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The Northern Tasmanian Football Umpires Association is hoping to boost its numbers ahead of season 2021 as it prepares to service its usual round of competitions.
As well as impacting football clubs, COVID hit the umpires association hard in 2020 with most boundary and goal umpires not required due to fewer games and cost-cutting.
But with a new season just around the corner, NTFUA president Sarah Shepherd is calling on new and returning umpires to join the fold.
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Boundary umpires are in good supply, but field and goal umpires are needed to help the association return to its 150-strong membership.
"We're really struggling most years for field umpiring - it's a pretty tough gig, but if you know your footy and love your footy, we'd really like to welcome them into the club," Shepherd said.
"Even with ex-players, they know their footy so it's just being on the other side of it really.
"We're definitely hoping to generate field umpires and goals - there's been quite a few retiring older gentlemen in the goals so we're a bit down on those numbers."
The association will be holding come and try sessions at its Prospect Park training base on Sunday nights from 6-7pm.
Shepherd said umpiring was a great way to meet new people as well as keep fit, earn tax-free money and progress to the AFL.
"It's open to everyone - old, young, male, female, any race or background, anything like that," Shepherd said.
"We're a super inclusive club so we'll welcome anyone that's interested - if they're not keen on the running then the goals are there so there's different options. If they're concerned about the commitments there could be a casual arrangement so they could do every second weekend.
"So it's not a full-on commitment, but just good to have numbers, fresh new faces and open up the association because we're a really good bunch of people and usually when COVID and restrictions aren't there we do trivia nights and meal nights.
"We're a family orientated club and it's like second family to some people."
To find out more, call Daniel Smedley on 0418114414 or email ntfuainc@gmail.com
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Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
