The REFS project is an ambitious three-year Erasmus+ Sport initiative designed to transform the engagement of young people in sport officiating across Europe, officially launched on the 9th and 10th of April 2025, with the first Full Partner Meeting held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bringing together experts from the eight partner organisations, the meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative journey to develop youth officiating as an attractive, rewarding, and supported role.
Building a Positive Future for Youth Officials
The meeting aimed to outline the project’s strategic vision, develop shared expectations, and set a foundation for collaboration among all partners.
The partners agreed that officiating is an essential pillar of sport, but it has too often been overlooked, especially when it comes to young people. They also confirmed that the REFS project is about more than just recruitment — it’s about giving youth officials the recognition, support, and development pathways they deserve.
Discussing the Challenges in Youth Officiating
The meeting provided the opportunity to discuss current issues, trends and challenges in youth officiating. From social media abuse to gender disparities and retention struggles, the conversation shed light on the need for targeted activities to enhance engagement.
Participants also emphasised the importance of mentoring, pay, recognition, and reframing officiating as a dynamic role that teaches vital life skills such as leadership, confidence, and decision-making.
REFS Objectives and Impact
The REFS project builds on the legacy of previous European initiatives in officiating ONSIDE and WINS, aligning with Erasmus+ Sport priorities to promote integrity and values in sport. The project will focus on three main areas:
- Improving the image and perception of officiating among children (ages 8 – 13)
- Attracting/recruiting young people to officiating roles (ages 14 – 20)
- Retaining young officials (ages 14 – 20)
REFS will raise the profile of officiating, contribute new knowledge to the sector, create a shared platform for best practice, and inspire the next generation of sport officials across Europe. The project was presented as being about learning from each sport and each context, building an evidence-based approach that works for the realities young people face.
Building a Solid Research Base
Dr Tom Webb from Coventry University led a discussion focussing on researching the engagement of children and young people in officiating. Early findings reveal a striking lack of literature specifically dedicated to youth officiating — a gap that REFS aims to fill.
Following a period of desk research and literature review, the next phase of the research will involve a multilingual survey targeting youth and stakeholders, followed by interviews to further explore key themes.
From Research to Real Change
Each part of the Work Programme was discussed including a series of national and European roundtable events to bring together experts to explore issues, share experiences, and shape solutions for youth officiating.
The project will also develop comprehensive guidelines for the engagement of young officials and an inspiring video campaign. Pilot testing of the guidelines and campaign material will take place in 20 schools and clubs across France and the UK.
Charlotte Girard-Fabre, Secretary General and CEO, International Federation for Sport Officials (IFSO) said:
“I’m truly proud to represent IFSO in the REFS project — a meaningful initiative that reflects our core values: integrity, respect, and knowledge-sharing. Committing to youth engagement in sport officiating, a topic still too rarely explored, is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of sport in Europe”.
Jacob Oehlenschlaeger, Development and High-Performance Senior Manager, Badminton Europe said:
“It was great welcoming the partners to Denmark for the Erasmus+ supported project: REFS. We got off to a very promising start and the project will for sure make a big difference in inspiring young people in becoming referees, umpires and take on other roles related to sport officiating.”
For more information and updates, visit www.refs-sport.eu and follow REFS on social media of the partners.
Partnership
Contact
Ben Gittus – EOSE Director of Standards – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment
