YouRef Erasmus+ Sport Project gains momentum in Gijón

During their second meeting, the partners reviewed the progress of the initiative aimed at increasing youth participation in sports officiating and discussed next steps across various work packages.

The YouRef project consortium gathered in Gijón, Spain, on 27 May 2025 for its second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM). Key topics of discussion included the design and implementation of a survey, central to the project’s research phase, that will target young people aged 18–29 and aims to understand both the motivations and barriers to becoming sports officials or referees.

Parallel discussions also took place about the development of the YouRef Educational Programme, which will be hosted on SportAcademy.com. This online course will be designed for university sports departments and schools, which will give them the necessary tools and knowledge to support the development of future sports officials.

The consortium will also be present at the European Sport Congress, set to take place in Lille, France, on 5–6 November 2025, where the key themes of Education and Innovation will be explored.

About the European Sport Congress

The European Sport Congress is an annual event that focused on the European perspective of sport, the design and implementation of innovative projects, and the internationalisation of sport-related institutions and the mobility of their staff. The 2025 edition will take place on 5–6 November in Lille, France, and will focus on the themes of education and innovation.

More information about the congress, agenda, and participation can be found here.