SWAN Districts umpiring mentor Naomi Bates has helped organise an all-female umpired junior football game later this month, something she believed was a first for the WA junior AFL league.

Ms Bates has been involved in Swan Districts umpiring for multiple years through her son, who also umpires with the club.

This year, when the female mentor position came up, she put her name forward.

She said the role was a new challenge, but one she relished due to how fulfilling it became.

Ms Bates believed more girls should give umpiring a go at their local AFL club, as it was a great way for the girls to try something new, be challenged, and meet new people while enjoying being part of the sport of AFL.

She said the mentorship program helped girls feel more confident to get on the field, and encouraged those who might not have stepped up otherwise.

“It is a great opportunity for females to meet other female umpires and experience the different opportunities that allow them to pursue their umpiring career,” she said.

Ms Bates supports her mentees at training and games, and attends the ‘umpiring your way’ training program in South Perth once a month, which she said has made a marked difference in ability and confidence in her mentees.

“The best part for me is watching the umpires grow within themselves, their confidence and if they want to, try different disciplines within umpiring,” she said.

On July 26, the Kalamunda juniors will play a home game against South Perth, and the game will be umpired solely by young women including field, boundary and goal umpiring.

She said everyone approached with the idea of an all-female umpiring team was supportive from the get-go.

“I approached our operations manager with the idea of an all-girls umpired game. He approached both teams and they agreed to the idea,” she said.

“I think it is important to encourage females to join umpiring as it is a male dominated discipline.

There are great opportunities for females in the umpiring world, and it is great to see females umpiring young children all the way through to AFL.