Collingwood senior coach Mick Malthouse donned the bright green umpiring shirt on Monday afternoon in a bid to raise awareness and respect for the role of the umpire.

Brunswick Street Oval hosted a match featuring students from Fitzroy North Primary School in grades five and six with Malthouse fulfilling the umpire’s role.

As part of the “Umpiring is Everyone’s Business” campaign, AFL senior and assistant coaches will umpire junior matches throughout the 2010 season.  Malthouse joined assistant coach Mark Neeld, who last month umpired an under 16s match, in the quest to highlight the importance and need for umpires at a local level.

“There is an annual turnover of umpires of between 20 to 25 per cent each year with the majority of these umpires leaving due to poor, abusive and negative match day environments.   

“We hope to show everyone in the football community that umpiring is everyone’s business, without the umpires we don’t have a game,” Neeld said.

The “Umpiring is Everyone’s Business” campaign has brought together the AFL Coaches Association, AFL Players’ Association and umpires to emphasise the need for everyone involved in the game to make a positive contribution on match day.

Key stats on umpiring
The demand for umpires at community level is not being met by the supply of umpires available (89% growth in appointments, 13% growth in umpires).

There is an annual umpiring turnover of 20 - 25%. Recruitment is difficult, but retention is the more significant challenge.

Only 25% of community umpires think they are respected by the football community.