This week AFL Sydney will take part in Community Umpiring Round to support umpires at the community level of the game.
Community 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 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. 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.
AFL Sydney will participate in a number of initiatives that will help improve the overall umpiring experience which I ask for each clubs assistance with. These initiatives include:
- All players and coaches lining up prior to EVERY AFL Sydney match just prior to the start of the game (when the coin toss occurs) and shaking the umpires hands.
- All players are to wear a green armband this weekend
Clubs are encouraged to get their ground announcers to promote umpiring and how to get involved , players and coaches to attend an umpiring training session and inviting umpires to an official match function.
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.
It is extremely important that umpires are made to feel welcome at football matches.
By shaking hands with the umpires before the game we are trying to create a level of respect and ensure they feel an important part of the game.
Our umpire advertisement can be found at https://youtu.be/Rrc3_zgfY7E
Also please give a like / follow to the NSW/ACT Umpires Facebook and Twitter pages:
Facebook – AFL New South Wales & ACT Umpires
Twitter - @AFLNSW/ACTUmpire
Umpires at each AFL level match this weekend will be led on to the ground by four first-year community umpires, giving them a taste of the elite match day experience and demonstrating the opportunities that are available through umpiring.
AFL National Umpiring Development Manager Adam Davis said umpiring numbers have had incredible growth over the last 12 months with a 15 percent increase, but we always need more umpires to cover the growing numbers of games played every weekend.“The celebration of community umpiring this weekend is about recognising all the umpires who do such a great job at community level to allow our game to be as great as it is,” he said.
“Umpiring is a critical part of the game to allow the players to play our spectacular game on a level and safe playing field.
“Umpiring offers opportunities for people from all backgrounds and all ages. We offer programs to introduce umpiring to people from multicultural and indigenous backgrounds as well as female umpires,” he said.
Celebrations will also occur at matches across this weekend at grassroots and community level around Australia.
OPSM is the Official Sponsor of the AFL Umpires, supporting community development and the umpire talent pathway at grassroots levels.
More information is available at afl.com.au/umpires. This site includes information on how to become an umpire along with resources to assist learning the role of the umpire.
Last Modified on 12/05/2016 11:44
