AFL Canada is pleased to announce that Kevin Murray has been appointed Head Umpire after being unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.
Kevin brings extensive experience to the role, having been an umpire with AFL Ontario since 2000. During that time, he has umpired hundreds of matches, served as Head Umpire of AFL Ontario from 2017-2022, and officiated major national and international tournaments across North America.
“Umpires play an important role in ensuring a safe, fair, and enjoyable experience for all of our athletes,” said Greg Bridges, Executive Director of AFL Canada. “We’re very excited to have Kevin come into the role of Head Umpire to develop umpire pathways, train and evaluate umpires as they complete their certifications, and grow our roster of umpires across the country.”
Prior to umpiring, Kevin joined the Toronto Rebels in 1991 and played 139 games. He brings a professional background in teaching and has officiated numerous other sports throughout his career, including hockey, basketball, rugby, and soccer.
“Umpiring is an incredible way to get involved in the game of footy, or to stay involved after finishing your career as a player,” said Kevin. “There’s a big opportunity to increase the number of umpires in Canada, and I’m looking forward to working with clubs and leagues to introduce and implement new programs.”
As Head Umpire, Kevin will be responsible for identifying potential umpires, developing educational resources, evaluating umpires, and providing feedback on in-game performance.
He will also be responsible for ensuring consistent interpretations of the Laws of the Game, and for implementing standards for National tournaments such as the AFL Canada Cup and AFL Canada Men’s Club Championships.
In addition to his role as Head Umpire with AFL Canada, Kevin is serving as the Canadian Liaison with the USAFL Umpire Association, where he will be increasing collaboration between the two countries and identifying opportunities for umpires to take part in international competitions.
Kevin’s appointment is effective immediately.
About AFL Canada
AFL Canada is the AFL-sanctioned National Governing Body committed to promoting, growing, and developing the sport of Australian Football in Canada. Since 1989, AFL Canada has supported clubs, leagues, and provincial associations through program development, resources, national and international tournaments, marketing, youth programs, and other strategic initiatives.
As the recognized AFL International Affiliate, AFL Canada is motivated to ensure the game can prosper and progress through all formats, levels, and competitions across the country.
Photo: AFL Canada Head Umpire Kevin Murray
Michael Garstin https://www.flickr.com/photos/garstor/
