The NFL and the wider football community will acknowledge the terrific work undertaken by our umpires this week in the Community Umpiring Round.
Held from May 6 – 8, the initiative is designed to recognise those patrolling the boundary, manning the goal line and controlling the action out in the middle each week, and the huge role they play in our game.
In Victoria alone there are more than 7,000 registered umpires at community level, along with thousands of club-based umpires, who commit their time and energy to allow those chasing the Sherrin to do so safely.
To celebrate the occasion, a host of AFL umpires have forgone their usual training session this week to instead disband and travel to community umpiring groups across Victoria to engage with local members and facilitate training sessions.
AFL umpires Nick Foot and Leigh Haussen (field), Chris Esler and Tim Lougoon (Boundary) and Michael Palm (Goal) attended NFL umpire training on Tuesday night.
In addition, six members from each community league umpiring group have been invited to develop their skills and knowledge of the game under the guidance of some of the game’s national umpiring coaches at IKON Park.
AFL Umpires’ Coaches Simon Leigh (Boundary), Steve Stirling (Goal) and Hayden Kennedy (Field) will take the fortunate umpires through their paces in an on-field training session and provided an insight to how AFL umpires are coached.
Furthermore, four lucky members of community umpiring groups will lead out their AFL counterparts at all of AFL matches in Round 7 and enjoy a taste of an AFL umpire’s match-day experience.
Community Umpiring Round is also another opportunity to encourage those who want to be involved in the greatest game in the world to take up umpiring.
Across Victoria, huge efforts are being made to attract umpires from all walks of life, with the development of Diversity Umpire Academies and Female Umpiring Academies growing from strength to strength.
If you are new to the game, or your playing days are over, then umpiring is a great way to contribute to community football.
Regardless of your age, gender, culture or ability, anyone can get involved in umpiring and enjoy the many benefits the roles provide.
Not only do you get the best view of the action, but it helps keep you fit, be part of a team and learn leadership skills that you can take with you when you walk off the ground.
Coinciding with Community Umpiring Round, seventeen of Melbourne’s up-and-coming young field umpires will learn from some of the AFL’s best officiators in the 2017 Mates Program.
Created in conjunction with AFL Victoria and AFL Umpires, the Mates Program pairs talented field umpires from the seven senior metropolitan umpiring groups including the Northern FL, Eastern FL, Essendon DFL, Riddell District FNL, Southern FNL, VAFA and Western Region FL with AFL listed umpires.
In its 12th year, the Mates Program aims to promote the development of talented young umpires and provides them with a first-hand look at what it takes to officiate at the elite level.
Returning to the Program as a mentor for his ninth year is AFL umpire Shane McInerney, along with fellow field umpires Chris Kamolins, Ben Ryan, Sam Hay, Robert O’Gorman and Leigh Fisher and Craig Fleer.
Over the duration of the season, the young officials, who range between the ages of 16 and 25, will speak regularly with their AFL mentor and develop their umpiring game plan.
In addition, the AFL umpires will meet with their ‘mates’ four or five times a year and speak to them regularly about all facets of umpiring and the challenges that come with it.
The Northern Football League’s participants are Dylan Brown and Tim Howe, who have been teamed with AFL umpire Shane McInerney.
