Deenormous
Senior List
- Jan 21, 2013
- 210
- 335
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
I
I think it’s a pretty tough ask trying to entice ex players into the umpiring fraternity. Banged up bodies, young families that now get their full weekend attention, having a few beers on a Saturday with ex teammates watching the next gen come through. I’m not criticising the idea at all - played til I was 28-29 then umpired in my early 30’s for about 5 years. Just know how hard it is to convince ex players to give it a go. I think it’s easier to get them volunteering to coach Auskick and junior footy when their kids start playing. I don’t have the answer to higher participation rates and I don’t envy the people who have to work it out. Higher payments could be part of it, but it’s got to be part of a bigger campaign by leagues and clubs to show that taking up the whistle isn’t a thankless task. Perhaps clubs could mention them in post match presentations? I don’t know.As an ex footballer and coach and also a long career umpire (and coach) I have said many of times we still need to entice more ex footballers to give a little more back to the game and take up the whistle which is not happening anywhere near as much as it used to be , players are saying why umpire I’ve done my bit and just sit behind the fence , ex footballers that come to mind like Reggie Hudson / Mousey freer / Barca /Meek / lambourne / Pell /Byers / Peter Law / ect ect these ex players adapted so quickly and all become great umpires and players related to them because they knew the game and they respected them because they had been there and done it Just maybe more work has to be put into place to try and entice ex players in taking up the whistle