Strategic Development of Young Sport Officials: Recruitment, Retention, and Culture
Designed for University Sports Directors and Heads of Referee Committees, this executive course provides a strategic blueprint for solving the officiating crisis.
Moving beyond the basics of rule enforcement, this course equips leadership with evidence-based tools to build a sustainable pipeline of young talent. We address the critical challenges facing governing bodies today: how to attract the next generation, prevent burnout, and professionalise the officiating environment.
Certifiers:





Course description
The sustainability of university and amateur sport relies heavily on a steady, competent stream of officiating talent. Yet, traditional recruitment methods are failing, and drop-out rates among young officials remain alarmingly high. This comprehensive online course is designed specifically for University Sports Directors and Heads of Referee Committees who are ready to move beyond ad-hoc staffing and build a resilient, professional officiating ecosystem.
Moving beyond the mechanics of rule enforcement, this course focuses on the management of human capital in sport. It equips leadership with evidence-based strategies to attract the next generation of referees, mitigate early-career burnout, and foster environments where young officials can thrive.
Curriculum
Instructors
Charlotte GIRARD-FABRE
Secretary General
IFSO - International Federation for Sports Officials IFSO - International Federation for Sports Officials
Fernando PARENTE
Deputy Secretary General
International University Sports Federation
Ivo CARVALHOSA
Development and Healthy Campus Coordinator
International University Sports Federation
Margarida DIREITO
Head of Communications, Marketing and Digital
Braga Football Association - FPF (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol)
Paulo FERREIRA
IFSO - International Federation for Sports Officials
Sameer JANMOHAMED
Head of Sustainability
International University Sports Federation
More info
“Strategic Development of Young Sport Officials: Recruitment, Retention, and Culture” (YouRef) is an Erasmus+ project under the coordination of the Asociação de Futebol de Braga. The main goal of the YouRef project is to empower young sports officials through a comprehensive training programme, mentorship opportunities and skills development initiatives.
This course was developed with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The contents of these pages are the sole responsibility of the publishers and do not represent the views of the European Commission.




