Umpire empowered at coaching conference

LOCAL umpire and boundary coach Gemma Cook was recently invited to the 2025 UMPowered Coaching Conference.

The exclusive conference selects 25 participants and is designed to develop the next generation of umpire coaches through expert training, industry insights and networking opportunities.

Gemma has been umpiring football for eight years, four of which have been with South Gippsland Umpires Association.

She is a boundary and field umpire and is now in her first year of boundary coaching alongside Tim Kemp.

Gemma said the experience at the conference was invaluable and she enjoyed hearing from a range of speakers.

“It was really good. They were really going into depth about how to communicate with different people,” she said.

The conference was held over a weekend.

On the Saturday, the participants were given the opportunity to sit in the coaches’ box and ask questions during a quarter of an AFL match.

On Sunday, they were invited to AFL House, where they heard from the speakers.

“We heard from some very well-respected ladies, as well as some AFL coaches,” Gemma said. 

“It was a worthwhile experience. It taught me you can achieve anything if you just keep pushing forward, and that’s the message I want to pass on to the local kids.

“What I am taking from it is I would like to get everyone involved and try to adapt all the drills to suit the kids, so they are more likely to stay.” 

Gemma has found umpiring with the South Gippsland Umpires Association to be a welcoming experience, and she has enjoyed umpiring the fast-paced action of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition Senior matches.

Gemma encouraged anyone who has been thinking about umpiring to get involved.

“Definitely do it. It’s a good way to earn money, gain friendships and a different kind of respect,” she said.