Australian pathways
Where her sport actually goes, what happens at each age, and the decision coming next. Cricket, footy, and the one almost nobody mentions — umpiring.
Where are you?
The top and bottom of every pathway are national and identical wherever you live. It's the middle — the rep comps and the state league — that changes. Steps marked National are the same everywhere.
Heads up
Under-14 is the pinch point in every state and both codes. Cricket's first representative selection lands here, and footy pushes girls out of mixed teams. It's also the age Australian girls leave sport in the greatest numbers. If you pay close attention for one season, make it this one.
The bit that matters
Two Victorians earned first full state contracts this year: one after topping the wicket-taking at the U19 Nationals, another after 567 runs at an average of 94.5 in Premier Cricket. That's the standard the last step actually demands, wherever you live.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
Her first representative opportunity — the VMCU's Julie Savage Shield for metro players, or the VCCL's Junior Country Week if you're regional.
What nobody tells youThe first year selection is real, and the first year of genuine disappointment. How you handle a non-selection here shapes whether she's still playing at 17.
The Youth Premier League opens at under-15 and aligns with the under-16 Female Emerging Players Program, run by Cricket Victoria's coaching and talent staff.
What nobody tells youTraining load steps up sharply. This is usually where the summer-winter double-sport question forces itself.
She links with a Premier Club. Cricket Victoria calls this the pathway's finishing school — the step designed to ready her for senior cricket.
The under-19 Female Emerging Players Program, and selection for Vic Metro or Vic Country at the National Championships.
Senior Premier Cricket, then the Victorian Women's Second XI — revived recently for the first time since 2010/11 — then a state contract and the WNCL.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
Her local association may enter a team in the Cricket NSW Youth Championships. The Mollie Dive Shield is the under-13 girls' competition — talk to your club about being considered.
What nobody tells youThe first year selection is real, and the first year of genuine disappointment. How you handle a non-selection here shapes whether she's still playing at 17.
The under-15 arm of the Youth Championships. Cricket NSW describes its female youth pathway as the most successful in the country.
What nobody tells youTraining load steps up sharply. This is usually where the summer-winter double-sport question forces itself.
The under-18 competition sitting under Sydney's Women's Premier Grade, which runs T20 and one-day cricket from first to third grade.
Cricket NSW selects Metropolitan and Country squads each year for the national underage championships.
Women's Premier Grade, then the Emerging Player Program, with players embedded in the Sixers or Thunder academies and selection opportunities in the Spring Challenge and WBBL. Then a NSW Breakers contract and the WNCL.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
Entry-level club competitions — Stage 1 at under-11 and Stage 2 at under-13.
What nobody tells youThe first year selection is real, and the first year of genuine disappointment. How you handle a non-selection here shapes whether she's still playing at 17.
The Paul Pink Shield at club level, alongside the Harris Shield as the under-15 pathway competition.
What nobody tells youTraining load steps up sharply. This is usually where the summer-winter double-sport question forces itself.
Queensland Cricket's under-19 competition, the last rung before senior Premier grade.
A squad of around 13 selected roughly eight weeks before each national championship, judged on performances across Premier and Country cricket over several seasons — not one good summer.
First-grade Women's Premier is the Katherine Raymont Shield, second grade the Jodie Fields Shield. Above that, the Brisbane Heat and a Queensland Fire contract.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
The junior and representative rungs here are run by Cricket West, and we'd rather leave a gap than print something we haven't checked. The national steps below are the same wherever you live.
Help us fix itIf you know this pathway, tell us how it actually works and we'll build it out — with credit if you want it.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
The junior and representative rungs here are run by South Australian Cricket Association, and we'd rather leave a gap than print something we haven't checked. The national steps below are the same wherever you live.
Help us fix itIf you know this pathway, tell us how it actually works and we'll build it out — with credit if you want it.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
The junior and representative rungs here are run by Cricket Tasmania, and we'd rather leave a gap than print something we haven't checked. The national steps below are the same wherever you live.
Help us fix itIf you know this pathway, tell us how it actually works and we'll build it out — with credit if you want it.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
The junior and representative rungs here are run by Cricket ACT, and we'd rather leave a gap than print something we haven't checked. The national steps below are the same wherever you live.
Help us fix itIf you know this pathway, tell us how it actually works and we'll build it out — with credit if you want it.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
Skills and games at a local club. Mixed, no selection, no pressure. The only thing that matters is whether she wants to come back next week.
What nobody tells youClubs vary enormously in how well they run girls' programs. Visit two before you commit.
Age-group teams at your local association. Girls-only competitions increasingly run alongside the mixed ones, and plenty of girls play both.
What nobody tells youThis is where a girl often becomes the only one in a side. A club with a girls' team is worth driving past three closer ones for.
The junior and representative rungs here are run by NT Cricket, and we'd rather leave a gap than print something we haven't checked. The national steps below are the same wherever you live.
Help us fix itIf you know this pathway, tell us how it actually works and we'll build it out — with credit if you want it.
Cricket Australia runs under-16 and under-19 female national championships. All underage programs are run by the state associations, who send representative teams.
What nobody tells youThis is the shop window. Performances here are what state selectors weigh.
A state contract and the Women's National Cricket League, then the WBBL.
What nobody tells youPlenty arrive later than the pathway suggests. Senior Premier runs are still the most direct way to be noticed.
The bit that matters
Location decides her talent-league club, not preference. Which means the most consequential footy decision many families make is which local club she plays for at 13.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
Victoria's dedicated state under-18 competition, drawn from the best local players. Teams are allocated by location — eastern-suburbs clubs feed the Eastern Ranges, and so on. It's the country's premier youth development league and supplies the bulk of AFLW draftees.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
No standalone under-18 competition. Instead, the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants run zone-based academies that feed directly into the national championships, with AFL Sydney providing senior football. At national level she'd represent the Allies.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
No standalone under-18 competition. The Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions run zone-based academies that compete in the Talent League for part of the season, with QAFLW providing senior football. Queensland fields its own team at the under-18 national championships.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
Western Australia is the only other state with a dedicated state under-18 competition. Above it, the best under-18s sometimes play WAFLW.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
No standalone under-18 competition, but SANFLW has a reserves layer at minimum, and the best under-18s play state league. South Australia fields its own side at the national championships.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
Tasmania has a program competing in the Coates Talent League for the full season — the only non-Victorian side to do so. At national championship level Tasmanian players represent the Allies.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
No standalone under-18 competition. GWS Giants academy zones cover the ACT, and at national championship level ACT players represent the Allies alongside NSW, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
Fun, skills-based sessions to learn the game. Mixed, and the entry point for almost everyone.
What nobody tells youAuskick quality is entirely down to the volunteers running your centre. If it's poor, try the next suburb.
Age-group club footy. Girls-only under-10 and under-12 competitions now exist in many leagues alongside the mixed ones.
What nobody tells youGirls-only comps are growing fast but unevenly. What exists in your league this year may not have existed last year — ask.
Girls generally have to move out of mixed football at under-14 and into a girls' competition.
What nobody tells youThe single biggest drop-off point. If there's no girls' team near you, this is the moment she stops — so find the club before the season, not during it.
Interleague sides drawn from the best local players, plus AFL club Next Generation Academies. Then the National Development Championships for 15 and 16-year-olds.
What nobody tells youNow we're in the national pipeline, and the time commitment changes character. Talk about school before she's in it, not after.
The NT State Academy competes in the Talent League for part of the season, and fields its own team at the under-16 national development championships. At under-18 level NT players represent the Allies.
What nobody tells youThis is the decisive rung, and it's the one that differs most between states.
National Futures brings together the best 17-year-olds; the under-18 National Championships feature state and Allies sides, with an All-Australian team named.
What nobody tells youInjury management becomes the whole game here. A well-managed knee matters more than another carnival.
Thirty of the country's top 18-year-olds attend National Academy camps. Club-nominated players attend the Draft Combine, then the AFLW Draft.
What nobody tells youState league is a parallel route, not a consolation one — the best under-18s sometimes play it already.
The bit that matters
In 2025 seven of the nine rookie-listed AFL umpires were women. One became only the second woman to field umpire at AFL level in 130 years; another was the first woman to officiate a VFL Grand Final. This pathway is less crowded than the playing one, and it pays from fourteen.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
VFL and VFLW are the state leagues to aim at. In cricket, Cricket Victoria's Winter Umpire Development Program feeds the Premier Panel, with an exam that's compulsory for anyone seeking selection.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
NPL and AFL Sydney at community level, then state league. In cricket, Sydney's Premier Grade panel is the equivalent step.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
QAFL and QAFLW at state league level, then the national programs. Queensland Premier Cricket runs its own umpire panel.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
WAFL and WAFLW are the state leagues. Perth's Premier Cricket panel is the cricket equivalent.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
SANFL and SANFLW. In cricket, Adelaide Turf and then senior Premier Cricket, with SACA's own accreditation steps.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
Tasmanian State League football, and Cricket Tasmania's premier competitions.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
AFL Canberra, then across the border for state league. Cricket ACT runs its own panel.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Most umpires begin on school or community junior matches. Cricket runs a junior umpiring module open to anyone — players, parents, volunteers.
What nobody tells youShe can start umpiring while still playing. Most do. It is not a decision to stop being a player.
Cricket's Community Officiating Accreditation is the entry point — an online part and a practical part, around $40. Footy runs come-and-try sessions and Women and Girls Experience Hubs.
What nobody tells youAccreditation is cheap and fast. The barrier is almost never the course; it's whether anyone tells her the option exists.
Junior and senior community matches. This is paid work, most weekends, from about fourteen.
What nobody tells youAbuse from the fence is why most young umpires quit. Ask her directly, and ask the league what its escalation process actually is.
Footy's Women in Umpiring Accelerator supports women umpiring at state league or under-18 talent level, giving over 40 a year a specialist coach, alongside the National Women's Umpiring Development Program. Cricket's Representative Officiating Accreditation, around $100, is the step up.
What nobody tells youThese are application-based and the windows close early. Diarise them a season ahead.
NTFL — the only senior competition in the country played over the wet season, which makes it a genuinely different rhythm. NT Cricket runs its own umpire panel.
What nobody tells youProgression here is on merit and availability. Availability is usually the harder one for a family to sustain.
Footy's AFL Umpire List, via a rookie list and elite transition program. Cricket's state umpiring panels cover Premier and representative matches.
What nobody tells youGenuinely reachable. Women and girls umpiring footy grew 72 per cent in three years — nearly 1,200 more umpires nationally.
Compiled from Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, Cricket NSW, Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Play AFL. Program names and selection windows change most years — check the official page before acting on anything here. Costs aren't published centrally by any of these bodies, so we've left them out rather than guess.
Help us finish it
Some of these are mapped properly and some aren't yet. If you know how it really works where you are — or we've got something wrong — send it through and we'll build it out.