Following the eight week AFL Goulburn Murray Diversity Academy program participants will make their umpiring match debut this Saturday in the Shepparton v Benalla GOTAFE GVFL U18 game at Deakin Reserve.
With the full support of both clubs and in partnership with the GVFUA, 14 of the 16 Academy participants will have the opportunity to experience their first game as an officiating umpire.
Diversity Academy Head Coach Brett Hancock is excited about the opportunity for his students to officiate in a full scale match.
"The students in the Academy have come along in leaps and bounds over the eight weeks of the program" he said.
"For a number of them the Academy has been their first experience of Aussie Rules and they are all thrilled, and a little nervous, about the opportunity to run in this weekend’s games."
"The Academy will provide the boundary and goal umpires for the game with AFL Goulburn Murray Football Development Manager Mark Lambourn and other GVFUA regulars shadowing the students and mentoring them along the way."
"I would like to acknowledge both Shepparton and Benalla for their support in allowing this experience to be the culmination of eights week of skill development, decision making, fitness training and a lot of fun."
AFL Goulburn Murray Football Development Manager Mark Lambourn is proud of what the Diversity Academy has been able to achieve in such a short time.
"This program is only the second Diversity Umpiring Academy in Australia and the first of its type in regional Victoria" he said.
"Participant numbers have grown each week and we now have 16 teenagers from five different nationalities who have been involved in our great game for the first time and are developing a passion for umpiring."
"A number of the participants have already started to attend regular umpiring training with the GVFUA and Saturday’s game will only help to fast track the transition process from Academy to joining the umpiring ranks on a weekly basis."
Event Details:
Date: Saturday 13 June
Time: 10:00am
Venue: Shepparton Bears v Benalla at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton
Details: 14 participants from the Diversity Umpiring Academy to officiate as boundary and goal umpires
Last Modified on 08/07/2015 10:40