Ben Williams has enjoyed a refereeing career at the highest level in sport. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Ben Williams was still at school when he started refereeing men’s National Premier League football games in Canberra.
By the time he was 18, he was running the line for a women’s international between the Matildas and New Zealand and officiating in the National Soccer League (NSL).
He then went on to become one of Australia’s most-capped referees, officiating in over 300 A-League and National Soccer League games and 150 international games, including FIFA World Cups, Olympic Games, Asian Cups, AFC Champions League, and other high-profile tournaments and matches.
Reflecting on Ben’s career highlights Canberra’s success as a provider of high-quality football referees, with the likes of Allyson Flynn, Ben Wilson and Gordon Dunster officiating at FIFA World Cups as assistant referees.
Then there is the next generation led by Owen Goldrick and Lauren Hargrave (FIFA assistant referees), Nathan and Delfina Shakespeare, and Georgia Ghirardello in the A-League Men and Women’s national competitions.
After retiring from officiating in 2016, Ben has linked up with three highly respected, now-retired international referees – Peter Green, Chris Beath and Strebre Delovski – in offering an online coaching platform with a focus on offering support and advice to match officials from the grassroots to the semi-professional.
Ben believes the Next Level Refs platform will enhance football in Australia.
“We’ve been talking about the need to improve the game in this country and the role of match officials is vital. There are over 12,000 registered referees in Australia, and we must support them, especially at the community level.”
An essential component of the Next Level Refs coaching platform is providing advice from a lived experience perspective, given the four referees involved have encountered almost every scenario imaginable on the football pitch.
“We look at how referees can be better prepared mentally, physically, tactically and emotionally for what they might encounter on the field, as every game presents its own set of challenges. We look at practical ways to ensure referees can improve their game and, therefore, their enjoyment so that they stay involved in the game and we can continue to grow the game as a whole.
“We don’t want referees to be seen as simply having a badge and enforcing the laws of the game. It’s important to have a feel for what is taking place.
“If referees have an understanding of what is happening in the minds of a player or coach, it invariably leads to positive outcomes for the game.”
Educating everyone involved in the game, not just the players, is crucial so that those in positions of influence in clubs fully understand the laws.
To this end, Ben said he is often called upon to speak to those involved in multiple sports, not just football, about the importance of respecting match officials to achieve better outcomes.
His former junior club, Tuggeranong United, is the latest to enlist his services.
The ultimate goal is for improved understanding and empathy associated with the pressures encountered by referees, as well as referees possessing greater awareness of what is going on in the minds of players and teams on the field.
The Next Level Refs online platform is an important component in achieving those aims.
The live coaching sessions are currently held on Wednesday nights on the Next Level Refs Facebook page. You can also visit Next Level Refs on YouTube.
