Umps to develop skills interstate

NEXT month three members of the Ballarat Football Umpires Association will be heading to Adelaide to take part in a development opportunity.

Field umpire Damian Irvin, boundary umpire Daniel O’Brien and goal umpire Cooper James will go on the five-day trip following a competitive selection process.

They will have the chance to attend SANFL an umpire training session, umpire an Adelaide Football League game alongside local umpires, and network with colleagues.

This is the first time the association has taken part in the program and head of umpiring operations, Billy Mitchell, said it’s a great chance for the umpires to develop their skills.

“It’s a development experience so it’s an opportunity for our umpires to get some exposure to another umpiring group and another league in a different state,” he said.

“There’ll be plenty of learnings by sitting in on their coaching and seeing how they go about their training and match day.”

Mr Mitchell said the benefits of the trip will extend beyond their umpiring journey.

“Whilst it is about umpiring it’s also about life skills,” he said.

“We’re putting them in a foreign environment and asking them to navigate there way around Adelaide for five days.”