Being a football umpire, regardless of the level, presents various challenges.
Succeeding in this role requires rapid decision-making, excellent fitness, and the ability to manage the pressure of the game effectively. When officiating a game especially in local community leagues, abuse from players and fans is very prevalent. This kind of behaviour towards umpires across the country has seen a decline and shortage of match officials, especially in junior and female umpires.
However, despite the pressures of the job, the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) has been one of the very few suburban leagues that has been able to uphold its strong reputation for umpiring talent. So, what are they doing right?
John Collopy is an experienced VAFA premier umpire who has been working with the association since 2019. Before joining the VAFA, Collopy began his umpiring career back in 2012 with the Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL), a strong partner and direct pathway to the VAFA.
Collopy has umpired and officiated many VAFA games at the highest level. He highlighted how many of his experiences umpiring had been positive more than negative.
“I keep coming back because the environment is overall really positive and it’s just such a great way to be involved in football,” he says.
“It also allows me to keep fit and build good friendships with others in the league. Players and spectators are generally well behaved which makes my life easier as an umpire.”
There are various reasons to why people sign up to become an umpire. While there are many people who love the game of football, not everyone can handle the contact and physicality of the sport due to the high risk of injury. Therefore, to stay involved with the game, many take on the role as umpires to remain actively involved without playing.
To be an umpire, you need to be passionate about the sport. Umpiring is challenging and requires a good understanding of the rules, quick decision-making, and the ability to manage situations and people. Many including Collopy love the responsibility and the sense of accomplishment the role of umpiring brings.
“I love the challenge of umpiring. Making split second decisions whilst running anywhere in the region of 12-16kms a game, knowing where to be, reading the play, working with your panel to support each other and knowing they're supporting you, it's a real thrill,” he says.
“It's hard, but it's so rewarding, and a lot of the time, you get to be up close and have a front row seat, as it were, to a really incredible game of sport.”
Something rewarding umpires cherish is officiating finals games. VAFA has over 450 umpires ranging from all ages officiating games throughout the home and away season across many divisions, but only a handful of the best and more skilful get selected to step in for finals action.
(Photo: Blair Burns)
Collopy reflected on some of his highs in the VAFA and how his favourite umpiring experience was being rewarded to be field umpire for his first VAFA grand final.
“Any umpire will tell you that finals are always a real highlight, and don't come around every year. I was lucky enough to umpire a Division 2 Seniors Semi in 2019, my first year, between Whitefriars and MHSOB, and the week later did a Division 2 Reserves Grand Final, with Whitefriars defeating North Brunswick NOBS,” he says.
“In 2023 I umpired the Premier B Reserves Grand Final between St Bernards and Old Trinity, which was a real treat, running around on the newly refurbished Elsternwick Park.”
Umpiring does however come with its lows as well. From Collopy’s experiences, his first signs of abuse were from umpiring junior football. Despite this, there have been very few incidences where he has felt threatened or lost passion in umpiring from abuse.
“I remember the first proper abuse I copped was in an U10 game at Burwood Reserve, I would've been 15 or so. One of the coaches was having a crack at me, can't remember what for, but it was relentless. Our umpires coach had basically drilled into us 'just tell them to be quiet, or you'll report them'. So, I did, and he stopped,” he said.
“I think both leagues I've umpired in (YJFL and the VAFA) have really clear stances on backing their umpires, which makes it easy to speak up if something isn't right.”
(Photo: Blair Burns)
VAFA Umpire Operations Manager, Stephen Privitera has been part of the association since the beginning of 2022. He previously spent eight years working at Football Victoria, in the roles of Referees Education Coordinator and Referees Operations and Appointments Manager. The VAFA take pride, care and responsibility with their umpiring talent and make sure each individual has the support and resources available for any situation they may encounter if dealt with player or fan abuse.
“The VAFA have a zero-tolerance approach to any umpire abuse, so any player or coach that’s found guilty is punished through the tribunal that we have here,” he says.
“We then obviously support the umpires involved through advocates and resources that we can offer.”
The infrequent umpire abuse and the zero-tolerance approach from the VAFA is one of the many reasons to why the association attracts young and upcoming talented umpires as well as experienced professional umpires like Collopy himself.
But is this the reason to why the VAFA is the leading competition for umpiring talent? There’s a bit more to it than just good treatment of umpires across the association.
Quality of conditions particularly the newly refurbished Elsternwick Park which is home to the VAFA Umpires Association is the centrepiece and show ground for big VAFA games and more significant finals games. The quality of grounds umpires get to work on is something very appealing.
The VAFA also have a strong Alcohol Policy which ultimately eliminates the use of alcohol at any match in progress. The only exception to alcohol is when it’s consumed in a function room or the club’s social facilities and cannot be taken outside (including onto balconies). Alcohol must also be accompanied by the provision of substantial food offerings.
John Collopy with whistle in hand umpiring for the VAFA.
(Photo: Instagram)
In other amateur leagues like the EFNL, alcohol consumption is permitted at senior games. The sale of alcoholic beverages however is not permitted until the conclusion of any U19 matches and must be in glass containers outside of licensed social rooms.
Alcohol can significantly impact a person's mood and behaviour, often leading to increased feelings of anger and aggression, ultimately making it harder for individuals to control their emotions and reactions.
VAFA ensure that players and especially umpires feel safe in the environment they’re working in. Passionate spectators can become really invested in the game, and the last thing the VAFA want is people under the influence of alcohol to be aggressive and verbal towards umpires officiating the games.
However, the big selling point to umpires is the elite coaching panel and structure within the VAFA umpiring department.
Collopy said how working alongside ex-professional umpires from the VFL and AFL has been an excellent learning experience to help advance his umpiring skills.
“I think we have an extremely good coaching panel and structure within the umpiring department and I have personally learnt so much and have become better overtime with my decision making and confidence,” he says.
“It’s really wonderful having all VAFA premier grade games filmed, which is an excellent learning tool for coaches and umpires with the ability to review your own performance and ask questions with video to be a discussion point.”
The VAFA and its coaching program and structure also gives young umpires in the junior leagues partnered with the association to train with the more seniors umpires which helps fast-track their learning and skills.
“We have partnered with South Metro Junior Football league (SMJFL) and the Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) where we allow joint training sessions so young umpires can transition to senior football when they’re around the ages of 16-18 age bracket,” Privitera says.
Every year, only a limited amount of umpires who have shown excellence in their umpiring across Victoria get promoted to the VFL system. In 2024, nine VAFA umpires were promoted to the VFL from a total of 18. VAFA also had the Golden Whistle umpire in 2023 which was won by Adam Bailes. This award is given to the most talented umpire all across Victoria.
Umpires in the VAFA continue to succeed in the association more frequently than any other football association across Victoria. Young talented VAFA umpires continue their umpiring journey by graduating and progressing to bigger and better leagues.
“We have a very strong reputation in the market as a leading place for developing umpire talent into the VFL and AFL,” Privitera says.
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