Sport Ireland has launched the first national survey examining behaviours toward sports officials across Irish sport, as part of ongoing efforts to better understand and support the officiating community.
Players, coaches, and spectators who have interacted with a sports official during a competition or game over the past season are encouraged to take part in the survey, which aims to capture a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
Michael McGeehin, Sport Ireland Director of Coaching, emphasised the importance of officials within the sporting system:
“Officiating is a valued and vital part of sport. Without officials, the games we care about simply could not take place. At Sport Ireland, we are committed to ensuring officials are supported, recognised, and equipped with the tools they need to thrive. This survey is an important step in addressing the challenges facing officiating, including declining numbers, an ageing workforce, and increasing levels of abuse from players and spectators.”
The survey explores participants’ experiences and observations of behaviours toward sports officials, including both positive interactions such as respect and appreciation, and negative behaviours such as verbal abuse. It also seeks feedback on attitudes toward officiating and potential actions to improve the environment for officials across all levels of sport.
Clare Dowdall, Sport Ireland Officials Development Manager, highlighted the survey’s role in shaping future initiatives:
“The launch of our Technical Officials Development Plan 2025–2027 marked the beginning of our commitment to strengthening officiating in Ireland. This survey will help us gather valuable insights to inform future actions, including the development of a national respect campaign. Our aim is to promote a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for technical officials and to ensure their vital contribution to sport is recognised and protected.”
The findings from the survey, alongside stakeholder input, will contribute to actionable recommendations and initiatives led by the Sport Ireland Respect the Officials working group.
The survey takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete and is open to individuals aged 18 and over who have encountered a sports official during the past season. The research is being conducted by Ulster University, with all responses remaining anonymous and confidential in accordance with GDPR principles.
Paralympics Ireland encourages members of the sporting community to contribute their experiences and help support the future of officiating in Ireland.
Take part in the survey here:
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/ulster/rto-player-coach-spectator-survey
