Ground Breaking AFLW Umpire Talent Development DayWednesday, April 26, 2023 - 3:01 PM

The campaign to recruit and develop female umpires is gaining momentum with the inaugural AFLW Umpiring Talent Development Day staged at Ernest Johnson Oval on Sunday 23rd April.

The day provided a skills session, along with educational talks from AFL umpires, AFLW umpires and umpire coaches.

Forty female umpires attended the event which provided information about pathways available for aspiring officials.

Daniel Gibbons, Umpire Coaching and Talent Pathway Specialist at the West Australian Football Commission, declared the day a resounding success.

“The event was a great opportunity to engage female umpires in a day of development and connection.

The umpires relished the opportunity to gain different experiences and skills, and quickly formed new relationships with fellow umpires from across the community,” he said.

Gibbons is confident the development day concept will grow.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive and sets a great foundation for future events and engagement programs for female umpires.

There’s clearly an appetite for these sorts of opportunities and we hope to engage even more umpires as the program evolves,” he said.

The Development Day included a range of activities to help fast-track the umpires’ development, such as workshops on physical and psychological performance and hearing about the pathway to becoming a successful AFLW or AFLW Umpire.

Nicole Bolton, Women & Girls Community Football Manager at the West Australian Football Commission, is excited about how the program will assist young West Australians.
 

“It was so great to see so many aspiring Female Umpires all together in one room undertaking an extensive learning opportunity from the AFL.

The day was all about providing these Females the tools and resources to be successful within their chosen craft whilst also understanding what the Umpiring Pathway is and where the opportunities are if they want to continue on their umpiring journey," Bolton said.

The Perth-based AFLW Umpiring Talent Development Day followed a successful pilot event in Victoria last year, with the AFL running the sessions across the country in 2023.

Female Umpires will have ongoing development opportunities this season as part of a range of initiatives being delivered by the West Australian football Commission.

These initiatives include the national female umpiring mentorship program and other development and training opportunities that will help to capitalise on the momentum from Sunday’s event.  

Several female umpire coaches have also been included in the “She Can Coach” female coach academy that commences in May.