Ballarat Umpires Association received a boost with 52 new umpires signing up to officiate in the Ballarat, Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine Football Netball League’s at an information session at City Oval Bowling Club last night.
Of those 52 new officials, 15 of them were females which is a big boost for female participation in football in the region.
“The attendance surprised me, it was a great result,” Ballarat Senior Umpire’s coach Roger Le Grand says.
“This growth is perfect for us.”
Le Grand said that the growth in umpire numbers have jumped 20 percent since the recent influx. New umpires travelled from locations across Bendigo, Bacchus Marsh and Dunolly.
“This will be the single biggest increase in umpiring numbers in one season in my 25 years associated with footy in this region,” Le Grand says.
“We had 263 running members last season and we should exceed 300 in 2017.”
Le Grand was amazed by the addition of 15 female umpires which contributes to the overall growth of female participation in the sport.
The BUA has had recent success with female field umpire Kelly McLeod joining the Victorian Football League this year after officiating her first Senior game in 2013.
The BUA will conduct information sessions in Maryborough at Princes Park on Monday, February 13 and at Camp Reserve in Castlemaine on Wednesday, February 15 from 5.30pm. New members are welcome.
BALLARAT COURIER
RISE OF FEMALE FOOTBALL UMPIRES IN BALLARAT
Rochelle Kirkham
Fifteen-year-old Maeve Clark has been an umpire in Ballarat for two years.
Her dad convinced her to become a boundary umpire before she moved into field umpiring last year.
Maeve said it was intimidating beginning as one of only a few female umpires in the region, but she now feels comfortable umpiring with the boys.
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Last Modified on 02/02/2017 14:20