REFEREE DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT

How did you first get involved in refereeing?

I got into refereeing when I started playing touch in my early 20s at Norths.  After one season, the rep coach, Dave Z, asked me to trial for reps – purely coz I was fast.  Catching and passing… not so much.  My main role was just to chase!

As part of reps, we all had to do the Level 1 referee course and ref a game each week to help cover the State Cup weekend costs.  I started out super nervous, pretty much being walked around the field by more experienced refs (lots of hand-holding going on – literally!)

It was mostly a male refereeing group back then, but everyone was super supportive.  Somehow, I ended up being the only player who kept refereeing – mainly because I thought it was compulsory and just … never stopped.

What does/did your role as referee director involve at your affiliate?

I was the Norths Director of Referees for about 20 years (yes … 20 ) and only stepped down last year to let others have a go and to focus on our junior referees, where I now serve as the Norths Juniors Referees Director.

During that time, I did a bit of everything – recruiting refs, convincing them refereeing is actually enjoyable (sometimes a tough sell!) and developing them into strong confident refs.  I coordinated training, referee courses, supported refs, assisted with game allocations, uniform orders, social events, coached a number of refs through their badges, and prepared them for tournaments – uniforms, gala games, logistics and administration – the whole package.

I worked closely with the rep players, coaches, the Norths Reps Director, and even the NSW Touch team and panel, and made it my business to know both club, teams and referees so allocations weren’t just random – they made sense.

Retention and growth was a big focus too.  I wanted refs to want to come back – not feel like they had to.  I genuinely love Norths, so I always looked at the big picture – what worked, what didn’t and how we could keep improving each season.

Basically…. if it involved referees, I was probably somewhere in the mix.      

What has worked well in developing your referees at your affiliate?

For me, it comes down to time, attention and caring.

I make the effort to get to know our referees and stay engaged so I can support them properly – whether that’s coaching, feedback, keeping them involved or just having a quick chat.  I’ve learnt a lot from more experienced refs and coaches over the years, and I try to pass that on in a way that helps people improve without overloading them.

Club culture has been a big one too.  At Norths we have worked hard to build an environment where referees want to be there.  Getting paid to ref is a bonus – but its not the reason they show up or represent the club at tournaments.

I’ve always focussed on keeping referees as one team.  No cliques, no segregation – just refs supporting refs, learning from each other and feeling part of the group.

We focus on the little things and doing them well and attention to detail matters, but at the end of the day, its not that complicated – I care, I stay engaged, I support our refs and give them my time.  And hopefully the same standards are returned.

What’s been your biggest challenge within this space, and how have you approached it?

The biggest challenge I think would be managing different personalities and commitments while keeping everyone engaged.  Every referee is different – what motivates one doesn’t always work for another.  Add in work, family, sport and other commitments, and it can be a bit of a balancing act.

I have always tried to approach that, by staying connected and keeping communications open.  I make an effort to understand where people are at, support them, and be flexible where I can – while still maintaining standards and consistency across the group.

I have also always believed leadership in this space needs to be visible and hands-on.  Being present, staying engaged and leading by example makes a big difference – people respond to that.  It’s also important to recognise that all parties rely on each other for success – players, volunteers, referees and the club.

Building relationships has always been important to me.  I make the effort to stay connected, be approachable and engage with people at all levels, both within the club and across the broader touch community.

I also know I don’t always get it right, but I have always had the best intentions for both the individual and the club.  Creating a positive environment where people feel supported and part of a team has always been really important to me.  

I have never seen it as a one-person role – it works best when people contribute and feel part of something and having a strong leadership group at Norths has been a big part of that.  At the same time, if something needs to get done or I see an opportunity that will benefit the referees and the club, I’ll find the time, step up and take the initiative.

At the end of the day, if people feel valued and enjoy being there, they are more likely to stay, improve and support each other – and that’s what makes it work.

Its not always easy, but taking the time to listen, staying engaged and treating people as individuals has made a big difference.

How do you encourage referees to progress through the pathway?

I encourage progression by being accessible and staying involved in their development from the start.  I make myself available for questions, situations that may come up, and any scenarios or issues they want to talk through, and I try to work through those with them rather than just point them in a direction.  I also link referees with experienced refs or similar experienced referees and rotate opportunities so they can learn by watching and picking things up in real time.  I try to ensure they are exposed to a variety of refereeing styles and strengths, supported by appropriate mentors or demonstrating myself, depending on what they need to work on at different stages of their development.  The aim is to give them consistent exposure to quality refereeing while also broadening their learning through different experiences.

A big part of it is remembering where each referee is at in their journey and supporting them accordingly.  Personalising that approach helps the individual feel valued and they respond well to that attention.  Everyone develops differently, so I focus on building confidence step by step rather than rushing the process. 

I also talk to them about the benefits of progressing – not just in terms of badges, but the quality of games they get, the experiences they gain and the overall improvement in their refereeing.  And if they are also players, I highlight how it can benefit their playing game as well.  Generally, better referees lead to stronger, more enjoyable games for everyone involved.

At the end of the day, its about supporting them, keeping them engaged and helping them see a clear pathway where they feel capable and confident to move forward then they are ready.

Favourite refereeing moment or highlight so far?

There are so many, its really hard to choose just one, but a real recent standout has to be the 2026 Junior State Cup.

With my focus now heavily on junior development and succession planning into the adult competition, JSC is a key event.  This year, Norths took 18 referees which was a fantastic effort and a real testament to the hard work, commitment and enjoyment that comes from being part of our club attending a tournament like that.  The logistics leading into it were challenging – between training, galas, coaching and preparation – but it all came together with a great support team working tirelessly behind the scenes.  I am very grateful for their time, effort and support.

The highlight for me was not only watching the growth and upgrades of our referees but also seeing my three kids out there refereeing alongside friends they made on their journey through the pathway – who says refereeing is a lonely gig.  Seeing that connection, enjoyment , fun and camaraderie on and off the field was pretty special.

Watching referees step up into finals appointments and seeing their hard work rewarded really brought everything full circle.  In those moments, all the time, effort, and behind the scenes work feels absolutely worth it.  And I know those experiences and memories are what keeps them coming back – which is really what “it’s” all about: recruitment and retention