It's a Saturday afternoon, you're sitting on the sideline supporting your local AFL team and suddenly you wonder if getting in on the action is a possibility - it is.
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AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) recently put out a call for more umpires to jump on board, particularly in the Katherine region, as the body looks to expand.
"They're a vital part of the game. If we don't have umpires, we can't play footy," AFLNT umpiring coordinator, Samuel Cunningham said.
"We're about to start the Roper River division in a couple of weeks so we're looking for some more umpires to jump on board and get involved."
Whether you're a footy fanatic or just wanting to try something new, umpiring is for anyone aged 12 years and over with any level of AFL knowledge.
"We really encourage those who love the sport but also those who just don't know much about it. We've got plenty of senior coaches and experienced umpires that are able to guide everyone through and teach them everything they need to know," Mr Cunningham said.
"You can be anyone, that's the best thing.
"For those who don't know too much to start, goal umpiring and boundary umpiring is a great place to start."
The benefits of being an umpire aren't purely physical or social with the monetary perks hard to ignore.
"There are plenty of benefits, the fitness component is a huge thing. For footy players, it's a great way to have a different perspective of how the game's played," Mr Cunningham said.
"For a lot of people, the most encouraging part is the money that you can earn. You can get up to $100 for a senior game in the BRFL and then if they come up to the NTFL in Darwin, they could earn over $200 a game umpiring in the premier league.
"It's pretty good cash for not a lot of hours of work."
Historically, being an umpire isn't the easiest job in the world with the loud and proud opinions of the crowd a common part of the game.
But Mr Cunningham said AFLNT have worked tirelessly to make sure games are not only enjoyable for those on field, but also for supporters.
"We've worked really hard over the last 18 months, especially in the BRFL, to change the environment and make it really family-friendly. We're seeing the huge benefits this season," he said.
"The behaviour of supporters and players in Katherine in the BRFL was pretty good but we certainly worked hard to make sure the umpires were being supported.
"The BRFL should be really proud of the steps they've taken in the past 18 months to make it a more family-friendly environment, and we've seen that through the crowds that are coming through the gate."
If you would like to give umpiring a go, visit umpire.afl or email Samuel Cunningham on Samuel.Cunningham@afl.com.au.
Training sessions are held each Wednesday from 5.15pm at Nitmiluk Oval.
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