Craig Scrase and Leigh Bowes volunteered for the club umpiring program this season.
Two Sunshine Coast presidents are leading from the front, volunteering for the AFLQ Club Umpire program this year.
Craig Scrase, from Maroochydore, and Leigh Bowes, from Noosa, both signed up for the program.
Scrase is in his second year as a club umpire, after going through the program in 2012.
The Maroochydore president said he had thoroughly enjoyed his first year in the program.
“It puts you in touch with footballers on the field and it allows older blokes to give back to the game as we’re not able to be out there,” Scrase said.
Scrase said that because many of those in the program were past players, they were able to easily understand the requirements of umpiring.
“I like to think that the past players that put their hands up have a good knowledge and perspective of the game and are able to umpire with a good peripheral understanding of what’s happening around them,” he said.
“They’re not always technically perfect, but from last year nearly everyone allowed a good, free-flowing game.”
Scrase, who mainly umpired in the under-18 competition in 2012, said the reception from the players was very positive.
“The under-18 group as a whole, in what is now the Allied Pickfords Cup, were extremely appreciative for the fact that they could play because we umpired,” he said.
“They accepted the decisions of the umpires and got on with the game – no backchat.”
Every AFLQ community club must have at least two club umpires each season.
If you are interested in becoming a club umpire, you must attend a skills session and complete an online quiz.
Details for the sessions are:
Brisbane: Wednesday April 10 6-7:30pm – Souths Cricket Club, Venner Rd, Yeronga
Gold Coast/Northern Rivers: Wednesday April 10 6-7:30pm – Robina AFC
Sunshine Coast: Wednesday April 17 6-7:30pm – Fisherman’s Rd.
For more information on the progam, 
click here.
If you want to become a club umpire or find out more about the program, contact AFLQ community umpire development officer, Pierce Field, on 3033 5439 or pierce.field@aflq-new.fspdev.com.
