This year’s European Universities Handball Championships in Bydgoszcsz, Poland was not only a memorable tournament for the athletes, but for the referees as well. 

As EUSA’s partner, the European Handball Federation provided the referees who officiated the games at this year’s Championships while simultaneously carrying out referee clinics as part of the EHF Young Referee Programme. The budding referees were put through their paces, first completing fitness tests and attending lectures on the days before the competition.

With the support of EHF Lecturers Mr Alexandru Acsinte, Mr Klaus Dieter Convents, Mr Tomo Vodopivec and EHF Office member Mr Marcos Bestilleiro, twenty referees from ten different countries took control of all the matches, which is part of their practical experience in becoming internationally licenced handball referees.



Young Romanian referees Ms Mihaela Paraschiv and Ms Georgiana Lungu said they thoroughly enjoyed being part of the European Universities Handball Championship.

“For us it was a great tournament,” they said. “We spent a few nice days in Bydgoszcsz and the atmosphere was wonderful. Fair play was present all the time and this made us very happy. We are glad that we had the opportunity to take part in this tournament.”



Up-and-coming referees Mr Hrvoje Cacic and Mr Frano Josic from Croatia said the experience was highly beneficial as they continue to improve in their careers as handball referees.

“As part of EHF Young Referee Programme, we worked with top EHF delegates and lecturers,” they said. “With them it makes it easier for us to learn and provide their advice directly onto the handball court, therefore we can say that this was a quite big experience for us that will surely help us to grow as referees.”



Ms Paraschiv and Ms Lungu said they were impressed at the level of handball on show from the student-athletes.

“The level of handball was high and spectacular, with experienced players and dedicated to their passion,” they commented. “We had the opportunity to talk to some players and most of them are playing in their national championship, not only for their university, so the handball played was at a very professional level.”



Mr Cacic and Mr Josic feels that EHF’s participation in such university sport events is important for the growth of handball as a whole across Europe.

“University championships play a big part in the popularisation of handball,” they said. “As we all could see, last week was great week, a great handball tournament with great organisation. The tournament was won by the best teams, whistled by good referees and new friendships were made. All in all, it was a great tournament that is part of EHF which showcased great entertainment and great handball action. With cooperation with EUSA, EHF can only grow as well.”



After six days of enthralling handball action, it was University of Granada from Spain who claimed the men’s title at this year’s European Universities Championships, while in the women’s final, Poland’s Vincent Pol University in Lublin emerged victorious, winning their fifth European Universities Championship title in the ten editions that have been organised since 2006.