AS the 2020 Western Border Football season approaches, the South East Football Umpires League is blowing the whistle for new recruits as numbers fade and new rules emerge.
Despite football remaining the region’s favourite sport, less people are returning to officiate the game each year.
This has caused new SEFUL president Brad Holdman to call out for more young adults to don the green shirt, as it appears a certainty there will not be enough umpires to fill the required spots.
“We have about 40 registered umpires now across boundary, central and goals and we have about 100 appointments a week, so that still leaves quite a hole,” he said.
“We have a few middle-aged guys, but not 25-40 year olds, which we need badly.”
The shortage has caused long-time South East umpiring stalwart Terry Willoughby to passionately cry out for fans to take the whistle.
“All we ask is for you to come out in a coloured shirt and do the job, do not worry about who’s playing,” he said.
The current situation is affected by some of the region’s most promising umpires departing to follow their career ambitions.
Only one of the three members who controlled the 2019 A Grade Western Border football grand final remain in the Limestone Coast, after Ben Thiel and Josh Edwards moved away to chase the dream of being SANFL umpires.
With more high-calibre field umpires departing than arriving, Holdman said he might have to rely on club volunteers to officiate multiple grades.
“We have had a few people leave for a variety of reasons, so that means we are a bit short of A Grade field umpires and consequently in the lower grades as well,” he said.
“We are now at the point where we have to rely on club umpires to do many games, which is not helping our situation for the future.
However, in more exciting news for the competition, Holdman announced two fresh new rules for the 2020 season.
These changes have been made so every country league in South Australia is played under the same set of rules.
Holdman said the additions to the rule book are a positive move from the SANFL, with the Western Border, Mid South East and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara leagues now under one banner.
“The Western Border will be adopt the six-six-six rule, so players will be in zones at the start of each quarter and at each central bounce after a goal,” he said.
“They can also play on while taking a 50-metre penalty.
“So if a 50-metre penalty is awarded, the player can immediately play on after he runs off his line.
“The SANFL has asked every country league to play within the same rules, which is good it has all been adopted across the board.”
The 2020 Western Border Football League season tips off on April 18.
