Round 9 of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will celebrate Community Umpiring Week with the aim to encourage people to get involved in umpiring Australian Football at the community level.
Throughout the week leading up to Round 9, May 8 – May 14, the AFL will be celebrating Community Umpiring Week through a number of initiatives:
- AFL Umpires will attend community Club training sessions
- Umpires at each AFL match this weekend will be led onto the ground by community umpires
- AFL Umpires will officiate in junior community matches
- Current AFL players will officiate in junior community matches
Across the country, leagues and clubs will celebrate their local umpires with various initiatives run by the clubs.
National Umpire Recruitment, Retention and Development Lead Luke Brennan said with more than 1.4 million people playing Australian Football, umpire numbers have never been more important.
“Umpiring is for anyone, from anywhere at any age. It is a great way to keep fit, earn money, develop life skills and make life-long friends.
“Many umpires currently play or have played junior football – but umpiring is open to everyone and gives many people a new way to stay involved in the game they love.
“We are incredibly grateful to the over 15,000 umpires officiating in community football matches each week, they are critical to our game and make sure everyone can have fun at footy”, he said.
For more information or to register your interest in umpiring community football visit https://umpire.afl.
