CBC: How a Weekly ‘Wednesday Waffle’ Helps Dingos Stay Connected

Last week, four members of the Toronto Dingos Football Club sat down with CBC Radio to talk about something that rarely gets much attention in sporting circles: why so many men struggle to make and maintain friendships.

It’s a conversation that hits close to home.

Recent polls show that 20 percent of single men say they don’t have any close friends, and more than half report feeling unsatisfied with the size or strength of their social circles. At a time when social connection is declining across the country, CBC Journalist Sara Tate reached out wanting to explore how community sports can play a role in rebuilding male friendships.

Tate spoke with Dingos players Arman Malekjahani, Sawyer Jonker, club captain Mike Bocian, and our president-coach Justin Robertson.

This year, the Dingos aligned with mental-health partners like Tackle Your Feelings and Heads Up Guys, organizations committed to supporting the emotional well-being of men. As a club we also introduced the Wednesday Waffle, a low-key, weekly check-in where players talk about anything on their minds.

"Footy, and the curiosity of trying footy, gets people in the door. But we’ve learned that to keep people in the club, we need to be more than just a footy team. That means creating routines and processes that make connection easier," said Robertson. "We want a culture where players know they can show up exactly as they are."

Here’s the full chat with CBC.