Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Getty Images

The inaugural PlayStation 4® NPL Queensland Senior Women’s season will benefit from the guidance of top female officials for this weekend’s opening round.

All six appointments have experience at Westfield W-League level, including 2013/14 Referee of the Year Casey Reibelt (pictured).

Reibelt received her FIFA Refereeing badges last year and will be joined in presiding over the six matches by Rebecca Durcau, Rachel Mitchenson, Lara Smith, Renae Coghill and Christie Robb.

Barry Such, Chairman of Queensland’s State Referees Technical Committee, said the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Women’s division provided high-quality opportunities for players and referees alike.

"It’s a women’s competition and as much as possible it will be controlled by women," Such said.

"Queensland is the leading state for female referees as far as I’m concerned, but I’m biased."

Referee Mitchenson last year led an all-female team of officials in charge of a PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Men’s match between Moreton Bay United and Brisbane Roar NYL.

Smith acted as fourth official while Mitchenson was flanked by Coghill and Karlee Patchett as assistant referees in a landmark occasion for Queensland football.

Such hoped the appointment of this weekend’s panel would provide inspiration for the next generation to get involved with the whistle.

"It’s an attraction for girls to take up refereeing as their major interest in the sport," he said.

"Numbers in refereeing is always an issue but women’s is probably the growth area."

The PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Women’s 2015 season commences on Saturday, 14 February.