Gippsland Umpires Association is taking a stand against social violence, by lacing up as part of a national campaign from youth organisation Step Back. Think.
GUA umpires will join AFL clubs Essendon and Greater Western Sydney in showing their support for the Lace Up Against Social Violence campaign, by wearing orange laces for all their appointments on Saturday, 13 June and Sunday, 14 June.
Step Back. Think was formed in 2006, following the alcohol-fuelled single-punch assault of James Macready-Bryan that caused the 20-year-old catastrophic brain damage, from which he will likely never recover.
The program was designed as a mechanism to drive cultural change that will end social and alcohol-fuelled violence.
GUA senior umpire Leigh Marriott said for an organisation with many young members, the Lace Up Against Social Violence message was an important one.
“We’re pretty fortunate that our environment at the association doesn’t rely on alcohol as such,” Marriott said.
“But we want to support the campaign and support our young blokes coming up through the ranks to let them know if they do get in confrontations outside of football and when they are out and about, they know exactly how to deal with it.”
As well as wearing orange laces, GUA will host a Q-and-A and education session about social violence for their young umpires.
TAC Cup side Gippsland Power is also participating the campaign and will don orange laces in the round 10 clash with Dandenong Stingrays at Shepley Oval on Saturday, 13 June.
Last Modified on 09/06/2015 09:47