Community Umpiring Week puts umpires front and centre

This week the AFL North West will be celebrating Community Umpiring Week, where the AFL celebrates its umpires throughout the nation, particularly our community umpires, who work to make our game safe, fun and fair each week, often without the plaudits they deserve.

This weekend all players prior to the start of every match will line-up and shake hands with the umpires as not just a mark of respect but as a way to say thank you to those blow a whistle each week to ensure the players have a game to participate in each week.

Our game cannot be played without umpires, and AFL NSW/ACT has more than 1,600 umpires who don the lime green each week who’ve earned our gratitude.

As our number of playing participants grow across the AFL North West region, so too does the requirement for more umpires to get skilled and get in the game.

Umpiring footy gives people a view of the game they never thought possible. It can help a person get fit, improve their confidence and leadership, and make them part of a community of likeminded individuals who hone their craft at group training and on match days. 

All community umpires in AFL NSW/ACT competitions, whether acting as field, boundary or goal umpires get paid at every level. They are also equipped with the skills and confidence to be the best they can be and even strive for elite status thanks to our regional umpiring coaches.

Umpiring Development Lead for AFL NSW/ACT, Brent Trewin, said Community Umpiring Week is a great initiative for players and clubs to show their support for our officials.

“Umpiring any sport presents unique challenges and we are proud of the umpiring communities we build across the state and territory to ensure everyone who umpires feels supported and skilled to be the best they can,” Trewin said.

“It’s a great way for people to get involved in the game, get fit, have fun and even earn some pocket money.”

There are currently 10 AFL-listed umpires from NSW or the ACT, with goal umpire, Taylor Mattioli from Sydney, the most recent to make her AFL debut.

Anyone looking to start their umpiring journey is encouraged to visit umpire.afl for more information. Alternatively, you can fill out this EOI and one of our umpiring team members will reach out to you shortly.