A NEW program has been designed to try and increase the number of football umpires, especially women.<\/p>\n
Specifically targeting past players, the women\u2019s umpiring group will see aspiring field umpires mentored by a professional to take charge of games during this year\u2019s season.<\/p>\n
Umpire manager at AFL Central Victoria, Sharon McColl, said there is already a pathway from playing to umpiring in men\u2019s football, and with women\u2019s football continuing to grow there\u2019s no reason a similar pathway can\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d love to have past players who don\u2019t want the bumps any more on the ground, but they still want to be a part of the game and they still love it, and love the fact women\u2019s football has grown so much,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have a huge number of females and it\u2019s something we really want to increase\u2026 we\u2019ve got some, but it\u2019s about trying to get a whole group more of them here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program will be run with the help of Bendigo Women\u2019s Football Club alumni Emma Wolters, who will lead training and match day sessions.<\/p>\n
McColl said last year a group of eight under-16 boys were successfully fast-tracked to field umpiring for under-12 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to emulate that with the women\u2019s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrying to bring in women who have really good football knowledge who are able to come straight in and with a bit of training, coaching, and learning their place on the ground, could go out and umpire a game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got the knowledge they\u2019re all great footballers, so that\u2019s our aim.\u201d<\/p>\n
With two women signed up currently, McColl said they\u2019d need at least four to run the program, with umpiring opportunities across the Loddon Mallee football leagues including the women\u2019s only Central Victorian Football League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW program has been designed to try and increase the number of football umpires, especially women. Specifically targeting past players, the women\u2019s umpiring group will see aspiring field umpires mentored by a professional to take charge of games during this year\u2019s season. Umpire manager at AFL Central Victoria, Sharon McColl, said there is already […]<\/p>\n