HAMILTON local, Bec Malseed has made history with the Western District Umpires Association (WDUA) as the first female field umpire to officiate a senior game.
It was just a few weeks ago that she got her opportunity to umpire a Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) senior match.
After working her way up through the umpiring ranks which started with junior games, Malseed was presented the opportunity to umpire the senior game between Moyston-Willaura and Glenthompson-Dunkeld in the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL).
Malseed has been involved in football for a while, but running around with the whistle in hand has given her a new perspective on the game.
She represented the Hamilton Kangaroos in the Western Victoria Female Football League (WVFFL) and was the premiership captain for the side last year, but now she is running on the field in a different role.
Malseed said it was humbling to be the first female to umpire a senior game and while there were some nerves, excitement was the overwhelming feeling.
“I didn’t know it at the time, I’m really honoured and didn’t think I would be the first, but its great and encouraging, if I can be an advocate for women to come in and have a go, I would love it,” she told The Spectator.
“I only just started this year actually, so I’ve been a player of female football and premiership captain, now an umpire.”
“I started volunteering to do a couple of the younger kid’s games central umpiring and then I did my first Under-18 Hampden League game at Melville Oval and since then, I’ve done two senior games in the Mininera (League),” she said.
“I was naturally very nervous; it was only a two-umpire system, so I had the president of the WDUA (Geoff Barker) with me … I knew I could do it and I just had to believe in myself.”
While Malseed picked up the knack of umpiring very quickly, she said it was all thanks to the great support and guidance from other members of the WDUA.
“(Umpiring seniors) was challenging and enjoyable at the same time, it’s still a big learning curve but is really enjoyable, the WDUA has been fantastic,” she said.
“It’s just about learning new things every time you go out and umpire, what to work on, what to look for, your calls and having the discussions about calls after the game to get feedback.”
“The nerves kick in but once you get into the game and get the flow and feel of it, you start making your calls and have more confidence in your ability, I’m looking forward to that, just continuing to keep growing.”
The very first game that Malseed ever umpired was due to a shortage of umpires at the junior game she went to watch and by chance, she was there to help out.
She enjoyed it so much that she enquired about becoming an umpire and now believes that the “sky’s the limit” for how far she can take it.
“Clinton Thomas from the Cavendish Football Club (got me into it), I went out and supported one of his under-18 games and they were short on umpires,” Malseed said.
“He said you’ve refereed basketball and you play football, you’ll be able to do this, so he took me out and put the fluro yellow vest on me and that was where it all started.
“(Afterwards) I made enquiries through the AFL website about becoming an umpire, that’s when I got the phone call from Geoff Barker from the WDUA and he said, “yep, we would love for you to come along”, they want more female umpires out there.”
Malseed said that while nerves were normal, it was about learning and becoming confident in yourself with central umpiring, emphasising that umpires were also paid for their work.
She found that umpiring had been a great way for her to not only stay involved in a sport she loves, but also gain a better understanding of the game.
“It’s great fun and a new way of seeing the game going from a player, you get to develop your game,” she said.
“When you’re officiating a game, you start to understand it more with different angles and perceptions.
“I enjoy it and am really looking forward to seeing where this career path will take me, I think the sky’s the limit on how far you can go.”
The WDUA are always looking for more umpires, whether that is boundary or central and want to encourage more females to follow in Malseed’s footsteps.
She said she would love to see some girls and women give it a go and would be happy to mentor or help guide them in learning.
“I’d love for anyone to come on board, if they are unsure, I’d be more than happy to shadow them on a field and give them that confidence to have a go,” Malseed said.
“Even if it’s just blowing the whistle on the marks to start getting confidence, I would shadow them and help them … (whether they) have or haven’t played footy, we’d love to hear from them.”
