No referee, no game. This weekend, 17 people in Luxembourg took an important step towards keeping ice hockey moving. At Kockelscheuer Ice Rink, RBIHF referee coach Frans van Ackeleyen led Level 1 and Level 2 training that brought together online learning, classroom work and on-ice practice. All 17 participants completed the course. For Luxembourg teams playing in Belgian junior and senior leagues, a stronger group of local officials means more support close to home—and a shared standard for every game.
The course began with two online sessions before Frans travelled to Luxembourg. That preparation allowed him to complete the classroom and on-ice parts of the programme over Saturday and Sunday.
The training is part of a growing partnership between the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation (RBIHF) and the Luxembourg Ice Hockey Federation (FLHG). Luxembourg teams compete in Belgian leagues, and their coaches and officials follow the same certification pathway as their Belgian counterparts. Several Luxembourg coaches have already joined Belgian coach education programmes. With enough prospective officials in Luxembourg to form a local group, holding this referee course at Kockelscheuer reduced travel for participants.
The weekend also invested in what comes next. Alongside the course, Frans trained a local referee instructor who can support and supervise officials in Luxembourg as they gain experience. Having guidance close to home will help them continue learning after the course.
This first step focused on Level 1 and Level 2, which prepare local referees. The federations aim to develop Level 3 and Level 4 opportunities in Luxembourg in the future, creating a path for officials to support higher-level senior games.
The RBIHF thanks all 17 participants for their commitment and Frans van Ackeleyen for sharing his weekend and expertise. Their work helps ensure that, wherever a Belgian league game is played, qualified officials are ready to take the ice.