To be accepted into the Referee Academy, referees must be at least 16 years old and have worked as district referees for a minimum of one year. This year, 46 referees from across Sweden are taking part in the academy. Throughout the week, they live together and officiate matches at Kviberg, Heden and Slätta Damm IP.

The training begins already on the Saturday before the tournament starts, when the referees gather in Gothenburg for an introductory meeting. On Sunday, the programme continues with both theory sessions and practical exercises, focusing on teamwork, communication and match management.

Each referee is placed in a smaller group with their own instructor. A total of ten referee instructors are on site throughout the week to support and follow the participants. After matches, the referees receive feedback and concrete advice on how they can improve. The programme also includes training in the role of assistant referee.

One of this year’s participants is 18-year-old Ollie Åberg from Oskarshamn. He describes the week as highly valuable for his development.

– I feel that I have developed a lot during this week.

Above all, he highlights the continuous feedback from the instructors as a major benefit.

– You get a lot of advice because we receive observations after almost every match. That allows you to work on things you might not have received feedback on from your district, says Åberg.

According to Unsal Yucel, referee coordinator at Gothia Cup, the Referee Academy gives participants an important foundation for the future.

– When the referees return to their districts, they have taken a step forward in their careers. It gives them a real boost, he says.

During Gothia Cup, each referee officiates a maximum of five matches, but the goal is for most referees to officiate three to four matches. The reason is simple – quality in refereeing is prioritised over quantity, while allowing enough time for education, feedback and continued development throughout the tournament week.