Keeping fit while earning some cash and being a part of the sport you love. Sounds like a pretty good deal! Picking up some useful life skills like learning to negotiate with people and staying calm under pressure. You’re on a winner!

People love becoming refs, umpires, officials. Some make it their life’s work officiating at the big leagues or in community comps. They don’t just do it, they actually love it and despite facing challenges at times, they keep coming back week after week to ensure competitions can go ahead.

The position of authority, the ultimate decision-maker of every decision in the game, attracts a variety of responses from players, coaches and fans. These range from respecting the complexity of the role to outright abuse and sometimes even violent contempt.

It’s not true to say match officials are always subjected to violence and it’s not telling the whole story to suggest every decision is respected.

National and state sporting bodies and Leagues might increase recruitment of new officials with feel-good stories, but they’ll suffer the consequence of poor retention as officials leave their roles when their expectations don’t match reality.

Painting the whole picture for officials is as important as ever and goes hand-in-hand with supporting clubs to respect and honour their role as community leaders.

Here to chat with us about the whole picture is Brooke Kneebush, a former leader and executive in Gymnastics for over 20 years and now with the Australian Sports Commission advising on all things Officiating.

Resources:

• Community Officiating Essential Skills Course
• A line in the sand for match officials: Q&A with Cameron Tradell - Part 1 | Part 2
• PlayWell strategy
• Australian Sports Commission’s podcast
• Powerful video: Officially Human
• Journal series by Patrick Skene: Sport at the crossroads

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction
2:14 The Importance of Officiating
3:36 Australian Sports Commission's Role
8:14 Community Officiating Essential Skills Course
12:27 Are officiating standards dropping?
16:06 Reframing the role of Match Officials
18:21 What does change look like?
21:44 Bigger picture and resourcing
24:19 Final thoughts - benefits of Officiating
26:59 Credits

> Club Respect helps sports clubs build and maintain a deep culture of respect.

> Club Respect is a national harm-prevention initiative by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence.

In Part 1 of our chat with Jackson Katz, we delved into the world of gender-based violence and the crucial role men play in preventing it. But it's not just about acknowledging the problem; it's about taking action.

In Part 2, we explore how men can meet the moment in showing leadership in violence prevention. From institutional support that can make a real difference at the policy level to individual actions that can challenge harmful behaviours, there's a role for everyone to play.

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If this raises any issues for you, contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

More support services >

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Resources:

• TED Talk - Violence against women -- it's a men's issue
• Book - The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help
• Book - Every Man: Why Violence Against Women is a Men's Issue, and How You Can Make a Difference (Release date Feb 2025)
• Program - Be More Than a Bystander - EVA BC & BC Lions
• Program - Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP)
• Program - Coaching Boys Into Men (Futures Without Violence)
• News article - AFL's minute of silence for female victims of violence important but industry-wide change needed By Kate O'Halloran
• Website - Jackson Katz

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction
00:29 Review of Part 1
00:49 Why don't we intervene?
08:15 Club committees taking action
11:54 Responsibility of leaders
20:44 Case study: Be More Than a Bystander
23:02 Jackson's final thoughts
26:28 Signing out
26:57 Credits

> Club Respect helps sports clubs build and maintain a deep culture of respect.

> Club Respect is a national harm-prevention initiative by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee.

Content warning: domestic abuse and violence.

In May 2024, all 18 teams in the Australian Football League stood for a minute’s silence, arm in arm, to take a united stance on preventing men’s violence against women.

The statistic of 1 woman being murdered a week at the hands of a man they know is now ingrained in the way we speak about domestic violence in Australia.

In reality, it's only the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath are injured victim-survivors and traumatised kids; Broken families and disconnected communities.

Lost friendships and issues with mental health; People living in fear, intimidation, sadness, and regret; A culture of abuse and violence.

Men’s violence against other men is also a significant issue. The pressure to be a “real man,” act tough and suppress emotions are the hallmarks of a masculinity that don’t allow men to fully express themselves. It’s leading to higher incarceration rates, mental health issues and higher rates of suicide.

The consequences of men’s violence ripple out into other parts of people’s lives, their workplaces, schools and of course, in community sports clubs.

Sport mirrors society - so it’s no surprise we see violence and abuse in our clubs: coaches yell at players; parents insult umpires; players sledge and swear; and the way teams easily break down into punch-ons and all-in brawls.

So, what responsibility do men have in reducing violence and abuse?

Our guest today is Jackson Katz, a thought leader in the global movement of men working to promote gender equality and prevent gender violence.

Jackson once wrote, “we need to redefine strength in men, not as a power over other people, but as forces for justice.”

--

If this raises any issues for you, contact:

Lifeline 13 11 14

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

More support services >

--

Resources:

• TED Talk - Violence against women -- it's a men's issue
• Book - The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help
• Book - Every Man: Why Violence Against Women is a Men's Issue, and How You Can Make a Difference (Release date Feb 2025)
• Program - Be More Than a Bystander - EVA BC & BC Lions
• Program - Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP)
• News article - AFL's minute of silence for female victims of violence important but industry-wide change needed By Kate O'Halloran
• Website - Jackson Katz

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction
2:21 Why is this so important?
5:21 What's changed since Macho Paradox?
9:24 Predictable pushback
18:12 Sport as a mirror to society
24:34 Stay tuned for Part 2...
25:07 Credits

> Club Respect helps sports clubs build and maintain a deep culture of respect.

> Club Respect is a national harm-prevention initiative by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee.