UMPIRING

WE CAN’T PLAY WITHOUT UMPIRES!

UMPIRES – AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR GAME!

At Mountain Creek JAFC we value everyone involved in our great game of Australian Rules Football.  While we value our Players, Coaches, Managers and Officials we also value one our most important members of the AFL Family – Our Umpires!!!

After all, we cant play games of AFL Footy without an Umpire!

In Junior AFL there are two types of Umpires:

  1.  Club Umpires or Footy-4-Fun Umpires – These umpires officiate at U9.5s and U11.5s matches and is the entry point for new AFL Umpires, and
  2.  AFLQ Umpires – These umpires are typically Club Umpires that have progressed from being a Club Umpire and now officiate at older Age Group matches (U13.5 and above).

In order to run home games each Junior Club is required to supply Club Umpires to help officiate at Footy-4-Fun games (matches up to U11.5s). For older Age Groups AFLQ assigns an AFLQ Umpire or Umpires.

See below for more information about these two types of Umpires and how to register.

ABOUT THE UMPIRING PROGRAM

Before we get into the details we need to tell you more about the Umpiring program. Below are some facts about the AFL Umpiring Program:

  1.  Its FREE to join.
  2.  For those kids that weren’t suited to playing AFL its a great way to stay involved with the game.
  3.  You get paid to be an Umpire: Footy-4-Fun Umpires get paid by their home Club while AFLQ Umpires get paid by AFLQ for each match they officiate at (payments are tax free!).
  4.  AFLQ provides free training clinics to help you understand how to umpire and apply the rules of our great game.
  5.  AFLQ also provides you with a Umpiring participants handbook so you know exactly what to do.
  6.  Its Fun.
  7.  It helps keep you fit.
  8.  You will make new Friends.
  9.  You will build your confidence and improve your communication and interpersonal skills.
  10.  You will learn more about the rules of the game and how to apply them than you currently do.
  11.  Both boys and Girls can become Umpires.
  12.  As an AFLQ Umpire you have the option of becoming either a Field, Boundary or Goal Umpire.
  13.  MCJAFC Footy-4-Fun Umpires receive free uniforms.
  14.  You must be 12 years of age or older to be an Umpire.
  15.  If you stick at it there is a pathway to umpiring at the Elite level – how cool would it be if you umpired in the actual AFL!!

So with all of these benefits, why wouldn’t you become an Umpire???!!!

CLUB UMPIRES

The process for becoming a MCJAFC Footy-4-Fun Umpire is as follows:

  1. Register you interest by clicking – HERE
  2. Once on the AFLQ Umpire for fun Website click on the  “TO REGISTER FOR UMPIRE4FUN! CLICK HERE” Link
  3. Enter your details following the 5 step process.  Please make sure that when you get Step 3 about Role Preferences you Select “Umpire4Fun” – see blue box in image below:

4. Once you have registered you will be contacted by the AFLQ Umpiring Department about the next steps – You will be required to complete the Introductory Umpire course found in your OfficialsHQ profile – See guide showing how to access this Course – HERE.

You will not be allowed to start umpiring until you have completed this course.

5. So you have now registered – well done!!! Please let the Club know that you have so we can make sure you have everything you need and can send you any information that comes from the AFLQ Umpiring department.  You will also need to send us your shirt, shorts, and socks sizes so we can make sure we have your uniform ready for you.

Thank-you for your interest in becoming an AFL Junior Footy-4-Fun umpire and a MCJAFC Club Umpire!

The Club will pay you $25 for every game you umpire! (we will need your parents to provide your bank details so we can transfer the funds to your account).

We will be in touch with you soon about the next steps.

AFLQ UMPIRES

The process for becoming an AFLQ Umpire is similar to that for registering to become a Club Footy-4-Fun Umpire is as follows:

  1. Register you interest by clicking – HERE
  2. Once on the AFLQ Umpire for fun Website click on the  “TO REGISTER FOR UMPIRE4FUN! CLICK HERE” Link
  3. Enter your details following the 5 step process.  Please make sure that when you get Step 3 about Role Preferences you Select “SEQ Juniors Umpires” – see green box in image below:

4. Once you have registered you will be contacted by the AFLQ Umpiring Department about the next steps – You will be required to complete the Introductory Umpire course found in your OfficialsHQ profile – See guide showing how to access this Course – HERE.

You will not be allowed to start umpiring until you have completed this course.

5. So you have now registered – well done!!! Please let the Club know that you have registered so we can make sure you have everything you need and can send you any information that comes from the AFLQ Umpiring department. The AFLQ Umpiring Department will be in contact with you about the next steps.

Thank-you for your interest in becoming an AFLQ Umpire!

UMPIRING RESOURCES

To help support our Umpires we have provided the following resources:

1. Club Umpire Participants Handbook

2. Club Umpire Coordinator Handbook

3. Umpire Points Card

CLUB UMPIRE PARTICIPANTS HANDBOOK

To access the 2022 Club Umpire Participants Handbook click – HERE

This document provides new and prospective Umpires with information as to the skills and knowledge required to successfully prepare and be a F4F Umpire.

(This link will be updated when the 2023 Club Umpire Participants Handbook is provided by AFLQ)

CLUB UMPIRE COORDINATORS HANDBOOK

To access the 2022 Club Umpire Coordinators Handbook click – HERE

(This link will be updated when the 2023 Club Umpire Coordinators Handbook is provided by AFLQ)

UMPIRE POINTS CARD

To the AFLQ Umpire Voting Card click – HERE (single) or HERE (4 per page)

(This item is only required for AFLQ Umpires and is not used for F4F Umpires)

UMPIRE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

AFLQ acknowledges the need to develop new F4F (club) Umpires and Youth Umpires so that the pool of Umpires continues to grow and keep pace with the continued growth of our great game and that Umpiring standards are maintained.  They do this by supporting both F4F and Youth umpires with an Observer (F4F) and Mentor or Observer (Youth) program.

The quality of our games relies on these programs, and we encourage people who love the game and want to be involved to support and participate in these programs.

FOOTY-4-FUN CLUB UMPIRE – OBSERVERS

The Junior Umpire Observer system operates, by

  • Observing Umpire4Fun Umpires running U11.5 (and U9.5) Mixed matches.
  • Utilizing senior Umpires at either QAFL or QFA senior matches where there are Under 11 Mixed games scheduled.
  • Having observers arrive at grounds 1.5 hours before their own match to watch at least ½ of the Under 11 games.
  • Providing feedback to F4F umpires on performance and identifying areas for improvement (identification of strengths and weaknesses);
  • Documenting and submitting F4F Umpire observations to the AFLQ Umpiring Department for identification of progress and development of Junior Umpires.

The AFLQ Mentor Program Coordinator will be responsible for appointing observers within the program to observe F4F U11.5 (and U9.5) games.

The aims and outcomes of the F4F Club Umpire Observer program are:

  • To create confident well-educated Umpires that can transition into the Youth Umpiring program and competitions;
  • Identify Umpires who are deemed capable of moving into Youth programs and offering them the opportunity to officiate at both Umpire4Fun and Youth football competitions around the state;
  • Increase in the number of Youth Umpire to support umpiring needs in future seasons;
  • Provide additional information relating to young Umpires coming through the system; and
  • Offers a pathway for Umpires to reach their desired level.

It is recommended that brand new 1st year umpires run in the U9.5s with a mentor in the beginning of their Umpiring career to the point where they can run games themselves without assistance.  After that point they can progress to Umpiring older age groups such as U11.5s (after they have reviewed any rule changes for the new age group).  First year F4F Umpires should attend the Umpire4fun sessions in the pre-season and during the season for additional education and training.

Due to the lower experience levels in Girls Football, it is recommended that U11.5 girl’s games be officiated by an Umpire with at least 2nd years’ experience.

U11.5 mixed games normally have an AFLQ appointed Youth Umpire, however there maybe times where AFLQ will rely on more experienced Club (F4F) Umpires to run these games.

If it is considered however, that a 1st year Umpire is developing well Clubs should consider introducing them to some U11.5 games with a more experienced on-field Youth Umpire Mentor.

AFLQ YOUTH UMPIRE – MENTORS & OBSERVERS

Youth Umpire – Mentors:

Youth Umpire mentors are typically current running Umpires in SEQ Juniors, SEQ Seniors or High-Performance Umpires.  The AFLQ Mentor Program Coordinator, SEQJ Coaches or Appointment Coordinator normally assigns umpire mentors to games that AFLQ would like to have an Umpire observed (for a number of reasons).  This may be to monitor an Umpire that is running in lower age groups or division than the level the Mentor Umpires, or it may even consist of the Umpire Mentor umpiring in the same game as the more junior Youth Umpire.

The Youth Umpire Mentor system operates, by

  • Appointing mentors to matches for the day, ideally close to their home. Umpires are rotated to grounds near the mentor for observation;
  • Having mentors appointed to games by the AFLQ Mentor coordinator;
  • Providing feedback to Umpires at ¼ time, half time and ¾ time breaks to help improve Umpiring standards during the game (real time feedback);
  • Completing Umpire feedback forms and submitting to the AFLQ Umpiring Department or Mentor Program Coordinator via the AFLQ feedback form link;
  • Developing Umpire training and development plans;
  • Identifying issues for communication to the wider Umpire group, particularly where trends are identified; and
  • Coordinating mentor availability and ensuring appointments are accepted and ground coverage is provided (this includes both Friday night and Sunday fixtures).

Youth Umpire – Observers:

Where an Umpire Mentor is not able to be provided (due to availability issues) AFLQ may organise an Umpire Observer to attend.  Observers are typically former Umpires, or Experienced non-running Umpires, Coaches and/or AFLQ Umpiring Staff.

The Youth Umpire Observer program operates by:

  • Having observers available to support Youth umpires, where an Umpire mentor is not able to be provided;
  • Observing Youth Umpires prior to, during and after their games;
  • Providing feedback and identify improvement opportunities to Umpires
  • Walk onto the field (if possible) to deliver immediate feedback to Umpires being observed;
  • Enter the change rooms at halftime to deliver messages or tips to the Youth Umpire to assist them in officiating their game more effectively; and
  • Sending feedback on Umpires to AFLQ via the AFLQ feedback form link.

UMPIRE MENTOR / OBSERVER ACCREDITATION

Umpire Mentors and Observers will be required to complete the AFLQ Umpiring Department Mentor Program within the OfficialsHQ system.  The mentor accreditation process is a nationally recognized program by the AFL.

Every Umpire Mentor or Observer will be required to send a copy of their accreditation certificate to AFLQ Umpiring Department and save the accreditation to their profile within the OfficialsHQ Platform.

The Umpire Mentor and Observer Programs are both centered around the following pillars:

  • Positive and constructive feedback;
  • Consistency in delivery;
  • Continuous Education and training – leading to continuous improvement; and
  • Ensuring that Umpiring standards are maintained to the highest levels.