VAFA Umpire Training returns on February 6

The VAFA Umpires Department is pleased to announce that pre-season training will commence on Monday 6 February. Pre-season training will be held every Monday and Wednesday night from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Importantly, pre-season training will take place at a new venue whilst Elsternwick Park Oval 1 is undergoing a turf replacement program, click here for further information. We expect to return to our usual home in April.

In the meantime, all fitness training sessions will be held at Elsternwick Park Oval 4 located on New Street Brighton. Please click here for Google Maps directions. The new ground is a 1-minute drive from Elsternwick Park Oval 1 and car parking is available on New Street. The new ground is also a 5-minute walk from Oval 1, the Brighton Road tram stops and there is a bus route along New Street Brighton.

Click here to register as a VAFA umpire for season 2023.

As umpires gear up for the 2023 season, a select group of community football umpires were informed of an early Christmas present in mid-December.

The V/Line Community Umpire Talent Academy in Victoria has produced its first crop of ‘graduates’, with 46 umpires promoted to officiate at Victorian state league level in 2023 – VFL, VFLW, NAB League Boys and NAB League Girls. 

Nine of the 46 promoted umpires have come from the VAFA. The highest number of promotions from any league in Victoria.

After the first full season of community football since 2019, the V/Line Community Umpire Talent Academy provided 100 umpires the opportunity to officiate the best under 15 boys and girls from country Victoria in the V/Line Cup in September, where state league umpire coaches from all three disciplines – field, boundary and goal – attended to scout out the next batch of state league umpires.

From there, the graduates were selected, with 14 umpire clubs in total represented, highlighting the importance and success of having a program that offers equal opportunity no matter where you live.

The VAFA provides a terrific opportunity for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to take part in umpiring, and are currently open to taking further registrations ahead of season 2023. 

VAFA’s Umpire Boss Stephen Privitera paid tribute to the nine graduates from the competition “this result demonstrates the clear pathway available for VAFA umpires to progress through the AFL talent programs” he told VAFA Media. 

“The VAFA HQ investment into coaching resources and the support provided by the VAFA Umpire Association has allowed these talented umpires to thrive and be selected for the next level.”

“This outstanding achievement is a credit to the dedication shown by these umpires and shows their hard work throughout the 2022 V/Line Community Umpire Talent Academy.” 

To register your interest in becoming an umpire in the VAFA for the 2023 season, click here.

We look forward to seeing all new and existing umpires for the start of pre-season.

The VAFA extends its congratulations to our nine graduates, and wishes them all the success heading into season 2023. 

FIELD UMPIRES
Jonathan Clark
Campbell Hymans
Ben Lefebvre
Harry Warmington

BOUNDARY UMPIRES
Nicholas Bahr 
Benjamin Myatt
Vo Schofield

GOAL UMPIRES
Lachlan Higgins
Jake Penny