The EuroHockey Officials Committee met in Brussels this month for a productive day of discussions, bringing together representatives from across the committee’s three specialist subgroups to review progress and set priorities.

The meeting provided updates from the appointments, technical officials education and umpires and umpire manager education groups, alongside reports from the representatives on FIH Umpiring, Technical Officials, Competitions and Rules Committees; a review of safeguarding developments as well as FIH Guidelines for the Grading of International Officials and the recently added Pregnancy and Maternity policy.

Committee members also reflected on recent international events and explored opportunities to further strengthen support structures for officials across Europe.

A major focus of the meeting was education and development. Discussions took place on the committee’s learning plan for 2026-2028, the re-establishment of core learning outcomes for officiating courses, and the continued evolution of online and in-person educational opportunities.

Projects under review included the Online Team Managers Programme, a Judge Development seminar and the ongoing development of the Judges4Europe initiative.

The umpire education subgroup also outlined its long-term ambitions, reviewing pathways for umpire development at both national and European level.

Topics included umpire manager education, the education of international development umpires, and plans for future seminars and mentoring opportunities.

Meanwhile, the appointments subgroup considered ongoing evaluation processes for Umpire Managers and Technical Delegates, reviewed technology developments including Altius and Global TMS systems, and discussed preparations and strategies for upcoming international events and the pathway toward the Los Angeles Olympic cycle.

Reflecting on the day, Officials Committee Chair Magda Nazaret said: “The Officials Committee meeting was smooth, constructive, and productive. 

“The session brought together updates from all three subgroups, giving us a clear picture of the work underway across the committee.

“I’m excited to see our courses and educational programs evolve to better meet the needs of officials across Europe. The committee is working extremely hard to improve career pathways and opportunities for those who devote their free time to serving hockey.”