Verbal abuse is an unfortunate reality in officiating. Umpires and referees need to know how to respond when it happens, who can help on match day and what support is available afterwards. Officiating coaches can help officials prepare for those situations. Clubs and competitions are responsible for setting expectations for conduct and enforcing them.
What the research tells us
Of 356 Australian rules football umpires surveyed, 49% reported experiencing verbal abuse at least every couple of games, and 21% reported experiencing physical abuse while umpiring (Cleland et al., 2025).
In a survey of 438 Gaelic Games officials, less experienced officials reported more frequent verbal abuse. More frequent verbal abuse was associated with poorer mental wellbeing and a greater intention to quit (Brick et al., 2022).
A study of soccer referees in the UK and Canada also linked physical and nonphysical abuse to poorer wellbeing. That association was evident even among referees who hadn't considered quitting (Downward et al., 2024). Therefore, checking in after an incident is worthwhile even when an official is happy to take their next appointment.
How coaches can support officials
Prepare for common situations. Use training to practise managing a player who disputes a call and a spectator who continually directs personal abuse at an official. Talk through when a brief response is appropriate and when to stop engaging. For a newer official, it helps to know the name of the person they can go to on match day.
Check in after an incident. Ask privately what happened, how the official is going and what support they need. Discuss any feedback about the original call separately. An official can learn from a decision while the club or competition deals with the behaviour.
Help with reporting and follow-up. A systematic review found that some officials received little or no support after reporting abuse, while others hesitated to report because they had little faith in the process (Mojtahedi et al., 2024). Help the official document what happened, explain who will handle the report and tell them when they can expect an update. If a tribunal follows, check what support is available and who can accompany them (Cleland et al., 2025).
Next steps. Talk about the next appointment, and naturally give it some time before appointing the official to the offending team again. Ask whether the official would find it helpful to have a mentor observe their next game or an experienced partner officiate alongside them. Even a brief conversation gives the coach a chance to find out whether the support has helped or whether the official needs something different.
The impact of abuse can build over time, especially when umpires and referees are left to deal with it on their own. Feeling isolated and unsupported can make it harder to keep turning up each week. How coaches and administrators respond after an incident can help an official feel supported and give them a reason to stay in the sport.
References
Brick, N. E., Breslin, G., Shevlin, M., & Shannon, S. (2022). The impact of verbal and physical abuse on distress, mental health, and intentions to quit in sports officials. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 63, Article 102274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102274
Cleland, J., Sharpe, S., & Crozier, A. (2025). "We deserve the respect. Without us, there would be no games": Examining the experiences of Australian Rules football umpires. The International Journal of Sport and Society, 16(3), 71-91. https://doi.org/10.18848/2152-7857/CGP/v16i03/71-91
Downward, P., Webb, T., & Dawson, P. (2024). Referee abuse, intention to quit, and well-being. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 95(1), 207-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2023.2184459
Mojtahedi, D., Webb, T., Leadley, C., & Jones, M. (2024). Match officials and abuse: A systematic review. European Sport Management Quarterly, 24(1), 199-221. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2099441