It is a weekend to reflect upon the value of umpires in the good running of a football league and more specifically to clubs in them having umpires servicing their footballers to enable a game to be played in a safe and independent environment.
The Northern Football League has gone to a great deal of effort in providing clubs with a strong umpiring group since its first full season in 2008. Numbers are now such that all matches are fully serviced with field, boundary and goal umpires to the level required and two field umpires are appointed to all matches from under-14 years and in many cases lower age groups too up to senior matches.
The league’s umpiring group continues to attract young women who are making a valuable contribution in each of the three umpiring categories and of course many young men as well. Almost 200 umpires attended official training in the week commencing April 15. Whilst this is not the full extent of the league’s umpire numbers, it is believed this is a number that could not be even closely matched by any other umpire group.
Whilst this is great news for the NFL community it should be remembered that whilst 121 new umpires were recruited to the league in 2012, the league lost 93 umpires at the same time. In fact in Victoria, the field umpire losses each year equate to approximately three and a half for every five umpires recruited.
Many of those leaving are in their teenage years and it is this that needs be addressed. It is therefore the case that the ‘Umpiring is Everyone’s Business’ weekend is an opportune time to reflect on the contribution a positive umpiring and football environment may make to the enjoyment of umpires and then possibly a better retention rate. This would only benefit the league’s football community and enhance the work your league is undertaking.
Maybe on the weekend of May 4 and 5 for a start, all of us can give thought to this, the role your umpires play in ensuring a well run football league and refrain from loud criticisms during the match and also at the time umpires leave the field at half time and at the end of the match.
Maybe you will consider extending this attitude into the future and consider the fact young umpires especially are like young players and need the same consideration and be allowed to develop as time goes by, just like young players.
To download the Umpiring is Everyone’s Business poster, please 
CLICK HERE.
