2015 Community Umpiring Round

Community Umpiring Round also encourages everyone involved in Australian Football – coaches, players, administrators, parents and supporters – to play a role in creating a positive match day environment to retain and recruit umpires.

At the community level, a welcoming environment ensures umpires feel supported to officiate to the best of their ability. Each weekend of club football there are more than 3800 umpiring appointments required in NSW/ACT many of these are filled by club umpires, mums and dads just helping out for the day.

When surveyed, 68 per cent of umpires said their number one reason for umpiring was their love of the game. Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says both players and spectators may not realise that umpires are as committed and passionate about the game as they are.

“As a coach, I help prepare my players to perform at the best of their ability each week,” Longmire said.

“It may not be common knowledge but umpires train and prepare themselves just like the players do. It takes a tremendous amount of commitment and dedication to become an umpire and we respect the work they do – umpires play an integral role in our great game.”

With participation rates booming across the country, the number of umpires needs to increase in order to meet the demand for the game. In 2014, the number of umpires in NSW/ACT increased to a record 1611 umpires, coaches and mentors. The aim is to reach 2000 umpires by 2016.

GIANTS Coach Leon Cameron said that all participants should recognise the contribution of umpires.

“Umpires are essential to our sport, so it’s important that we get behind Umpiring Round and show our appreciation for umpires at all levels of the game,” Cameron said.

“Decisions may not always go your way, but just remember that without the umpires we wouldn’t have a game each week so please respect their judgment and play the game in good spirits.”

Over the course of this year a number of new umpiring initiatives have been introduced including a new Umpire Coach Accreditation Course, targeting female and people from diverse backgrounds, and a new “Get in the Game” campaign to recruit umpires along with additional state support to talented umpires in all three umpiring disciplines.