#Inspire – celebrating female referee’s in rugby
Vicki Offland has spent the last year refereeing rugby union games.
Vicki would never have met her best friend, Jane if it wasn’t for rugby.
Describing them as “the little and large of the team as well as eldest and youngest” the two met in 2015 when they both played for the Taipei Baboons.
In collaboration with our partners at ACME Whistles, we met up with Vicki to chat about how rugby is more than just a hobby, what motivates her and why more women should get involved in the sport.
Can you tell us a little about your relationship with rugby?
I started as a player (as soon as I could!) A rugby club was always top of my checklist whilst travelling.
Most would probably say I’m obsessed as a weekend without some form of rugby wouldn’t be a weekend.
During a challenging period in 2017 I realised the rugby environment, on the pitch or watching, was not just my much-loved hobby, but my safe space – it would instil confidence, give me the sense of freedom to be myself, make mistakes and not be judged.
I could also challenge myself and become a better all rounded individual whilst building long-lasting friendships with likeminded people.
What was your first experience as a Match Official like?
I squeezed in my first game with MADREFs just before the 2021/22 season finished. It was incredibly nerve-wracking, but the KO whistle settled some nerves and pre-game worries were quickly put to bed.
It was an enjoyable whirlwind and I was proud to put myself out there and take that first step.
Tell us about your most memorable officiating moment to date.
My officiating career is still very new, but turning up at Macclesfield 7s I didn’t expect the appreciation and surprise shown (particularly by the women’s teams) at seeing a female Match Official.
Only then did I properly realise that female Match Officials are not currently a normality, and hopefully that can be changed.
Who inspired you to take up the whistle?
It just kind of happened – mainly through wanting to help out at park level touch rugby which was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere just to see what it’s like.
I enjoyed it and it presented different challenges so when the opportunity came about to try refereeing union, there was nothing to lose.
What motivates you to referee?
I want to give back to the sport that has impacted me and hopefully make a positive difference – on the game I’m refereeing, within the community, on others and myself.
Deeper down, I know that refereeing is developing skills and mindset that I can apply to my whole life.
In a few words, please tell us what it means to you to be a positive role model and INSPIRE other women and girls to get in to refereeing
For me it means normalising and diversifying what currently seems so unnecessarily out of the ordinary.
No longer will we get asked “what should we call you?” week after week because a female referee turning up for KO isn’t once in a blue moon.
Neither will we draw attention to ourselves because we’re the only woman walking into a society meeting.
It’s building an equally diverse community of very normal people doing a pretty normal thing – learning, supporting and growing together through varying perspectives, opinions and experiences. If you’re feeling inspired to take up the whistle, find out more about becoming a Match Official here: keepyourbootson.co.uk/referee-toolkit/supporting-match-officials-female/