The Australian Football League and broader football community will come together in Round 8 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season to recognise its team in green and celebrate Community Umpiring Week.
The initiative aims to highlight the invaluable contribution and role umpires play in Australian football, promote respect for the men, women, girls and boys who officiate matches across all levels of footy, and create awareness around umpiring pathways.
For the first time last year, the AFL saw more than 21,000 registered umpires pull up their socks and pick up a whistle – a vital milestone as participation continues to grow around the country. Since 2022 there has been a 72 per cent boost of women and girls taking up officiating, equating to nearly 1,200 more umpires.
As part of the celebrations for Community Umpiring Week – which follows on from the invaluable on-field experiences gained by junior umpires across AFL Gather Round – a host of initiatives will take place. Each idea is designed to help drive engagement between AFL and community umpires, upskill and develop junior umpires and provide memorable match-day experiences.
These activations across all state and territories include:
- More than 100 AFL umpires attending local umpiring training sessions and officiating local junior footy matches.
- AFL umpires at each Round 8 match will be led onto the ground by community umpires, giving them an incredible game-day experience.
- Junior community umpires will also officiate half-time NAB AFL Auskick grid games.
- AFL captains will meet community umpires at the coin toss and capture photos.
- AFL umpires officiating community junior matches providing lifelong memories for community umpires and players alike.
- Recognition via Umpire Service Awards for more than 20 umpires who have recorded more than 25 years and 50 years of service.
If your local community football club would like to get involved in celebrating Community Umpiring Round, you can find the Guide to Themed Rounds here.