Behind The Whistle is our bi-monthly look into people, stories and experiences that shape community touch football refereeing across New South Wales. Each edition will highlight referees from our Affiliates, share insights, development opportunities, and provide practical resources to support your journey.

If you have any feedback, please reach out to nswtouch@nswtouch.com.au

Welcome to Behind The Whistle!

Welcome to the very first edition of New South Wales Touch Football's (NSWTF) Behind The Whistle! Refereeing is more than just making calls on the field; it's about leadership, connection, and the individuals who keep our game thriving at the grassroots level.

Whether you’re just starting or have years of experience, this space is here to both recognise your contribution and help you grow. Let’s go Behind The Whistle!

MySideline Referee Registration

NSWTF has introduced a state-wide referee registration process through MySideline, aligning referee management with existing player registration processes and creating a more consistent, transparent, and compliant system across Affiliates.

The initiative provides accurate, centralised referee records, improved visibility of accreditations, and streamlined communication opportunities between referees, Affiliates, and NSWTF. 

As part of the 2026 rollout, Affiliates will activate referee registrations within their competitions, ensuring all referees are registered and ready for the season ahead.

Schools Currently Seeking Referees

We currently have several schools across NSW seeking accredited referees for their events. 

If interested, please click below to see more details:

NRL Learning Centre is now live

Touch Football Australia (TFA) is pleased to announce that its transition to the NRL Learning Centre is now live, marking a significant step forward in the delivery of education across the sport.

Fully integrated with MySideline, the new learning management system (LMS) provides a more streamlined and connected experience for athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, and volunteers nationwide.

It is imperative that all NSWTF referees create a MySideline profile, and also register and set up their individual profile within the NRL Learning Centre to ensure access to courses, accreditation requirements, and ongoing development opportunities by the end of June 30th.

Junior Regionals 2026

The 2026 NSWTF Junior Regionals were held at Tuggerah Sporting Complex in April, bringing together talented athletes from across the state for a fantastic weekend of Touch Football.

We would also like to give a special thank you to all of our referees who attended the event, and celebrate all who received grand final appointments. 

NSWTF Referees named in National Squads

Recently, TFA named their National Opens and National Masters Referee Squads for 2026-27. We would like to congratulate our NSW referee contingent!

Referee Director Spotlight

From starting out in her early 20s to dedicating over two decades to developing referees at Northern Suburbs Touch Association, Rina Janson’s journey is built on passion, connection, and care.

She has played a huge role in recruiting, mentoring and developing referees at Norths, while creating an environment where people feel supported and want to come back. Her approach is simple; stay connected, be present and treat every referee as an individual. 

Referee Spotlight

Thomas Donehue’s refereeing journey is a great example of where dedication and passion can lead. Having recently been selected in the TFA National Referee Squad, Thomas began his refereeing journey in Singleton in 2015, progressing through the ranks quickly and ticking off some goals along the way.

Thomas reflects on the importance of community support, the role Singleton Touch played in his development, and why staying connected to grassroots remains so important to him.

Give It A Try Referee Program

NSWTF Give It A Try program is a practical referee development resource designed to support pre- and newly accredited Affiliate Referees as they build confidence on the field. Through structured, drill-based sessions focused on communication, signals, positioning, and movement, the program provides both referees and referee coaches with tools to deliver consistent, high-quality training at the community level.

Coaching & Officiating Action Plan

The Australian Sports Commission is looking to strengthen coaching and officiating pathways and wants your input.

Share your experiences below to help shape the future of sport.