AFL Celebrates Community Umpiring Week

Round Seven of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season is Community Umpiring Week with the aim to encourage people to get involved in umpiring Australian Football at the community level.

Throughout the week, April 26 – May 2, the AFL will be celebrating Community Umpiring Week through a number of initiatives:

• -AFL Umpires will attend community Club training sessions
• -Umpires at each AFL match this weekend will be led onto the ground by community umpires
• – AFL Umpires will officiate in junior community matches (Sunday, May 2, 2021)

Across the country, leagues and clubs will celebrate their local umpires with various initiatives run by the clubs.

Community Umpiring Development Manager, Damian Anderson said with more than 1.4 million people playing Australian Football, umpire numbers have never been more important.

“There are over 15,000 umpires officiating in community football matches each week and over 12% are female a significant increase in line with the expansion of female football”, he said.

“Community Umpiring Week is designed to increase awareness of umpiring as a choice as an additional activity to playing or choosing umpiring as a sport of choice as an alternative way to participate in the game.

“Over 94% of umpires currently play or have played junior football. You can play and umpire on the same day or on alternate days. It is a great way to keep fit, earn money, develop life skills and make life-long friends.”

For more information or to register your interest in umpiring community football visit https://umpire.afl.