Imagine an under-14 match on a wet Sunday morning. The referee takes abuse from the touchline, manages the game, completes the report and drives home. By Monday, the only contact they receive is their next appointment.
That example is hypothetical, but it captures a question every grassroots club should ask: who supports the referee after a difficult game?
I reffed and under 15s game recently and to be frank, was a bit sh*te!!
I missed an offside and from then on questioned my every decision. First time this had happened to me.
A peer-reviewed study explored the views of six grassroots referees and six referee development officers in England. It is a small qualitative study, so it cannot tell us how common any experience is. What it does offer is a clear practical message.
Referee wellbeing cannot be framed only as personal resilience.
The researchers identified a need to balance individual responsibility with organisational change, including tailored mental-health support, structured development and peer networks. Separate football safeguarding research reaches a related conclusion: training can improve people’s knowledge and confidence, but applying that learning also depends on experience, leadership and confidence that the organisation will respond properly.
Before your next home fixture, try a simple club check:
This is not about asking clubs to diagnose referees or provide treatment. It is about creating a culture where people can raise concerns, poor behaviour is handled and support does not depend on somebody publicly saying they are struggling.
If there is an immediate safety, safeguarding or mental-health risk, use the appropriate official or emergency route straight away.
The FMHA Academy helps clubs build this wider capability through ongoing face-to-face training, monthly expert CPD, football-specific resources and a moderated peer community for coaches, welfare leads, committee members, referees and other volunteers. It complements mandatory safeguarding requirements rather than replacing them.
Find out more at fmha.academy.
Original sources: Bate and colleagues, grassroots referee mental health and organisational support · Ade and colleagues, safeguarding culture and training in football
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The resources and support provided in The Vault are designed to promote mental wellbeing and provide general guidance on mental health related to grassroots football.
However, the content is not intended to serve as specific mental health advice or replace consultation with a trained professional. If you or someone you know requires personalised mental health support, we strongly encourage you to consult with a licensed mental health professional and/or seek appropriate services in your area.
