DAKAR, Senegal, July 4, 2025
Training the Next Generation
Umpires project to support the first Olympic event on African soil.
- The Young Umpires’ Project (YUP) is a global initiative.
- The project runs from August 2025 to October 2026.
- Top candidates will officiate at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is launching the fourth edition of the Young Umpires’ Project (YUP) to identify and mentor emerging talent; this global initiative focuses specifically on match officiating within **table tennis**.
Aims of the Project
The ITTF’s collaboration aims to elevate talent in match officiating through ITTF Sports Development, ITTF Education, and the Umpires and Referees Committee (URC). The project will support the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event ever hosted on African soil.
Building on previous editions in Singapore (2010), Nanjing (2014), and Buenos Aires (2018), the ITTF is committed to educating and empowering the next generation of elite match officials. Dakar prepares to make Olympic history.
Project Structure
The project runs from August 2025 to October 2026, featuring a blended pathway combining online mentorship, practical workshops, international assessments, and on-site experience. YUP is structured in two main phases:
- Phase I (August – December 2025): Online mentorship guided by ITTF experts.
- Phase II (January – August 2026): Online workshops, project assessments, and match officiating practice.
In October 2026, final on-site training will be offered in Dakar, with an opportunity to officiate at the Youth Olympic Games for top candidates.
Who Can Apply?
The ITTF invites Member Associations to nominate up to two candidates (one male and one female) who meet the following criteria:
- Aged between 20 and 30 at the time of nomination.
- Fluent in English.
- Certified as an ITTF International Umpire (IU), or National Umpire (NU).
- At least two years of national officiating experience.
Words from the Experts
Gold badge umpire Ehsan Ahmed (EGY), a participant in the 3rd edition of the Young Umpires Project, advanced to blue badge status in 2022 and earned a gold badge in 2024. Ahmed recalled:
“I have learned a lot from the project instructor and I have got a great experience. The Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 was a dream come true, the spirit of the Youth in every corner in Buenos Aires made the event so special and unforgettable.”
Patricia Maiz Calle (SUI), an active International Umpire who started in the 2018 YUP, said:
“When I started the Young Umpires Project, I was just a national umpire. I didn’t have big expectations, I just wanted to become internationally certified. I realized there were so many young people who shared the same passion as me. YOG in Buenos Aires was my first international experience, and honestly, I was pretty nervous at first. But I met some amazing people there, and that made things so much easier. After that, I couldn’t wait to keep going and travelling for table tennis. Since then, I’ve gone to many tournaments around Europe, sometimes even with friends I met in Argentina.”
Selection Process
**How does the ITTF ensure inclusivity in the Young Umpires’ Project?** The program emphasizes gender balance, universality, and regional representation. The ITTF Sports Development team and URC conduct the final selection.
The Young Umpires’ Project aims to inspire excellence and inclusivity in officiating, ensuring the voices of young match officials are part of the celebration in Dakar 2026.
Those interested can find an application form online.
Join the journey to Dakar 2026 and shape the future of officiating!
