Squash Pathway Inspiring Refereeing and Inclusion Training

ongoing

SPIRIT project aims to attract more women to refereeing in squash and promote gender equality in sports through a structured mentoring and training approach. By addressing the barriers women face in entering and advancing in refereeing, the project seeks to create a more inclusive and supportive environment. The project will implement a structured mentorship system and practical testing to create sustainable opportunities for women referees and to ensure the methodology is replicable for local clubs and federations as well as for other sports. The project will combine research, training, and pilot testing to identify challenges, develop tailored training programs, and implement practical mentoring sessions where selected women referees will receive support from experienced mentors. A comprehensive training curriculum will enhance skills and confidence, while a best practices guide will provide valuable insights for a pool of selected women referees or women willing to become a referee. By fostering mentorship and providing targeted support, SPIRIT seeks to increase female representation in squash refereeing and contribute to a more inclusive sports environment, while facilitating networking, and create a strong community of women referees. A key element will be the pilot test, which will include both online sessions and on-field training at major squash events. These practical sessions will ensure that participants gain real-life officiating experience and receive hands-on guidance. The consortium gathers 5 organisations from 4 different countries: European Squash Federation (ESF - Netherlands), International Federation for Sports Officials (IFSO - Netherlands), Czech Squash Association (ČASQ - Czech Republic), Squash Ireland (SI - Ireland), Natsionalna Sportna Akademiya Vassil Levski (NSA - Bulgaria).