#046 Sport Psychology Series - Inside the Referee Mindset: Psychology, Pressure & Performance with PGMOL’s Kayleigh Dougan & Sue Jones

🎙️ Podcast Title:
"Inside the Referee Mindset: Psychology, Pressure & Performance with PGMOL’s Kayleigh Dougan & Sue Jones"

👥 Guests:

• Kayleigh Dougan – Performance Psychologist, PGMOL

• Dr. Sue Jones – Performance Psychologist, PGMOL

🎧 Episode Summary:
In this episode, Dr. Ian Cookson sits down with Kayleigh Dougan and Dr. Sue Jones to explore the untold side of officiating. As performance psychologists for match officials in the men’s and women’s games, they take us behind the scenes into the world of referee psychology, training, communication, and the unique pressures match officials face in a rapidly evolving sport landscape.

⚽ What You’ll Learn:

• The hidden demands of elite-level officiating – both on and off the pitch

• How performance psychology is embedded into referee development

• What it’s like to manage emotions, split-second decisions, and external pressure under the spotlight

• Why officials are teams too—and how they build cohesion under rotating lineups

• What it takes to mentally reset after a controversial decision (or social media backlash)

• The structure of support (including sports science, coaches, and psychology) for match officials

🧠 Key Talking Points:

• How referees “park decisions” and move on quickly to maintain performance

• Using fatigue-based training to simulate in-game pressure

• “Pebble in the pond”: how communication within the referee team can influence decisions

• Growth mindset in officiating: why adaptability and reflection are key

• The unique stressors in the Women’s Super League as crowds, stakes, and scrutiny grow

• How officiating is a high-performance career path in its own right

👂 Quotes to Remember: 
🗣️ “It’s not just the 90 minutes—it’s a full-time commitment around another full-time job.” – Kayleigh Dougan
🗣️ “Growth mindset is about openness to change. We embed it in every match review.” – Sue Jones

📣 Advice For...
🔹 Players, Coaches, and Parents: Respect the role of officials. They are human, highly trained, and essential to the game.
🔹 Match Officials: Trust the process, use your support network, and never be afraid to speak up.
🔹 Coaches: Do your Level 1 referee course to better understand the laws and support match officials.

📌 Call to Action:
Learn more about PGMOL and how you can get into officiating through the FA website.
And don’t forget—every piece of Women’s Football Hub merch you buy helps us grow the game:
🛍️ www.womensfootballhub.com

📌 Disclaimer:
This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.