The AFL Community Camp was held in early February 2006 at Newcastle's No. 1 Sportsground.
The highlight for NCCUA members of the Community Camp was the Umpires' forum held on Tuesday 7 February 2006.
The NCCUA was fortunate enough to have AFL umpires Mathew Stevic and Steve McBurney in attendance.
Also making a guest appearance was Graham Brown, Umpires' Co-ordinator from the Tamworth AFL (yes he rode his motorcycle all the way from Tamworth just for the event) and John McMahon, BDAFL Vice President.
While the two AFL umpires were fashionably late, NCCUA Umpires Coach, Grant Godfrey took centre stage. Grant started the forum with the viewing of the new interpretations DVD from the AFL for 2006.
When Mathew and Steve arrived they talked about their experiences in their umpiring career. Mathew took the group through his history of how he had made it to the AFL panel. Mathew indicated he had started boundary umpiring as a teenager and then became a field umpire and now is a member of the 48 field umpires that make up the AFL panel.
Steve then spoke about the fitness requirements for field, boundary and goal at the AFL level. He also took the group through a typical week for himself in terms of training and match day preparation.
Steve also indicated that most AFL umpires hold full time employment and generally train around their work commitments. When discussing the fitness requirements to become and stay an AFL umpire, some in attendance were shocked to hear that goal umpires had to be able to reach level 10 in a beep test.
Overall it was an exceptional evening to hear first hand accounts of what it is like to become an AFL umpire and especially take on board the understanding these two umpires have for the new laws and interpretations being introduced this year.
We thank AFL umpire's Mathew Stevic and Steve McBurney very much for sharing their time with members of the Association and we wish them the best in the 2006 AFL season and in general for their careers in the future. We hope to see them again sometime in the future.
Thanks also to all participants from the Association who attended the Umpires' Forum. It was a fantastic response and hopefully these Forums will be held in the future.
Last Modified on 09/05/2006 17:21