Interested in becoming an umpire in the Eastern Football Netball League?
Below is all the information you need before you get ready to join the competitions biggest club!
First off, to umpire in the EFNL you need to be 14, or turning 14 by the end of the season. If you’re over 18 you also need to have a valid Working With Children’s Check.
THE EASTERN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE:
The Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) is the largest Australian Rules football competition in Australia.
The EFNL is made up of 52 clubs playing five senior men’s & four senior women’s competitions as well as both girls & boys in our junior competition for age groups from under 8’s to under 18’s.
Our competition reaches from Balwyn in the west to Coldstream in the east, and from Beaconsfield in the south to Warrandyte in the north.
EFNL FOOTBALL – MORE THAN A GAME:
Football clubs provide a source of local pride, meaning and relevance. The club is a meeting place and it provides a venue for fun, entertainment and a sense of community.
Our club values the individual, family and community and provides an inclusive environment where our people feel they are making a contribution, they feel valued and that they belong.
We are proud of the diversity we have within the group and promote this strongly, always looking to embrace umpires with different backgrounds and their own unique stories to share.
Our club teaches and nurtures specific skills and, in turn, develops self-esteem and a sense of pride and confidence among individuals. We promote participation which in turn enhances health, fitness and well-being.
As umpires, our club is unique, but really no different to our community football clubs.
UMPIRE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EFNL:
At the EFNL, we are committed to the ongoing recruitment, development and retention of umpires at both junior and senior levels, across all disciplines.
Led by a vastly experienced and passionate team of coaches, the EFNL umpires have a strong talent development pathway programs that can see umpires progress from under 9s to senior community football and through to the elite level, with a number of field, boundary and goal umpires progressing to VFL, AFLW & AFL in recent seasons.
These programs allow umpires to grow in their umpiring by providing the necessary steps to develop their skills throughout their umpiring journey through both theory & practical training. The EFNL conducts programs that help umpires to not only make the right decisions but to cope with the match day environment.
BENEFITS OF UMPIRING:
With around 600 appointments each week during the season, it is easy to know why we want more good people to join us; but what does umpiring have to offer you? Well, there is so much you can get from umpiring and whilst many will start out looking for a bit of extra money in their pocket, or for fitness or remaining in the game they love, many end up with lifelong friends and develop very strong skills they can use in everyday life, such as teamwork and communication, resilience and conflict resolution, organisation and time management, understanding interpreting and executing instructions, decision making under pressure.
INDUCTION PROGRAM:
We provide new umpires with a comprehensive introduction to umpiring through our unique Flags & Whistles Umpire Induction Program. This innovative program provides you with overview of all the on and off-field umpiring requirements and gives all new umpires the opportunity to practice field, boundary & goal umpiring.
FORMER & CURRENT PLAYERS UMPIRING
Over recent years, the EFNL has recruited many retired players to umpiring. They have found the transition to umpiring enjoyable, satisfying and rewarding. Staying involved in the game was their priority and in becoming an umpire they remain involved on field and in the action with the best seat in the house… but without all the hits and bumps.
One of the features of our junior umpire program is the attraction of a high volume of players into umpiring ranks. In addition to the benefits listed above, we believe that umpiring delivers complementary benefits to players, and in turn their teams; enhancing their awareness of the game, understanding of the rules and leadership capabilities. We respect that playing comes first and work around that with training and match appointments.
REMUNERATION $$$$
Umpires are paid fortnightly through an automatic bank transfer and as it is regarded as a hobby, match payments are tax free.
Pay rates vary dependent on the grade of senior football or the age group in junior football and whether it is field, boundary or goal umpiring.
Umpires who demonstrate a positive attitude, contribute to the team and show commitment and an appropriate level of skill in their umpiring discipline can gain selection in the finals series.
EFNL UMPIRES ASSOCIATION
The Eastern Football League Umpires Association (EFLUA) is the umpires’ advocate body of the Eastern Football Netball League. It’s primary role is to be the voice of all umpires in the EFNL and provides a terrific support network for it’s members. The EFLUA negotiates match payments, terms and conditions, subsidises the initial on-field uniform for 1st year umpires, produces training apparel and run fantastic social events for members and families and throughout the year. For example, during the season, prior to the weekly coaching sessions each Wednesday night at the new social rooms at Springfield Park, Croydon, meals are available for purchase after training and this contributes to the positive social atmosphere that is generated on these nights.
NOW YOU WANT TO BECOME AN UMPIRE…
Anyone interested in becoming an umpire in 2023 (beginners, current and former players, athletes from other sports) contact EFNL Umpire Operations Manager, Scott Van Noordennen on 0447 721 253 or email svannoordennen@efnl.org.au, or register here
Thank you for taking an interest in finding out more about umpiring in the EFNL and hopefully being a part of our great club. We certainly look forward to sharing the start of what we hope will be a rewarding umpiring career for many of you.
