The ‘Umpiring is Everyone’s Business’ campaign aims to communicate the following key messages –
- Umpiring is everyone’s business – whether you are a coach, player, parent, administrator, supporter, we all have a role to play in creating positive match day environments. Your attitude and behavior has a direct impact on an umpire’s enjoyment of their role.
- Umpiring is a significant issue for our game – the demand for umpires at community level is not being met by the supply of umpire’s available (89% growth in appointments, 13% growth in umpires) – if the current trend continues, the game at community level will suffer. There is an annual umpiring turnover of 20 - 25%. Recruitment is difficult, but retention is the more significant challenge.
- The main reason for this turnover and the challenge to recruit is the existence of poor match day environments that are generated by players, coaches, administrators and supporters (including parents). These environments consist of abuse and intimidation towards umpires.
- Umpiring can often be a very difficult and challenging task and umpires do the job because of their enjoyment and love for the game – when the match day environment is poor their enjoyment deteriorates and this leads to eventual drop-out.
The Umpiring is Everyone’s Business campaign initiatives focuses on using influential people within Australian Football to advocate positively about umpiring and for all participants within our game to take responsibility for their behaviour on match day.
Some strategies for the campaign include –
- AFL Ontario coaches, players and media personalities umpiring community matches
- AFL Ontario Coaches and Players shaking the hands of umpires prior to matches
- ‘Thanks Ump’ weekend which will involve AFL umpires wearing light green to signify the AFL’s introductory umpiring program
- Development of a TVC about the role of the coach and respecting officials
- The use of influential people in positively advocating about umpiring.
The coach, as the most influential person in the club, plays a significant role in the games ability to encourage positive match day environments. The campaign will focus heavily on coaches at community level and the role they play. Through the campaign we aim to communicate the following messages –
- Coaches are the most influential people at any club and need to be role models in relation to behaving correctly on match day
- Coaches need to advocate positively about umpiring to players, parents, supporters and club administrators
- Coaches need to support and build good relationships with their local umpiring group
