The best 11 umpires from the past 10 years will be announced by the WANFLUA at a major function at the Novotel on June 16.

The WANFLUA is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and, just as it did in 2002, will announce the team of the decade.

Five teams of the decade were announced at the 50 year celebrations followed by a team of the half century. That team comprised field umpires Ross Capes, Ray Montgomery, Len Gardner and emergency Grant Vernon, boundary umpires John Devine, Ron Hall and Dan Gooch along with goal umpires Bill Carter, Merv Rose and third scorer Paul Smith.

There are clear pathways in WA to develop umpires for our great game in the different areas of field, boundary and goal umpiring.

While it is the dream of many young footballers to one day play AFL, some turn their talents to umpiring at a young age or when they are older to continue their participation in the game.

Field umpiring is one aspect of umpiring but there are also exciting opportunities to continue in the game as a boundary or goal umpire.

Just as there is an established development pathway for field umpires from community football through to WAFL football and AFL, similar pathways exist for those who aspire to be a boundary or goal umpire.

The goal umpire pathway in WA commences at senior community football where high quality coaching is provided by former AFL and WAFL goal umpires.

The importance of Coaching Umpires at the WAFL level is in many ways proportional to a WAFL club player coach in relation to attaining and maintaining acceptable performance outcomes on game day.

There is no single factor that determines consistency in this area however all would agree that having qualified and competent coaching, conditioning and medical teams remains a fundamental requirement to meeting performance challenges.

One of the main challenges facing umpire coaches is meeting the expectations of the football public, media, players and their coaches in light of the changing style, increased tempo, nature of play, and changing interpretations to the laws of the game.

For umpires to maintain consistency of interpretation and ensure even decision making under game situations for both teams in all matches is a huge challenge.

Consistency is paramount in umpiring to ensure all players receive equal justice under the laws.  That consistency can only come from the umpires knowledge a common understanding. Being in the correct position and being observant, fit and confident in what they are doing is also critical.

WA Based AFL umpires recently headed out to regional WA as part of the AFL Umpire Road show program.

Veteran AFL Field umpire Dean Margetts travelled to Esperance and Kalgoorlie and a few weeks later 2011 AFL Grand Final boundary umpire Nathan Doig was accompanied by AFL Goal Umpire Matt Laycock on a development trip to Geraldton.

The program, which has been running for several years, provides AFL umpires the opportunity to impart their highly developed skills, knowledge and experiences to the regional football community.

It also puts a human face to the AFL umpire as they deliver the AFL message that “Umpiring is Everyone’s Business’’

Margetts, 37, is entering his 11^th season as an AFL Field umpire, which has included umpiring AFL Finals.

Margetts, said that even he had dismissed the importance of umpires in the past.

With the development of a Talent Pathway for umpiring, it was recognized that future WAFL and AFL umpires needed to have opportunities at a senior community level before progressing to the WAFL.

This led to the development of The Junior District Talent Squad (JDTS) program, which has now been in place for four years.

The program has seen 19 umpires progress to Senior Community Umpiring (WAAFL and PFL) and another 13 umpires being promoted to the WAFL.