A Colac football umpire has won an inaugural umpiring award for his umpiring abilities.
Colac Football Club umpire Alex Oates won a Geelong Football League Club Umpire of the Year Award.
“It’s a privilege to have won the award,” Mr Oates said.
“It’s a pretty good initiative of the umpires committee, because it makes you want to keep umpiring and might entice more people to become umpires,” he said.
Geelong Football Umpires League director Steve Keating said the award was to recognise umpires.
“Because of the shortage of umpires in the three Geelong leagues, each club supplied their own umpires for the reserve games,” Mr Keating said.
“This award was for the best umpire in the Geelong Football League,” he said.
Mr Keating said he assessed all umpires for the GFL during the year and gave them feedback to improve on their style.
“Both Alex and the runner-up Stephen Sells from Geelong West St Peters umpire at a very good level and are very consistent,” he said.
“They both follow the umpiring motto of integrity, fairness and trust.”

AWARD WINNER: Football umpire Alex Oates.