The REFS project is an ambitious three-year Erasmus+ Sport initiative designed to transform the engagement of young people in sport officiating across Europe. The third full partner meeting took place in Paris, France, on 29th and 30th October 2025 at the iconic Roland-Garros tennis stadium.
The main focus of the meeting was to plan the groundbreaking research being organised by the REFS project into recruitment and retention of young sport officials. Dr Tom Webb from Coventry University is the project Research Lead and he led the discussion on the three main strands of research.
Academic literature review
Very few academic studies can be found with a focus on youth and sport officiating. However, several interrelated themes were identified and discussed at the meeting.
- Officiating environment and interpersonal dynamics
- Psychological and emotional wellbeing
- Skill development training and knowledge
- Retention and continuity
As part of the discussion of literature, key messages to take forward were discussed including abuse as a major threat to youth officiating, training must be age-appropriate, officiating can be a site of positive youth development, and policy and practice must evolve – safeguarding reforms, structured development pathways, and recognition of young people’s contributions are essential.
REFS young officials’ interviews
The next stage of research activity will be interviews with young officials to be carried out by project partners. Having cleared university ethics processes the questions are now ready to be used for gathering key qualitative data from young people on motivations, barriers, and insights into the youth officiating experience.
Survey of young officials
Early in 2026 a REFS survey of young officials will be launched gathering more qualitative data on the image of officiating among young people, their motivations for taking up the role, and the factors that can enhance their experience and make them want to remain as officials.
The results from the research will inform a REFS Research Report as well as academic journal articles. This much-needed “new knowledge” for the sport sector will be crucial to inform sector-based interventions to improve recruitment, retention and all aspects of the youth sport official’s experience in sport.
At the meeting in Paris the partners also discussed the next steps in the project:
- The creation of a Compendium of Good Practice examples in engagement of young officials
- Organisation of eight roundtable discussions with stakeholders to debate key themes from the research
- Development of REFS Guidelines for sport organisations to improve the recruitment and retention of young officials
- Creation of campaign material / video clips to highlight the positive aspects of officiating for young people
- Piloting of the Guidelines and Campaign material in schools
Ben Gittus, Director of Standards at project coordinator EOSE said:
“The evidence base needed for improving the conditions for young sport officials is almost non-existent, this is a gap which will be filled by the REFS project. The partners were keen to discuss the themes from the literature review and actively support the research by carrying out interviews with young officials. Such in-depth research and development of “new knowledge” sets the scene for the development of crucial Guidelines to support the sector with the engagement of young officials”.
The partners thanked Afcam and the French Tennis Federation for arranging and hosting the meeting at the inspiring Roland-Garros tennis stadium in Paris.
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
