World-first RefWell referee wellness and support programme launched

​By Paul Keane

As part of the process of designing RefWell, the GAA's new online performance psychology and mental health training programme, a body of research was conducted over nearly three years.

One survey question, for instance, found that 62 per cent of referees felt they had not received sufficient training to deal with stressors such as abuse.

Almost three quarters of respondents, in turn, said they would be interested in receiving mental health awareness training to help them in their roles.

Another interesting finding, following the extensive work undertaken by researchers from Ulster University and Queens University, was that mental health support for referees was largely unavailable. Worldwide.

Almost 1,000 websites of national governing bodies from around the globe were reviewed and only one policy document relating to the mental health of their referees and match officials was unearthed.

Perhaps the most alarming statistic of all, which highlighted the pressing requirement for a programme like RefWell, was that 24.1 per cent, or one in four, GAA referees reported symptoms of mild or more severe depression. Pretty much the same number reported symptoms of mild or more severe anxiety.

RefWell was launched at Croke Park and the training tool consists of six individual modules, each delivered by an HCPC-registered and accredited sport and exercise psychologist.

The performance psychology modules teach strategies to help match officials prepare for games, to develop communication and composure skills and to communicate effectively during games.

The mental health and wellbeing modules focus on how to recognise signs and symptoms of low wellbeing and poor mental health and teach practical strategies to manage wellbeing, improve mental health and increase knowledge and confidence on how to seek mental health support when required.

The modules will go live this week on the GAA's e-learning site, Tobar.

"A lot of work is done at national level with referees, work in the pre-season, seminars, ongoing work and it's all great and so this is designed really for club referees that don't have that access," said GAA national match officials manager Donal Smyth.

"But also I would expect that when referees come through the pathway that they would have to do this course eventually so it will be a progression for club referees, as well as for the national level. To me, it is all about continuing to develop and getting better and changing with the environment because things are constantly changing."

Smyth noted that it will be a helpful tool also for referees outside of Ireland.

"We obviously have lots of referees abroad, within the GAA family, in Europe and Asia and everywhere really, so this will be widened out to all of them," said the Meath man. "It's about progression and it's about giving everyone the same opportunities to improve their skills and also their mental health in addition to that.

"It will be on the e-learning site, Tobar. All the referees courses are there."

Smyth happily reported that the rules enhancements introduced to Gaelic football in 2025 have already had a positive impact on match officials.

"The whole dissent thing has changed," said the former Meath football goalkeeper. "It's changed the atmosphere towards refereeing and referees are finding it easier to referee. This is year one obviously in terms of the rules and we'll see how all of that rolls out.

"It is always about education and providing supports and doing as much as we can for our referees which brings us back around again to RefWell."