By MARK WESTGARTH, WRFL Director of Umpiring
IN season 2016 we have had the theme to “be the best you can be”.
The challenge was for all umpires to improve from where they were in 2015 by taking on board coaching advice, training hard, attending coaching sessions and working as a team.
We have more than 360 umpires involved in the WRFL covering field, boundary and goal over senior and junior football. The age range is from 13 through to 76 years of age which provides a great spread of experience as well as an opportunity to develop personally through linking with a wide range of people.
The focus of the WRFL umpiring department is to improve the skill of umpires, in all disciplines with a particularly focus on our younger umpires.
The umpire’s academy commenced in 2009 at MacKillop College in Werribee and this weekend we will see the Division One Grand Final field umpires all come from that academy.
Shamus Dundon, Ryan Webster and Michael Westgarth, with an average age of 20 years, all commenced their umpiring career in 2009, with Ryan and Michael commencing as boundary umpires whilst Adam Cosham, ex-TAC player, sits the bench.
Over the years the WRFL have established more academies across the region and this has provided the opportunity for young people to get involved in umpiring with most also playing football in the WRFL.
Boundary and goal umpire development has had very similar success with a large growth in the number of females joining the ranks which has also been highlighted in this week’s Division One Grand Final with Christine Gent appointed with Trevor Budge as the two debutant goal umpires.
Kia Abela, Robert Hill, Riley Kane and Jordan Wiltshire complete the Division One team with the boundary umpires average age being 18 years.
The future looks very good, from an umpiring perspective, with 30 field umpires having Division 1 experience and excellent growth in our junior ranks.
Good luck to all teams in Sunday's Division 1 Grand Finals and hopefully the umpires will not even be noticed.
Last Modified on 07/09/2016 17:19