By Trevor Jackson
AS the football season in the Limestone Coast fast approaches, one of the usual hurdles fronts all three leagues.
From the Western Border, to the Mid South East and further north to the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara, leagues are struggling for central umpires.
It has been an ongoing issue, with one factor which may affect the umpiring stocks quite glaring – umpire abuse.
According to Football Operations Coordinator, South East, Michael Mourbey, numbers of umpires in the region are similar to recent years, or slightly down in some cases.
Mourbey said it was hard to find enough umpires, with abuse one of the major factors limiting ex-players or those who simply want to be involved, putting their hand up for the job.
It is a situation that is mirrored across the country, with the AFL recently stating there is around 8000 umpires short across Australia.
Looking deeper into the issue provides some sobering reading, as Mourbey stated, specifically in the Western Border league, many of the are younger boys or girls, who are not immune from the abuse.
“We really need to look after the younger umpires,” he said.
“They are making the effort to get out there and do a job a lot of the seasoned adults who have finished their footy career or sporting career are not doing.
“We are looking for these younger ones to come through and we need to look after them, we have to make them feel comfortable in doing their role.”
Mourbey accepted umpire abuse had been an issue since “day dot” and hoped this season could see a turnaround in the problem.
He said umpires have a few tools at hand to use to combat the problem and would be instructed to do so this season.
“Since day dot the crowds have abused umpires,” Mourbey said.
“There is not a lot we can do about that apart from educate people to be a bit more non-personal.
“When it comes to players and officials there is a lot more we can do.
“Over the years I think it is fair to say we have all turned a bit of a blind eye to it and haven’t really addressed it enough.
“The AFL have come out with a zero tolerance on the field, so I think there are a few things we can.
It comes down to 50-metre penalties for abuse, a yellow card should it be deemed appropriate, or is a worst-case scenario, a red card.
“On field any disrespect to an umpire’s decision or questioning in a poor manor will be met with 50m penalties,” Mourbey said.
“The umpires will be instructed to do that prior to the season start.
“If any players or bench officials really badly abuse an umpire and use personal insult on them they will go straight to the tribunal, no ifs or buts.
“All the leagues have had enough of it, so we want to correct it and make sure we are looking after the umpires.”
Further to the 50-metres penalties or tribunal attendances, the “sin bin” style yellow cards would be a major factor in the control of abuse this season, along with the dreaded red car.
“The umpires have a red and yellow card, so if the abuse is of sufficient nature on field, we will encourage them to do a yellow card to start with, but if it is bad enough, a straight red card and off for the game,” Mourbey said.
“Then the onus will be on the player to explain to his side why they are one short for the rest of the game because he abused an umpire.”
A yellow card will initially sit a player on the sidelines for 15 minutes but two yellow cards in a game constitutes a red card and ends the day for the offending player.
“There are a multitude of deterrents we can put out there and say enough is enough,” Mourbey said.
“We need to redress this issue and encourage umpires and respect the decisions they are making.
“I think if we are honest with ourselves as leagues an officials, if we start implementing a few suspensions and bans, that will soon get home.
“In hindsight it is something we have not done enough of and I think we need to redress it by making sure people are going to get suspended for that kind of attitude.”
Mourbey said to attract former players back into the game as officials was the million dollar question.
“I wish I had the answer,” he said.
“The umpires do get a reasonable match payment for doing a game of footy.
“A lot of former players will say they don’t want to go out and umpire because they don’t want to be abused on the ground.
“That comes back to the whole scenario of making sure we cut that out and don’t allow any abuse on the ground.”
Mourbey said it also came back to clubs to promote umpiring through its ranks.
Those interested in putting their hand up to do the job can contact their club or league officials to kick off proceedings.
