WA Football Commission
Adams and Johns to reach 100 game milestone in WAWFL umpiringTuesday, July 21, 2015 - 11:21 AM
This weekend will mark a fantastic milestone achievement for two of our umpires in umpiring 100 games of WAWFL football.
Ryan Adams and Chris Johns will take to the field at Steel Blue Oval this Sunday to officiate in the Swan Districts v Claremont reserves game in their 100th game of female football.
Starting his umpiring career in 2011 as a club umpire for Mt Lawley Hawks, Chris Johns is now in his fifth season of umpiring and enjoys the important role he plays as a goal umpire in female football.
After progressing from a club umpire to a panel umpire, Chris stated he was thankful for the opportunity to develop his skills and now looked to give back to the league.
“The WAWFL gave me the chance so I’m helping them out by providing quality skills and giving back to the game.” Chris said.
“I’m more than willing to get out there and give my time and to see the talent players develop.”
Chris’s time with the WAWFL has been one of enjoyment and he explained he enjoyed watching the talent grow and develop both on and off the field.
He commended Coastal Titans and Swan Districts on their professional attitude and structures on field, and went on to say how impressed he was with Peel specifically with their off field management this season.
When asked if Chris saw himself reaching the 200 game milestone of umpiring, he reply was one of confidence.
“I’ll be around for a while yet, I’ll reach 200 games and I’m planning on going a bit further than that as well.”
Also reaching his 100th game of umpiring in the Swans v Piranhas reserves game is field umpire Ryan Adams.
For Ryan, his umpiring career started through umpiring junior games as a boundary umpire for his younger brother’s football team. It was in 2009 that Ryan moved to the senior competition and joined the WAWFL.
“I started umpiring to follow in my brothers footsteps really” Ryan said.
“I had an older brother doing amateurs at the time and a younger brother progressing through the talent pathway squad. My younger brother is now the AFL emergency field umpire for the WA games.”
Ryan said he also umpired the WAWFL to keep active, for the love of the game and because he enjoyed watching the progress in his fellow umpires and the players onfield.
“I just like being part of a team and seeing younger, other umpire progress is great” Ryan said.
“Also the women’s competition is very competitive and some of women could put it up to the blokes. There is some very good skills in the teams.”
For Ryan he said his most fond moment in female football was umpiring a curtain raiser to the West Coast Eagles and Essendon Bombers game at Domain stadium.
“Just going through the tunnel onto the ground was awesome. I’m pretty sure they had the big screen on, so the players and umpire were watching themselves on the field.”
“Another memory was when Lynette Smith played her retirement game last season in one of the finals games was pretty cool to see. Although East Freo did lose it was good to see that sort of passion for the game.”
When asked to describe their umpiring styles, the men stated they were fair, tolerant and relaxed. Ryan explained he was patient in the Youth Girls games given most players are still learning but went on to say he was always ready for the much faster paced games being played in League.
Both umpires will celebrate their 100th game at Steel Blue Oval this Sunday at 1pm alongside two other WAWFL 100-game umpires, Des Morgan and Graeme Cook. In what will be game full of experience and over 450 games of umpiring between them, the game will be a ‘not-to-miss’ showcase.
Following the reserves game will see Swan Districts host Coastal Titans in a top of the ladder clash in the League Division.
The WA female football community would like to congratulate and thank these two passionate umpires who have dedicated many of their weekends to support our female competitions.
