In Västernorrland, up to age 12, referees receive the same fee regardless of the players' gender, but in regional series covering divisions 2 to 5, there is a difference of between 90 and 20 kronor per boys' and girls' match. Players in these regional series are often between twelve and sixteen years old. At senior and junior levels, there is a difference of 100 kronor, or almost 25 percent, between women's and men's matches.
The Swedish Floorball Federation centrally decides fees for senior and junior levels, while county associations decide fees for boys' and girls' matches and series. In Gävleborg, Dalarna, Västergötland, Västerbotten, Skåne, and Stockholm, for example, they have chosen to have the same fee for boys' and girls' matches at youth level. According to SVT Mittnytt, Peter Palander, operations manager at Västernorrland's floorball association, says they usually have a revision every year.
We usually have a revision every year.
He also says it might be time to have the same fees, and they need to discuss it. According to SVT Mittnytt, Palander further says referees are much more exposed when refereeing boys and it is harder to referee. It remains unclear why Västernorrland specifically chose different fees while other counties have equal fees, or what exact criteria or data were used to justify the fee differences in Västernorrland.
The timeline for when Västernorrland might review or change its fee policy is unknown. Whether there have been any formal complaints or legal challenges regarding the fee disparity in Västernorrland, or how the fee differences impact referee recruitment and retention compared to other counties, has not been confirmed.
It might be time to have the same, we need to discuss that.
You become much more exposed when you referee boys and it is harder to referee.