Community Umpiring Week

When people chat about Footy, often the words, ‘unappreciated’ or ‘underrated’ get
thrown around. Whether it’s taggers or sheepdogs, there are plenty of examples of
players and positions who, for the most part, don’t get their shine on or off the field, but
continue to do the job they’re tasked with without question.
Those who exemplify this best on the field, aren’t on either side of the ball, they’re the
ones bouncing it.

Every week, umpires across all levels of football, suit up and face noise from the crowd,
that can at times, be the toughest part of our sport. They don’t do it for power or free
snags, they do it because they love the game, and they want to see it played the right
way.
“Next to actually playing, I’ve got the best seat in the house.” – Sheldon Judd
Sheldon Judd is the newly hired Director of Umpiring for the SFNL. With experience
coaching and playing for over two decades, he’s found that the part of the game which
he fits best, is with the whistle in hand, and according to the AFL, across the country,
more than 21,000 others agree.

Sheldon’s footy life began in his hometown of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. He
recalls umpiring in a game where, 15-year-old soon to be Brisbane Lion, Eric Hipwood,
was playing for his local club. He said that watching him “take speckies and kick 15
goals” and seeing other good players “do their thing right in front of you”, encapsulates
what is great about the role.

When Sheldon played, his experience as an umpire influenced the way he understood
the game, and to his benefit. Picking up on nuanced aspects of the game, Judd cited
having a quicker understanding of the umpire’s decision as being advantageous,
allowing him to get back on defence quicker, or get moving in transition forward faster
as he “already knew what the free kick was going to be.”
This year, one of Judd’s key coaching mantras is to not influence the result of the game
as umpires. However, he acknowledges that in key moments, umpires must have the
confidence to make the call.

“We don’t want to influence results,” Judd said. “But if someone gets their head taken
off late inside 50 and the scores are level, you’ve got to pay it.”
Often, umpires, because of their responsibility, become the least popular figures on the
field. When the right call is made, no one bats an eye, but when the wrong call is made,
the criticism flies in hot and fast.
Since 2022, the AFL, along with the broader footy community, has started to show their
appreciation for this hard work in the form of Community Umpiring Week. A time in
which umpires at all levels of the game come together to share their experiences and
learn from one another.

Community Umpiring Week allows those involved with footy, at all levels, to take a step
back and thank those that keep the game going. It also demonstrates the best of the
game, bringing people together.
This year, Sheldon and his team were visited by a slew of VFL and AFL umpires during
the week. Sharing stories, tips, and just catching up. All in all, the initiative is bringing
the umpiring community together. Just like footy does for all of us, every week.

“Footy you know, it’s like the same as umpiring, it brings people together, in all
forms.”- Sheldon Judd

Whether it’s a senior game or at a junior level, Community Umpiring Week is a reminder
to respect the whistle — and maybe even pick one up yourself.
Community Umpiring Week runs from the 13th to the 19th of April.