The McDonalds Ballarat FNL is proud to be part of Community Umpiring Week as we celebrate, acknowledge and highlight the invaluable contribution and role umpires play to our games each weekend.
Each week the Ballarat FNL is fortunate enough to have great support from our umpiring community as they perform an integral part of our matches going ahead.
This week we create awareness around umpiring pathways and promote respect for the men, women, girls and boys who officiate matches at all levels of footy and netball around the country.
There are many great reasons to get involved with umpiring including developing life skills, making friends, having flexible training options, keeping fit, making some extra money and developing a pathway to the higher level.
You can also find a balance between playing and umpiring across a weekend to keep involved with your sport.
It is also a timely reminder to remind our community that there is zero tolerance to poor behaviour towards umpires.
The role of umpires must be recognised and respected by the coaches, players, officials, spectators and families.
It is an umpire’s job to officiate the game within the rules and keep our players safe.
We need to remind everyone involved in our game of the consequences of poor behaviour towards an umpire.
The actions can have a much greater impact than what you think. We need to reiterate the need to treat umpires with respect.
Clubs and Families can help ensure the health and safety of umpires by educating players and members on showing and treating umpires with respect.
Officials, players, members, spectators and families should never argue, dispute decisions, make negative or derogatory remarks or gestures towards an umpire.
No one should behave in a manner to disturb the normal course of play in a game.
Not only is the behaviour setting a bad example for those around us, it distracts the umpire and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.
So please when heading to a game this weekend, and every weekend, remember, It’s only a game and it’s important to set a good example of respecting umpires for all of those involved.
Without umpires there is no game!
Thank you to all the umpires out there that show up each week and do their best to ensure we all get to enjoy the great game of football and netball.
