The inaugural FIH Hockey ID Umpire Level 1 course has marked an exciting new milestone in inclusive hockey development, with the first edition held during the Euro Hockey League Hockey ID Club Championships on 20 April in the Netherlands.
Led by experienced educators Rob ten Cate (Netherlands) and Christoph Adler (Germany), the course mentored eight umpires through an innovative, hands-on learning experience. In a groundbreaking “Unified Umpiring” approach, mainstream partner umpires officiated alongside umpires from the Hockey ID community — individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID).
This powerful collaboration not only enhanced the quality of officiating at the tournament but also created a meaningful new pathway within the sport. For Hockey ID players who wish to stay involved after their playing careers, umpiring now offers an inspiring new avenue to continue their journey in hockey.
Participants in this first edition hailed from Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany, reflecting the strong enthusiasm across the region. With the success of this pilot project, there is great optimism that many more nations will embrace and deliver similar Hockey ID umpiring courses over the next few years, further expanding opportunities for everyone within the global hockey family.
Sven van den Hoek, who umpired at the event said: “It was an absolute honour to be a unified umpire at the EHL. Best practice for me was to get more tips on gaining and keeping the best overview on the field of play, improving my skills every match 🦾”
Norman Hughes, FIH Hockey ID Project Lead added: “It was inspiring to see how the ID umpires and their Unified partners worked closely together to officiate the EHL HID Championship games. It shows what is possible with some training and guidance and it is so important that we offer pathways for ID players, ID umpires and ID coaches. What a great outcome of this training that three ID members get selected to officiate at the EuroHockey ID Championships in Monchengladbach this August."
FIH congratulates all the participants, educators, and organizers for making this historic step forward — opening doors, creating opportunities, and living the spirit of inclusivity that defines our sport.
