ASPIRING umpires can take part in an AFL Women and Girls Umpire Experience Hub workshop run by a Kerang local at the end of the month.
AFL women and girls experience officer Sarah Pryer said the workshop has been well received in other regional Victorian towns including Ballarat and Gippsland.
“There has been such a growth in women’s football with so many women picking up the footy and we want to see that growth in umpiring as well,” she said.
“Umpiring is such a great way to build confidence and connections, and it’s a great way to get involved in footy for girls who aren’t as interested in playing.
“Past participants have picked up umpiring in their home leagues and it kickstarted their involvement in the umpiring group. They get the chance to earn some extra cash if they’re keen to take on that extra part time roll.”
AFLW umpire Mel Sambrooks will take Central Rivers women and girls through the basics at the Women and Girls Umpire Experience Hub.
Since growing up in Kerang and starting out in Bendigo, Sambrooks has gone on to umpire an impressive run of games, 46 AFLW games including five finals, 32 VFL games, 46 Coates Boys games, 29 VFLW games and 11 Coates Girls games including one grand final
“Mel has a wealth of experience as a boundary umpire and has umpired so many amazing games,” Pryer said.
“When she first started out umpiring in Bendigo, Mel’s mum would drive her down to games because she was super committed, and she’s still really focused and doing everything she can to get up to the AFL level.
“Mel will share her story and journey, what steps she’s taken to get from community football to the AFLW finals, and then she will take the participants outside to learn the basics of each umpiring discipline so they can see what they’re interested in or what is the right fit.
“We’ll finish up with pizza and a chat and so we can all get to know each other.”
The AFL Women and Girls Umpire Experience workshop is on 6:30pm-7:30pm Wednesday, April 30, at the Alan Garden Reserve, Swan Hill.
Register via the QR code or play.afl/umpire/women-girls/community-umpiring.
