Junior football league in hunt for umpires

The busy season ahead of the Warragul and District Junior Football League needs more people to step up to umpire games.

And the effort for those that do can be well worth it.

The league’s umpires’ co-ordinator Dave Papley said field umpires would be paid $70 at the Under 12 and Under 14 levels for games.

“Seventy bucks for an hour is not bad pay for having a bit of fun and helping the kids,” he said.

The umpires for the Under 10s are arranged by the clubs involved.

Mr Papley said the league was looking for about 30 people to put their hands up to be central umpires.

“Last year we had about 25 but need more on the roster this season”.

A number of young people that play with district clubs also umpired in the junior league in the mornings are this year faced with greater travel on some weeks to their senior games because of changes to structures of senior leagues, he said.

Mr Papley said the $70 payment is a great help for those that are attending university while getting to run about and help stay fit is a good incentive for retired players as well as maintaining an involvement in the game for them.

Mr Papley said it was also great that a couple of girls, aged 17 and 18, had stepped forward as umpires this year.

Junior umpires need a working with children police check and the league arranges their AFL accreditation as Level One umpires.

There are no formal training sessions for the umpires but Mr Papley said there were frequent communications through avenues such as Facebook and meetings of the group held several times during the season.

The WDJFL reverted to its own umpires last year after the Gippsland Umpires Association, that had officiated for several years, was unable to assure adequate numbers on a week to week basis.

Mr Papley would welcome inquiries from prospective umpires at 0438 295 568 or at papley9@bigpond.com