AFL Field Umpire Assistant Coach
Date: 8 Sept 2026
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Company: Australian Football League
Join the team shaping the future of Australia’s game.
This is your chance to do work that has real impact, in an organisation that moves fast, aims high and plays a meaningful role in the lives of millions across the country through football. Every role at the AFL helps progress the game, so more people can love it, connect with it and see what is possible through it.
The opportunity - this is a fixed term 2 year position
The AFL Field Umpire Assistant Coach plays an important role in developing and supporting the field umpires who perform in the elite AFL competition.
This role will support the AFL Umpires Head Coach to deliver and continuously improve the AFL Field Umpire coaching program. You will provide individual coaching, constructive feedback and technical support that helps emerging and established umpires perform, develop and thrive.
This is an exciting opportunity to bring your coaching expertise, performance insight and ability to develop people to a role with genuine impact on the game. We welcome applicants with relevant coaching, high-performance or talent development experience and a strong understanding of Australian Football.
What you’ll own
You will help deliver a high-quality coaching environment that supports individual and collective performance across AFL Field Umpiring.
You’ll add value through:
- Supporting the design, delivery and continuous improvement of the AFL umpire coaching and development program
- Providing individual coaching, mentoring and constructive performance feedback to AFL Field Umpires
- Analysing umpire performance through live observation, match vision, statistical data and performance metrics
- Identifying performance trends and opportunities for individual and collective improvement
- Preparing and delivering weekly coaching programs, education sessions, workshops and development activities
- Supporting umpire performance plans, including goal setting, progress monitoring and development strategies
- Contributing to recommendations relating to umpire appointments, promotions, development opportunities and performance progression
- Building positive and professional relationships with AFL clubs, football departments and key stakeholders
- Promoting a high-performance environment grounded in learning, accountability, wellbeing, professionalism and continuous improvement
- Demonstrating leadership, integrity and a commitment to the AFL’s values and behaviours
What you’ll bring
- Proven experience in coaching, mentoring and talent development within a high-performance environment
- Demonstrated experience in Australian Football at an elite or sub-elite level
- Experience analysing performance using match vision, statistical data and performance metrics
- The ability to provide clear, constructive feedback that supports behavioural and performance improvement
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and influence a range of stakeholders
- Sound judgement, integrity and a commitment to high standards of coaching and performance
- A collaborative approach that supports learning, wellbeing and shared success
- Availability to work flexibly, including weekends and outside normal business hours
Why you’ll love being on our team
At the AFL, you will be part of a values-led team that aims high, backs each other and brings energy, care and integrity to work that matters. This is a place where people play to win, play as one team and play with passion, while always staying grounded in fairness, inclusion and respect. We work hard, support each other and create the conditions for our people to grow, perform and thrive.
What you can look forward to:
- Play The Day Your Way, our flexible approach to working life, built to support you on game day and every day
- My Development, with coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and formal development to help you keep building your game
- Play Well, our health and wellbeing programme designed to support a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy workplace
- My Benefits, giving you access to a range of partner offers and discounts through our AFL Corporate Partners
Everyone has a place here
Our game brings people together, and we want our workplace to do the same.
We are committed to building a culture of belonging and an environment where people feel respected, included and able to thrive, and where diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.
Whether you’re a footy fan or new to our game, we welcome everyone to apply. We know great candidates don’t always tick every box. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match the job description.
The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.
Ready to play your part?
Applications close 27 September 2026