AFL FAQs - Here come the Men In White, The Umpires

Every team sport needs an umpire. Australian Football needs three senior umpires to control the game, two boundary umpires to return the ball to play and two goal umpires to judge shots for goal.

Before 1976, an Australian Football game was umpired by one field umpire. In 1976, the VFL introduced two field umpires, and in 1994, the AFL extended this to three field umpires.

Why three referees/umpires? The pace of the game has developed to such an extent that it became impossible for one person to keep up with the game, much less adjudicate on decisions. The three men work the ground in sectors as no sector should be unpatrolled.

There is a clear career path for potential AFL umpires, spotted by umpiring observers at junior and local league level. Candidates can progress through the various state league levels, such as the VFL, the SANFL and the WAFL. If an umpire shows potential and is successful at state league level, he can be invited to trials for positions on the AFL list. Successful umpires are then placed on the AFL umpires list of 32.

Twenty-four AFL umpires officiate during each round of matches. The remaining eight act as emergency umpires. There are about 40 goal and boundary umpires on AFL lists nationally.

Umpires are selected on performance and experience, and can be rotated to gain exposure at big games or because of injury or work considerations.

Umpires are used in three-match cycles so they can plan ahead with regard to work and game preparation. This is particularly important because of the amount of interstate travel and because games are spread over a number of different playing days. A rotation system groups umpires in teams.

The umpires are ranked and re-ranked at various stages through the football season and groups are determined according to this ranking. The umpires are very accountable for their performances through the assessment system and through the numerous statistics gathered by umpiring observers both at games and via video.

Umpires have a fitness advisor, a rehabilitation coach, a psychologist, a dietician and trainers. Their support crew is very similar to the support teams which assist AFL players.

The umpires have a very structured training routine with a program set up by the AFL’s specialist fitness staff. They train five times per week - two coaching and fitness sessions with the group and three other individually designed sessions. Recovery is also an important part of each umpire’s training program.

Contact your local football club or local football league. Arrange an interview to find out what is involved in umpiring. If you think umpiring is the sport for you, sign up and then enjoy the challenge along the pathway to the AFL.

Most games as umpire

Free kicks can be awarded for many reasons. Offences include pushing an opponent in the back, running too far with the ball, grabbing an opponent around the neck or holding on to the ball too long when legitimately tackled.

A free kick can be awarded to a player further up the ground closer to goal if his teammate has been unlawfully interfered with after kicking the ball. If a player offends again after giving away a free kick, he can also give away a 50 metre penalty. This often places the player with the free kick within scoring range.

There are plenty of 'coaches' and 'umpires' in the outer and another hundred thousand or so watching on television.

A free kick can be paid against a player for holding on to the ball for too long when tackled (that¹s when you'll hear the crowd yell 'baaaalll, yeeessss'), throwing the ball, deliberately knocking the ball out of bounds (watch for when people yelling 'deliberate' and you'll understand the rule), kicking the ball out on the full - that is, straight off the boot and out of bounds without touching the ground - and running too far with the ball without bouncing it or touching it on the ground.

The AFL Umpiring Department, responsible for the management of AFL umpiring, is part of the AFL’s Football Operations Department. It underwent a significant change in 1998 when former Hawthorn premiership player Peter Schwab was appointed AFL Director of Umpiring and former umpire Rowan Sawers was appointed AFL Field Umpires’ Coach. Schwab revamped the assessment and selection process, encouraged closer relationships with the clubs and opened up the umpiring process to the public through the media.

In 2000, Schwab was appointed coach of the Hawthorn Football Club and was replaced as director of umpiring by former Richmond coach Jeff Giesche. Giesche’s appointment continued the AFL’s policy of recruiting a person to the position with extensive senior experience as player and coach.

By Stuart Wenn, AFL Umpire

Take a visit to any football ground around Australia on any weekend during the season and you would swear that there are plenty of budding umpires sitting there in the outer. You would only have stay for the first few minutes of the game to hear clear evidence of the crowd`s passion for the interpretation of the rules and how they should be applied.

For most though, that is as close as they want to get to umpiring AFL football, and who could blame them. At times it can be a thankless task and at the end of the day at least 50 per cent of the fans will think you are wrong.

So even if you did want to become an AFL umpire, how would you go about it?

It was not so long ago that potential umpires could walk in off the street and umpire reserve grade football. In the late 1970s, you could have answered the ads that were placed in the Melbourne papers looking for interested persons to try out. These days, to get to AFL level is a long and difficult road.

Unlike the game`s aspiring players who have many opportunities to achieve their goal, the odds of making it as an umpire are far less. With 42 positions available at each of the 16 AFL clubs, there are a total of 672 spots for players at the elite level. To make it as an umpire you have only 32 positions nationally.

Add to this the fact that there is no second chance if you don`t make the cut as you don`t have the luxury of opting for the draft, and you start to see that the numbers don`t stack up in your favor.

You get one chance, and with an average turnover to the AFL list of at least four umpires each year, once you have made it, it is difficult to hold your spot in such a competitive environment.

The top football league in each state is responsible for feeding AFL ranks with the umpires of the future. Each state league will submit a list of the leading umpires in their state for that year who will then be considered for selection at AFL level. They will be viewed umpiring in their state league by the AFL umpiring selectors and some will be invited to train with the AFL squad during pre-season.

From here they will be assessed in AFL practice games and the Ansett Australia Cup, and depending on their performance and the number of positions available, may be lucky enough to snatch a spot on the AFL list.

Almost all that make it this far will have umpired for more than 10 years at junior, senior and state league level, have completed a four-year professional accreditation program and in some cases, relocated to Melbourne before getting this chance. This means that most AFL umpires make their debut in their mid to late 20s with only a few exceptions in recent years.

The demands of learning the skills of umpiring such as positioning, set kick control and operation of the three-umpire system are not something that can be learned overnight to the standard required at AFL level. This has been a major factor in why we have not seen an ex-player take on umpiring recently.

So even though you watch the game and think that the umpires may have kicked a footy once at primary school and probably found a whistle on the way to the game and thought they give it a try, remember how long it has taken them to get there - and that you wouldn`t be one for quids.

For instance, in Victoria a school-based "Level 0" Course is offered through secondary school physical education courses in those schools which have had a staff member trained by the Victorian Umpiring Department. This course uses the AFL Interactive Umpiring Course CD ROM and links to local Umpiring Groups for practical coaching and support.

A similar course ("Basic Umpiring Course") is conducted in schools in South Australia through part-time Umpiring Development Officers. This course has been an appropriate and valuable introduction to accredited courses in South Australia. A similar course is offered in Queensland.

All States and Territories have a range of introductory programs which are best accessed by contacting the State Umpiring body.

The AFL Interactive Umpiring Course CD ROM is a major resource which can be used at home or within a training environment, such as schools or umpiring groups. It is a high-tech, interactive resource that uses video footage from AFL matches, graphics and text to assist in learning the roles of Field, Boundary and Goal Umpires, as well as providing a unit on Health and Nutrition.

Users of the CD can undertake Training modules, then Practice modules and finally Assessment. When successful in all Units, an AFL Certificate can be printed and results easily emailed to appropriate personnel such as teachers or to State Umpiring Managers to find out how to become an umpire in your local area.

Recognised by the Australian Coaching Council as "best practice" in the training of officials under the National Officiating Program (NOP), the courses are:

All Level One courses are regarded as the necessary minimum accreditation for umpires and expected to be undertaken by first year umpires.

Level Two Boundary and Goal Umpire courses are available to umpires accredited as Level One and continuing beyond their initial year of umpiring.

Level Two Field Umpiring generally refers to being trained and assessed in the "2-umpire" system, although some states/territories may place certain restrictions on entry to Level Two.

Level Three Field Umpiring requires assessment in the "3-umpire" system and is available to those Level Two umpires who have been invited to trial at State League Umpiring Squads.

AFL certificates and Badges are provided to all successful candidates.

Accreditation as Level 2 and Level 3 Field Umpires needs to be re-established every four years by undertaking an appraisal by a person recognised by the State body as able to perform such assessment ("Re-accreditation").