In recent years, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) has encountered a concerning trend: a steady decrease in the number of female referees officiating soccer matches across the country.
According to the latest statistics released by the FFA, women now make up a mere 12 per cent of all referees in the sport, highlighting a significant gender disparity within the officiating ranks.
This decline is not unique to soccer alone; cricket and Australian Rules Football (AFL) are also witnessing similar challenges in retaining and recruiting female referees.
The underrepresentation of women in these roles raises questions about gender equality and inclusivity within Australian sports officiating.
A NSW/ACT National Premier League, female referee from the Illawarra, Alex Mackay says a lot of her female referees that she worked with, have now stopped refereeing.
“It simply wasn’t worth it and the decisions made by the governing bodies weren’t protecting us and if they are not going to protect us, we’re not going to be able to move forward,” Mrs Macakay said.
“Being scared to walk onto the field is also a real thing, so I think to encourage women to do that, I think you need to put more women at the front. I think you need to show women of all ages, I think you need to show direct pathways.”
However, amidst this concerning trend, there are some escalating figures in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Over the past few years, the NRL has seen a notable increase in the number of female referees, almost doubling since 2015.
Data from: AusPlay results | Clearinghouse for Sport , Designed by Monique Sellars
This positive shift can be attributed to various initiatives implemented by the NRL to encourage and support women’s participation in officiating roles such as the Women in League Officiating Program – a “Whole-of-person development program,” which has been running for female officials in the last five years.
Former NRL referee and general manager of officiating, development, and pathways Tony Archer told SBS Australia that the NRL is “tracking well” on female referee participation.
“We certainly know that what we deliver to them has led us to grow in numbers and also retain at a higher rate than the national average,” Mr Archer said.
Despite the improvement, women still only make up for 10 per cent of referees in the sport.
The FFA, along with other sporting bodies, is being urged to start exploring strategies to address the decline in female referee numbers.
Incentives that provide support physically, mentally, and financially are being pushed to attend to the cultural barriers such as lower pay and fear of sexism and online trolling.
Ms Mackay says, “I think providing female-only initiatives can be something that really helps, but also starting at younger ages would be a great incentive.”
Stakeholders within the sporting community emphasise the importance of diversity among referees, highlighting the unique perspectives and skills that women bring to officiating roles.
Efforts to promote gender equality in sports officiating have become crucial for representation but also for fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants.
As the FFA and other sporting organisations continue to grapple with the challenge of declining female referee numbers, there is a collective commitment to implementing effective strategies that will ensure greater gender diversity and equality within the realm of sports officiating in Australia.