Matters
The REFS project seeks to inspire the next generation of sport officials in Europe through research, consultation, and real‑world testing with schools and sports clubs. The feedback collected will directly support the development of guidelines designed to:
– Improve the image and perception of officiating among children
– Recruit more young people to officiating
– Retain young officials over the long term
Whether you officiate in a club, school, or national competition, your experiences can help shape the future of officiating across all sports, countries, and levels.
Who Can Take Part?
– Young sport officials aged 14–20
– Referees, umpires, judges, and all other officiating positions
– Individuals from all sports, all countries, and all levels
Deadline
🗓 Tuesday, 31 March 2026 is the final day to complete the survey.
Don’t miss your chance to have your say.
More Information
Visit the REFS project website: www.refs-sport.eu
Contact: Ben Gittus, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE)
✉️ ben.gittus@eose.org
