The EuroHockey Officials Committee met in April for their first gathering of the new two-year term, setting out an ambitious roadmap for the development of officiating across Europe.
The meeting brought together both new and returning members, beginning with reflections on the committee’s role and a shared commitment to building a strong, consistent, and high-performing officiating system.
The committee’s work will be guided by the newly established 2026-2028 work plan which outlines the key priorities for the coming years.
“The committee is working full time to ensure the best opportunities for everybody who wants to pursue their career in officiating,” said EuroHockey board member and chair of the committee Magda Nazaret.
A central focus was the appointments of officials with the committee reviewing its strategy in light of the recently published FIH grading guidelines.
Plans were agreed to introduce improvements to the appointments process, including clear marking guidelines and enhanced evaluation systems for Technical Delegates and Umpire Managers.
Education remains a cornerstone of the committee’s work with significant attention given to both technical officials and umpires.
For technical officials, discussions centred on reviewing and standardising course content, as well as preparing for the launch of an updated judges’ pathway programme.
The development of new online learning opportunities, including a course for team managers, was also highlighted as a key step in improving accessibility and consistency.
In the area of umpire and umpire manager development, the committee outlined plans to expand ongoing education opportunities and strengthen existing programmes.
This includes the potential for a webinar series for umpire managers, further refinement of development pathways, and continued improvements to established programmes such as U4N and U4E.
There was also a strong emphasis on using education and appointments together to support long-term progression, helping officials reach the highest international levels.
Supporting national associations is another important pillar of the committee’s work. The group discussed the creation of a dedicated support “product” to assist national development, aligned with upcoming solidarity funding opportunities.
This reflects a broader commitment to building capacity and strengthening officiating structures across all member nations.
The meeting also included updates from FIH committees, as well as discussions on recent rule changes and technological developments, ensuring alignment between European and international officiating standards.
