Monday 18 April 2011
A new wave of boundary and goal umpires is being developed courtesy of the annual school-based umpiring academy.
A total of 26 students at Brisbane Boys College recently underwent a three-week course learning about boundary umpiring, and 15 of those students put what they learnt into practice last weekend.
The 15 were available to umpire in the AFLQ Under 18 competition and all those who completed the course will be encouraged to continue through the remainder of the season.
They will be joined by graduates of a similar course at Nudgee College next term and another one at Ormiston College, the latter where boys and girls will be educated in goal and boundary umpiring.
The umpiring academy program is now in its fifth year in Brisbane, while similar courses are being run on the Gold Coast for the third season and Sunshine Coast for the second time.
“It was been a very successful initiative and is an important vehicle in developing umpiring talent for the future,” said Community Competitions Umpires Coordinator Simon Devine.
Devine said there was a strong emphasis on post-course support for the young umpires, recruited from Years 9 to 12, with field umpires in the Under 18 competition providing regular feedback on their performances.
