IT is no great secret that there are a host of talented females within the ranks of Bathurst football, but there is one who brings a different skill set and it has seen her taking control of men's games as well.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Literally.
Tegan Williams is one of the emerging talents in the Bathurst Football Referees Association, taking whistle in hand each weekend and controlling senior games from both the men's and women's Bathurst District Football competitions.
It is something BFRA president Greg Auhl would love to see more of.
"We've got a couple of very, very good young women referees, one of who is Tegan. She does men's games just as capably, or more capably that the rest of the men," he said. "We've got a a couple of 15, 16-year-old female referees who are really good as well, so we're certainly pushing that."
But it is not just women Auhl is encouraging to join the ranks of the BFRA - he would love to see more juniors and senior whistleblowers as a whole to help cater for the big number of games being played at Proctor Park and across the region. At the moment there are 61 active members.
He points out that one of the main factors that make people hesitant in becoming an official - abuse from spectators and players - is something that the BFRA and BDF are working hard to eliminate.
READ ALSO: Injury time goal saves Panorama from defeat
"Our biggest problem at the moment is we don't have enough senior referees, adult referees to cover all of the adult games at all levels really," he said.
"It's a real challenge to get people to do it, even people who have been around find out it is not as easy as they think it is when they try.
"The BDF have been really good in supporting us, the last couple of years in particular. They don't like referee abuse and they deal with it fairly strongly."
Auhl himself has been refeering for 15 years and said it is a rewarding pursuit.
"I referee still because it keeps me engaged with sport, it keeps me fit, it keeps me engaged with helping people and teaching people," he said.
"For a lot the kids it's actually not bad money either. Refereeing a women's three [third grade] soccer game, for a 15-year-old, it's about $45 for 70 minutes work - where else are they going to get that?"
The BFRA runs at least two referee courses each year and are looking to stage an additional full-day course ahead of the 2020 season. Following completion of that, the intending official is required to do a field test, but after that they are eligible to be appointed to matches.
Auhl would like to thank sponsor Central West Project Management, who, as part of a three-year deal are helping to provide officials with hoodies.
For more information visit www.bfra.net.au
