Junior Umpires Focus of New Engagement Program

The West Australian Football Commission has launched a new initiative to provide a significant increase in junior umpiring engagement.

The program involves WAFC representatives making 18 visits to the nine Junior Community Umpire Clubs in the metropolitan area between March and July.

A second round of visits to clubs has just begun, as part of the aim to build relationships, support clubs and promote best practice to help umpiring grow.

Each week, WAFC Community and Country Umpiring Coordinator Gerry O’Dea and Daniel Gibbons, WAFC Umpire Coaching and Talent Pathway Coordinator, attend a Junior Community Umpire Club training session.

The program includes:

• Meeting all umpire management, coaching staff, and umpires

• Presenting to umpires on the Umpiring WA Cultural Charter and the Umpiring WA Talent Pathway

• Observing and engaging in training, including providing feedback about training delivery and coaching to help promote best practice

The key activity of the first round of visits was a workshop with the Umpire Club management to devise a Junior Community Umpire Club Guiding Principles document.

Through these workshops, the WAFC will collate a best practice model to help guide the Junior Community Umpire Clubs in their activities and operations, with a strong focus on fostering a love for umpiring.

State Umpiring Manager at the WAFC David Crute has declared the program a critical part of maintaining and increasing umpire numbers.

“It’s critically important we engage positively with Junior Umpire Clubs to provide them with the support, guidance, and resources to enable them to fulfil their role in the game.

Their role in recruiting, training, and retaining young Umpires coming into the system underpins the entire football ecosystem in WA,” Crute said.

The program will visit Peel, Perth, Swan Districts, East Perth, and Claremont before the July school holidays.