Get in the game, become an umpire
Becoming an umpire is a great way to make new friends.
2024 is the year for you to discover the hidden secret that is Umpiring.
Every weekend around Australia, men, women, boys and girls of all ages get involved in footy through umpiring. You can easily become one of them by joining the AFL North Coast umpiring crew.
And even better, while you do it you can earn money, get fit and make friends.
Umpiring is a critically important part of the game.
Without umpires, there is no game, and there are great structures and systems in place to encourage people to get involved in umpiring and progress as far as you want to go.
Earlier this year the AFL’s Elite Umpiring squad had a pre-season training camp in Coffs Harbour and 382-game veteran ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain said after completing a session with local umpires that there are several reasons why people should become an umpire.
“Great people, great game, it’s fun and they pay you,” Chamberlain said.
No matter how old or young, a boy or a girl
Umpiring is for anybody who wants to pick up a whistle, run a boundary or wave a set of flags.
While the AFL North Coast is always on the lookout for adult aged umpires to officiate matches involving senior men, senior women, reserves and the older junior age groups, umpires as young as 12 can always start by umpiring in the non-competitive Under 10 age group.
“With an additional Youth Girls age group being introduced in 2024, it would be great to see both women and girls from the Under 15 and Under 17 age groups put their hand up to umpire the younger girls,” Northern NSW Community Football & Competition Manager Brad Greenshields said.
“But anybody who has a love for footy is encouraged to try their hand at umpiring, be it from the Under 10s up to the seniors.”
Early in 2024, young local umpire Montana Harvey will be conducting training sessions for females of all ages interested in joining the ‘green team’ and blowing a whistle.
If you are thinking about becoming an umpire, click here to register your interest. A member of the AFL NSW/ACT team will get in touch you shortly after registering your interest.
AFL North Coast Umpires Association
The AFL North Coast has a healthy Umpires Association that offers support to whistle blowers and flag wavers of all ages.
If you wish to find out more about umpiring in the region, the president of the Umpires Association is Graham Day and he can be contacted at gruffyday@gmail.com.
