Female participation in the sport of football is growing, and there is no exception to the rule at Gippsland Umpires Association.
The GUA now have five running female umpires on its list (one field, one multi-discipline field and boundary, and two goal).
It is worth noting that during a recent Warragul and District Junior Football League match between the Caldermeade and Poowong-Loch football clubs, 14 of the 42 players and officials on the ground were female.
At an AFL Victoria level, female numbers across the three umpire disciplines have tripled in 12 months.
The AFL Victoria umpiring squad now boasting three female field, one boundary and two goal umpires, plus a number of female umpires in the rookie squads.
The AFL Victoria Development Squad provides umpires selected from local league umpiring groups their first taste of state league football, appointed to a mix of TAC Cup and Development League games throughout the year.
Members of the AFL Victoria Development Squad are accredited umpires selected from the AFL Victoria umpire academy program.
Last year Lucinda Lopes (field) and Kate Griffiths (goal) laid the foundations for female umpires with selection on the AFL Victoria Development Squad, and are this year joined by Eleni Glouftsis, Libby Toovey (field), Shannessy Adams (boundary) and Kirsty Lord (goal).
This allowed AFL Victoria saw an all-female umpiring team appointed to a TAC Cup fixture earlier this year in a landmark day for the state’s umpiring fraternity, and a sign of things to come in the future.
A sixth female umpire would allow the GUA to run an all female team in an appropriate match.
AFL Victoria state league umpiring head coach Cameron Nash said more females are taking up umpiring and that there is a genuine pathway for them to reach the top levels.
“It is fantastic that we can go from having two female umpires just last year to six this season, and that is due to a lot of hard work being done at local umpiring groups,” he said.
The AFL has thrown its support behind the development of female umpiring at state level, with Lucinda Lopes and Eleni Glouftsis both on AFL Female Pathway Scholarships.
The pair spent the preseason with the AFL umpiring group, with the aim to fast track their development.
Joined by Libby Toovey, the trio one day hope to umpire in the VFL senior ranks, then join female pioneers like AFL goal umpires Chelsea Roffey, Rose O'Dea and Katrina Pressley who have made it to the elite level.
Anyone interested in umpiring locally can contact GUA selection coordinator Michael Talbot on 0466 998 620 or email guaumpire@gmail.com
Last Modified on 05/06/2015 12:18