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Sport

8 March, 2024

Call out for umpires

HAVE you ever wanted to become a local footy umpire but didn’t know how to go about it?

By wd-news

Ready for the 2024 season: WDFUA members at a training session in Warrnambool last week.
Ready for the 2024 season: WDFUA members at a training session in Warrnambool last week.

The Warrnambool District Football Umpires Association (WDFUA) is looking to expand its numbers this season and is now welcoming new umpires of all ages and abilities to its fold.

WDFUA president Andrew Lougheed said the group had introduced a range of changes this season in the hope of, ultimately, leading to an increase in umpire numbers.

“These changes closely align with a South West Sport program in which we are actively participating, Respect in Sport,” he said.

“We have adopted a fun, flexible philosophy which we hope will resonate with potential umpire recruits.

“We aim to incentivise club umpires to make the transition from club to association.”

Among the many incentives was a junior development fund, established to provide free umpire gear to new junior umpires.

“Umpiring allows participants to earn money, be involved in local footy, exercise and make new friends,” Mr Lougheed said.

AFL Victoria has this year supported the WDFUA in introducing a women and girls liaison position – which has been filled by the association’s senior boundary coach, Caitlin Kavanaugh.

AFL Victoria has also appointed two casuals to support retention and recruitment initiatives in the region and, for the first time, one of the group’s junior mentors is a female boundary umpire.

“We also have a husband and wife team taking charge of our junior umpire development training (BUMP) which is exciting,” Mr Lougheed said.

“And we have introduced a development field umpire coach role to assist umpires transition from boundary umpiring to the field.

“They will also be available to help field umpire recruits as they start their umpiring journey.”

This season sees the introduction of a new coaching model that shares the load between umpire development and umpire appointments.

Game day changeroom facilities have also come under the spotlight and the umpires association has acknowledge that its facilities had not, in the past, met modern-day needs.

As a result, the association has entered into a seasonal tenancy agreement with the Warrnambool City Council to use the away team’s change rooms in the new Reid Oval pavilion for training purposes.

This provides equal facilities for both male and female umpires.

“We also have full access to the Reid Oval for all our training sessions, which are held Mondays 6pm-7pm and Wednesdays from 5pm (inclusive of junior training), Mr Lougheed said.

The group is also looking to explore the option of a regional satellite training oval, outside Warrnambool, to reduce travel time.

“We know that for some people travelling to Warrnambool each week for training can be a possible hurdle when it comes to deciding whether or not to join us, and we’re open to suggestions,” Mr Lougheed said.

The recent introduction of an online newsletter also ensures all umpires – and prospective umpires and sponsors – are kept well informed.

“It has certainly been a very busy few months for our association as we work towards the start of what no doubt will be a very busy but rewarding 2024 football season,” Mr Lougheed said.

“We have also re-engaged with our life members post-COVID and will hold our first life members function sometime this month.”

An information night will be held in the umpires’ rooms at Reid Oval, Warrnambool, on Wednesday, March 13.

A session for parents of prospective junior recruits will run from 5pm-5.45pm (juniors are welcome to join the training session during that time) while the senior information session will start at 6pm.

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