More female umps wanted

A NEW program has been designed to try and increase the number of football umpires, especially women.

Specifically targeting past players, the women’s umpiring group will see aspiring field umpires mentored by a professional to take charge of games during this year’s season.

Umpire manager at AFL Central Victoria, Sharon McColl, said there is already a pathway from playing to umpiring in men’s football, and with women’s football continuing to grow there’s no reason a similar pathway can’t exist.

“We’d love to have past players who don’t want the bumps any more on the ground, but they still want to be a part of the game and they still love it, and love the fact women’s football has grown so much,” she said.

“We don’t have a huge number of females and it’s something we really want to increase… we’ve got some, but it’s about trying to get a whole group more of them here.”

The program will be run with the help of Bendigo Women’s Football Club alumni Emma Wolters, who will lead training and match day sessions.

McColl said last year a group of eight under-16 boys were successfully fast-tracked to field umpiring for under-12 games.

“We’re trying to emulate that with the women’s,” she said.

“Trying to bring in women who have really good football knowledge who are able to come straight in and with a bit of training, coaching, and learning their place on the ground, could go out and umpire a game.

“They’ve got the knowledge they’re all great footballers, so that’s our aim.”

With two women signed up currently, McColl said they’d need at least four to run the program, with umpiring opportunities across the Loddon Mallee football leagues including the women’s only Central Victorian Football League.