For those who enjoy running or want to learn about the game, boundary umpiring is ideal. Boundary umpires are responsible for making decisions to whether the ball is in play, as well performing the boundary throw-in. VFL State League Senior Squad boundary umpires officiate in all AFL Melbourne based matches.4
Boundary umpires are some of the fittest people in our game, often fitter than many of the players. Many boundary umpires average 15 - 20km in a Division 1 game, with much of the running being long distance strides and brief bursts of high-intensity sprinting.
Boundary umpires are responsible for adjudicating whether ball is in or out of play, and also coordinating with the field and goal umpires to ensure the match is run as smoothly as possible. They are responsible for deciding whether a player enters the centre square prior to a centre bounce, and for assisting the goal umpire in making decisions about whether the ball has pass over or outside the behind post.
Boundary umpires may also assist the field umpire in reporting any player they deem to have committed an offence.
Boundary umpiring is a great entry point for umpiring and many young umpires decide to try their hand at boundary umpiring before committing to the slightly more complex pastime of field umpiring.