Umpires call for respect amid spike in abuse

THE Bendigo Umpires Association has issued an impassioned plea for better respect from football fans and officials following a “troubling” spike in verbal abuse towards umpires this season.

It comes as one of the region’s most experienced umpires, Dean Goodridge, revealed umpires as young as 12 and 14 had been subject to some of the worst abuse.

With backing from the region’s governing body, AFL Central Victoria, the BUA has issued an open letter to football clubs, players, members, parents and spectators to respect the umpires and respect the game.

“Unfortunately, we continue to see a troubling trend across our leagues: verbal abuse directed at umpires – some of whom are as young as 12 years old – by spectators, including adults. This is not only unacceptable; it is damaging to our game,” the letter states.

“The Bendigo Umpires Association and AFL Central Victoria have received multiple reports this season of spectators berating umpires, both during games and as they leave the field.

“In some cases, groups of adults have targeted individual junior umpires.

“Ask yourself: what is gained by this behaviour? Is it meant to impress others? To vent frustration?

“Whatever the motivation, the outcome is clear – it discourages young people from becoming, or remaining, involved in umpiring. And without umpires, there is no game.”

Goodridge, a 40-year veteran of umpiring and the BUA’s director of coaching, said it was disappointing that after some gains in respect towards umpires in recent seasons, verbal abuse had escalated.

“It’s at all levels really, not just junior footy… and across our leagues.

“Last weekend (June 14 and June 15) was particularly bad, where we had two 14-year-olds subjected to constant criticism from a (junior) coach, which is not what we want at all.

“It’s unacceptable. It comes back to what we are doing it for.

“We don’t go out there to cop abuse. We’re human – we make mistakes like anyone else – like players, like coaches.

“It’s a really complicated game to umpire; it’s probably the most complicated, rule-wise, of any game in the world.

“Umpires are going to make their share of mistakes. But their commitment, effort, and intent should never be in question.”

The BUA fills hundreds of appointments each weekend across six leagues, including the Bendigo Football Netball League, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley, North Central, CVFL Women and Bendigo Junior Football League.

The plea for action comes at a time when the BUA has one of the most promising crops of teenage umpires in its 94-year history, with several youngsters having made their senior level debut over the past two seasons.

While most leagues hold an umpire appreciation round each season, Goodridge said even then, some umpires, including himself, had been the target of insults and anger from individuals in the crowd.

He said he would hate to see a situation where umpires, in particular teenage umpires, were forced to walk away from the game because of hostility and abuse.

Goodridge said the BUA was committed to working with AFL Central Victoria to stamp out abuse and called on football followers to play their part.

“Having people from the clubs calling out inappropriate behaviour when they see it is something that will help,” said Goodridge, who has officiated roughly 1,400 games in his time as an umpire.

“Challenging these people, particularly spectators, but also officials, is the only way attitudes and behaviours will change.”

Commenting on spectators’ judgement on umpiring at the community level, Goodridge urged people to ditch comparisons with what they saw at AFL level.

“A lot of people think that what they see on a Friday night is what is going to transpire on a weekend,” he said.

“There is a big difference between AFL and community-level footy with regards to not just the quality of football but also the rule interpretations. A lot of interpretations differ.

“I’m happy to be quoted on this – people don’t know the laws of the game.

“I’ll stand by it. Some people’s understanding of the rules is lacking and the interpretations have changed over time.

“The game has never been harder to umpire. You have the slide rule now, changes to prohibited contact where a player has his head over the ball and a player chooses to bump and makes contact to his head.

“It’s evolved a lot and they have changed the interpretations of holding the man and holding the ball. They are now a lot tougher on the guy who takes possession of the ball.”

Goodridge stressed that while the majority of supporters and officials “did the right thing”, it was a minority that continued to cross the line

The BUA said it remained open to constructive feedback as a ‘vital part’ of umpire growth but urged clubs to use official league communication channels.

“This ensures all feedback is received in a respectful and structured way and can be reviewed and actioned by umpire coaching staff,” the open letter states.

The letter has been posted on the AFL Central Victoria and Bendigo Football Netball League websites.

To read the full letter, head to bendigofnl.com.au/news-archive.