{"id":470112,"date":"2026-02-10T07:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T07:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/470112\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T07:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T07:19:10","slug":"wa-football-invests-in-umpire-pathway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/470112\/","title":{"rendered":"WA Football Invests in Umpire Pathway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Experienced AFL umpire Nathan Williamson has delivered valuable insights into the standards and expectations of officials at the top level as part of the annual State Umpire Coach Conference at Revo Fitness Stadium in Claremont.<\/p>\n

About 40 umpire coaches from across junior, community, regional and state programs were part of the conference which was based on the theme \u201cExpanding Our Thinking\u201d.<\/p>\n

Daniel Gibbons, Community Umpiring and Pathways Manager at WA Football, has detailed the benefits of having guest speakers such as Williamson, AFL Boundary Umpire Jordan Russell, AFL Goal Umpire Brett Rogers and former AFL champion Peter Bell.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving AFL insight in the room isn\u2019t about copying what happens at the elite level,\u201d Gibbons said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about understanding the principles behind it and thinking about how those ideas can be translated into community coaching.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were really fortunate to learn from people with strong AFL experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day focused on growth, curiosity and continuous improvement in how coaches support umpires across the pathway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis conference is about giving umpire coaches the chance to step back and think a bit more broadly about their role, not just the drills they run, but how their behaviours, the environments they create and the conversations they have shape the umpire experience,\u201d Gibbons added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know the quality of the coaching experience has a big influence on whether umpires feel supported, challenged and want to keep going.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we want healthy umpiring programs, we have to keep investing in the people who coach them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conference reinforced the critical role umpire coaches play in building umpire confidence, enjoyment and long-term retention.<\/p>\n

Sessions focused on coaching behaviour, learning environments and practical application, rather than theory alone.<\/p>\n

The conference created valuable space for junior, community and state-level coaches to connect.<\/p>\n

Gibbons declared the event strengthened relationships and helped build a shared understanding across the umpire coaching community.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrong umpiring starts with strong coaching, and this conference is one of the ways we continue to support and invest in coaches who play such an important role at every level of the game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The State Umpire Coach Conference forms part of WA Football\u2019s ongoing commitment to umpire coach development, with a focus on supporting coaches so umpires continue to feel supported, challenged and engaged throughout.<\/p>\n

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