Sheedy, Longmire praise umpires

Local AFL leagues will this week take part in Umpiring Round to support umpires at the community level of the game.

Umpiring Round 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 3800 umpiring appointments required in NSW/ACT many of these are filled by club umpires, mums and dads just helping out for the day.

It is critical that the AFL community works together to create a positive atmosphere for the officials of the game whether they are league appointed or club umpires

Often umpires are lost to the game due to the reception and abuse they receive from spectators and fans at matches.

Umpiring Round will include a number of local initiatives by leagues that will help improve the overall umpiring experience. At the AFL level, this will be extended with all club coaches shaking hands with the umpires prior to the opening bounce of each match. 

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says that umpiring is important at all levels of football from Auskick to the elite level.

“Umpiring Round is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in the AFL community to recognise and appreciate the role that umpires play in our sport,” Longmire said.

“In order for AFL to thrive in NSW/ACT we need to show people that umpiring is a great sport to take up and that it is everyone’s business to ensure we recruit and retain umpires through our actions on match day.”

With participation rates booming across the country, the number of umpires needs to increase in order to meet the demand for the game.

Anecdotal evidence is suggesting that the match day environment for umpires at community football is beginning to improve. 

In 2011, the number of umpires in NSW/ACT increased by 8% to a record 1142 umpires, coaches and mentors. The aim is to reach 2000 umpires by the end of 2015 – which means a 15% growth each season.

GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy says the AFL community should remember that umpires are crucial to the future of the game.

“The importance of umpires is simple really – no umpires, no game,” he said.
“It is the most difficult job to do, as an umpire they create the game though their decisions.

“It’s fantastic to see the AFL developing young umpires to take this game forward into the next generation.”

A number of umpires around the country will also be wearing green shirts throughout the year to communicate to people that they are learning the game and need to be encouraged and supported.     

Everyone can play a role in creating a positive match day environment to ensure umpires, coaches, players and volunteers perform at their peak.