In 2023, each club in Victoria that achieves a 1:1 ratio of female umpires to women & girls' teams will be eligible for $500 or more in funding for their women’s and girls’ football programs to put towards equipment and uniforms. This initiative supports more women and girls to enter the umpiring field and develop their skills and knowledge, while supporting female football programs, and assisting clubs to fill club umpire rosters for the upcoming season.  

Clubs with 1 to 3 women or girls football teams who achieve 1:1 ratio will be eligible to receive $500 in funding for equipment for their women or girls football programs. Clubs with 4 or more teams will be eligible for a further $100 for each additional team.  

In addition to club grants, all women and girls who are registering as an umpire for the first time in 2023, will be able to order an umpiring uniform free of charge, with more information to come.

MORE INFORMATION: HERE

Follow the following steps for your club to be eligible: 

• Recruit 1 player per women or girls team at your club to step into an umpiring role – this includes boundary & goal umpires as well as field. 
• Instruct umpire recruits to register as an umpire via play.afl for the 2023 season. You can find the relevant links below under ‘Become an Umpire’. 
• Umpires can either register as a 'club umpire'* in officials HQ, or they can register with an umpiring club if they wish to extend their involvement in umpiring.   
• Encourage your club umpires to complete the introductory learning modules on play.afl. 
• Make sure all umpires appear on at least one team sheet in 2023 in an umpiring role.  
• Submit the relevant information and team sheets via the link to apply for your club funding - this can be done as soon as all umpires have appeared on relevant team sheets. Funding applications will be accepted from May 1st and will be submitted via this page. 

Metro Leagues:

If you are in a metro league that has not transitioned to OfficialsHQ, you can still be eligible for this grant by following these steps:

• Instruct umpire recruits to register as an umpire either via play.afl for the 2023 season OfficialsHQ - Registration
• Umpires can also register as a club umpire via GameDay if your league has made that option available. Links for registration available through the 'Becoming an Umpire' section below. 
• Encourage your club umpires to complete the introductory learning modules on play.afl. 
• Make sure all umpires appear on at least one team sheet in 2023 in an umpiring role. 
• If you cannot enter names due to the registration set-up, clubs can record names or write them in as long as a as stat. dec. has been included to authenticate the recorded information. 
• Submit the relevant information and team sheets via the link to apply for your club funding - this can be done as soon as all umpires have appeared on relevant team sheets.