Two Umpiring Families Making Their Mark
Two families in Queensland and the Northern Territory have developed multi-generational involvement in Australian football umpiring, with members beginning officiating at various ages and through different pathways.
Bament Family (Northern Territory/Queensland)
The Bament family’s umpiring journey began in 2017 when eldest son Samson started officiating at age 12 for an Under 10s match. His father, John, joined two years later in 2019, citing inspiration from his son. The youngest son, Cooper, began umpiring in 2020, initially for financial reasons.
"Umpiring teaches skills including communication, confidence in decision-making, and teamwork." — John Bament
Cooper Bament has since officiated in Cairns, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast through development pathways. John Bament has noted that umpiring improved his sons' understanding of rules and respect for umpires.
Jones Family (Sunshine Coast, Queensland)
Paul Jones began umpiring six years ago at Maroochydore. His daughter, Opal, aged 18, has become a senior umpire officiating men’s and women’s matches and national carnivals.
Opal has mentored junior umpires; the number of young female umpires in her local area reportedly increased from one to approximately 20 following her involvement.
Paul’s son, Huon, has joined as a junior umpire for Under 13 boys and Under 11 mixed matches. Huon has stopped playing football to focus on umpiring. The family shares equipment, with Paul’s wife reportedly experiencing uniform confusion as a result.
Developmental Impact and Initiatives
John Bament encourages family involvement through initiatives such as the First Bounce program. He observed that when adults learn new skills, make mistakes, and improve, it demonstrates that learning continues across all ages.
"These are skills you don’t realise you need until later in life." — Cooper Bament
AFL Queensland Family Umpiring Camp
AFL Queensland will hold a Family Umpiring Camp on July 11 at Wynnum Vikings, during Term 2 school holidays.