Referees are the most exposed and least supported people in football. Associations across the board lose as many as half of them each season. Pigeon Football runs mental health workshops and certifications built specifically for referee groups across NSW.
Referee Groups - Mental Health & Wellbeing Workshop
1 hour, face to face. Built specifically for referee groups and associations.
Refereeing carries pressures no one else in the game faces — split-second decisions in front of a crowd, sideline abuse, and the quiet drive home with no debrief. This workshop names those pressures and gives referees practical tools to manage them, together.
Topics covered:
- The unique mental load of officiating, and why it pushes so many referees out of the game
- Recognising the warning signs in yourself and your fellow referees
- Dealing with sideline abuse and the moments after a tough game
- Practical tools to switch off after the final whistle
- Building a debrief culture within your referee group
- Knowing where to find support when it's needed
Note: this is not therapy or a support group. It's a relaxed, practical session built on our framework - vulnerability, conversation, connection.
Who is it for?
Referees. Referee bodies and associations across NSW would bring us in to run the session with the referees directly. Works for junior and senior referees together, or as separate groups.
Individuals - Mental Health First Aid Certification
6 hours online (self-paced) + 4 hours face to face, split across two sessions.
A nationally recognised certification that equips the people around your referees to step in early. Participants learn to recognise the signs of depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and to offer informed early support - because early intervention is what prevents long-term harm.
Our goal is simple: a certified Mental Health First Aid officer in every referee body and association we work with.
Who is it for?
- Referee coordinators and welfare officers
- Association staff who work with referees week in, week out
- Senior referees who mentor younger officials
Associations - Making it a yearly thing
A season-long approach to referee wellbeing, not a one-off.
The best results come when support becomes part of the referee calendar. After our first workshop with the St George Football Referees Association in 2024, the referees asked for it to become a yearly event. So we did.
What a season with Pigeon looks like:
- A face-to-face wellbeing workshop for your referee group each season
- MHFA certification for your referee leadership
- Quality match balls for your competitions at competitive bulk pricing — the ball sales are what fund the programs
Who is it for?
NSW football associations and referee bodies that want referee support built into the season, not bolted on.
Tell us a bit about your association or referee group and we'll come back to you with options, timing and pricing. No obligation — happy to just have a chat.
