by Jetters » Thu Dec 11, 2014 5:41 pm
I think the umpires do a reasonable job, maybe 2 games a year you walk off pissed off.
We struggle to attract good football people into umpiring. How many players from your clubs would take up umpiring when they finish playing? I think those are the people we want, and very very few do.
We don't pay them enough considering the football culture towards umpires and the massive barrier to people entering into umpiring it has created.
What would we have to pay to attract these people to umpire??
A sign on fee split between the potential umpire and the club they are coming from may work.
Player X played 100 games, retires and 30, still wants to be part of the game. He gets $250 sign on as an umpire, His club gets $500 (or equivalent reduced subs). The club gets another $250 second year signing.
Each recruited umpire costs $1000.... 75% going back to the clubs.
We cap it 20 umpires.
The league loses 20k in revenue or 20k investment
In return we inject 20 'good football people' into umpiring.
More umpires, hopefully good umpires, increases competition for spots, competition leads to accountability.
A $500 return to clubs is significant enough for them to recruit these umpires for us.
I would also stagger the pay more to again encourage competition and increase accountability