Referees @ Southern

Become a Touch Football Referee

Referees are the backbone of Touch Football. Without officials, there is no game.

Refereeing touch is far more than just counting to six and blowing a whistle - it’s a dynamic and supported personal challenge, a great way to stay fit, and a pathway for developing key life skills that translate directly into your school, career, and personal life. Plus you’re part of a team, team referee!

Understanding the Rules

Touch Football at Southern is officiated under Touch Football Australia’s official rulebook - currently the 8th Edition. The Rules book is your best asset as a referee, it clarifies everything. Have a read here.

Master the Hand Signals

Want to get familiar with referee positioning, signals, and whistle technique before jumping in? Watch official signals demonstrated in the videos below.

Refereeing at Southern

At Southern, we pride ourselves on having one of the strongest and most active refereeing communities in Western Australia. We welcome whistle-blowers of all ages (12+) and experience levels!

  • Dual-Referee System in Social Comps: You’re never thrown in the deep end. In our weekly Monday and Wednesday social competitions, we run referees in teams of two. Having a partner on field means shared responsibility, constant support, and immediate feedback during games.

  • Regular Coaching and Mentoring: We also have referee coaches roaming the fields, keeping and eye on games and giving our referees the support and advice they need to achieve their goals.

  • Represent SDTA at State Events: As you grow, you’ll have the opportunity to represent our club at major Touch Football WA (TFWA) events, including the Junior State Championships, Super League Series, Senior State Championships, and the regional and remote events that TFWA coordinate in all corners of our beautiful state (Exmouth anyone?).

  • National & International Pathways: Our club has a rich history of elite referee production. We are proud to have had multiple Southern referees selected to represent Australia at the FIT Touch Football World Cup, as well as having regular representation at Touch Football Australia’s National tournaments.

Southern Referee Leadership Team

Our Referee Leadership Team currently comprises:

  • Director of Referees: Brian Blechyden

  • Appointments Lead: Breanne Burton

  • Pat Elshaw, Paul Richardson, Matt Cooper, Naseh Rizvi

Life Skills You'll Build on the Field

Officiating challenges you physically and mentally, helping you build high-value personal skills in a supportive, real-time environment:

  • Clear & Decisive Communication: Learn to deliver rapid, clear verbal directions and body language that build trust with players and coaches.

  • Rapid Decision-Making Under Pressure: Process multiple fast-moving scenarios in seconds and make confident, objective calls.

  • Conflict Resolution & Emotional Intelligence: Master the art of de-escalating tense situations with composure, fairness, and empathy.

  • Leadership & Authority: Develop an authentic, calm presence that earns respect on and off the sporting field.

  • Spatial Awareness & Fitness: Stay active and fit with fast-paced multi-directional running while reading gameplay positioning.Whether you’re looking to stay fit, try a new sport, or get outdoors with family and friends, Touch Football is one of the most accessible and enjoyable sports in Australia.

How We Support & Develop You

We invest heavily in the development of our referees, proevery step of the way:

  • Uniforms Provided: All registered club referees receive official referee shirts.

  • Courses Facilitation: We regularly host official referee courses right at our George Burnett Park clubrooms in Manning.

  • On-Field & Off-Field Mentoring: Experienced referee coaches observe your games, providing practical constructive feedback before, during, and after matches.

  • Exclusive Onfield Communication Gear: We are currently the only club in Western Australia with our own wireless communications gear (comms headsets). This technology allows senior referee coaches to mentor developing refs live during game action for immediate skill development.

Ready to Pick Up the Whistle?

Whether you want to earn extra money on game nights, give back to the sport, or aim for Australian selection, we’d love to have you on team SDTA!

The National Referee Pathway

Touch Football Australia (TFA) uses a clear four-tier national accreditation structure designed to take you from local social games all the way to international test matches.

1. Affiliate Referee (Entry Level)

  • What it is: The starting point for all new referees (replaces the former Level 1 badge).

  • Prerequisites: Age 12 or older.

  • Requirement: Complete a 3-hour face-to-face course hosted right here at our SDTA clubrooms. No lengthy pre-reading or online exams—you complete the practical training and receive accreditation immediately.

2. Representative Graded Referee

  • What it is: Steps up your skills to officiate junior representative and local tournament matches (replaces Level 2 & 3 badges).

  • Requirements: Complete the online Representative Referee Theory course via TFA's learning portal, followed by an on-field assessment at a state-sanctioned representative event.

3. State Graded Referee

  • What it is: Officiate premier state-level competitions and finals (replaces Level 4 & 5 badges).

  • Prerequisites: Hold a Representative grading for at least 6 months and be at least 16 years old.

  • Requirement: On-field evaluation by state referee panels at premier events like the TFWA State Championships.

4. National Graded Referee

  • What it is: The highest level of officiating in Australia (replaces Level 6), opening doors to National Touch League (NTL) and FIT World Cup appointments.

  • Prerequisites: Hold State grading for at least 6 months, be at least 18 years old, and receive state body endorsement.

  • Requirement: Consistently high performance at TFA National Championships.