The combined training session with the Newcastle juniors last Monday (7 April 2008) night was a great success for all involved. Unlike the Central Coast juniors who have been training since January, the Newcastle juniors had only recently returned to the training track. All who attended would agree that Fitness Coach Kerry Lee made the event fun and enjoyable.
Encouragement from both AFLGSJ Central Coast and Newcastle Umpires Manager to attend NCCUA training at Baxter Field is an important part of addressing the declining numbers in NCCUA membership and the need to use Club Umpires for Black Diamond Cup games this year.
“It’s great to see so many Newcastle juniors join those junior Umpires from the Central Coast at training,” NCCUA President Darrel Luck said.
“Over the next 4 months we are endeavouring with the co-operation and involvement of Roy Reichert (Umpires Manager – AFLGSJ Newcastle); Andy Waterman and Roger Stokes (Umpire Managers – AFLGSJ Central Coast) to hold joint training sessions in the last week of each month at a Club venue. The goal here is to involve everybody in umpire training. This allows NCCUA members and particularly the senior umpires, to take an active mentoring role with the junior umpires and also allows umpires to have an active involvement with players whilst training.”
“With so many junior umpires, it is important to make sure that they are not lost to umpiring at the junior level. We need to have in place a pathway for them to do Black Diamond matches and this is a great way of developing a closer relationship with the juniors.”
Black Diamond AFL Umpires Coach, Roger Crowhurst added, “The opportunity to mix with senior umpires in an environment that is positive and supportive, helps the junior umpires to understand the commitment to fitness and skills development that is required to move into senior football.”
“In addition, they come to realise that it is not an impossible goal, but one well within their reach.”
The nights and venues are yet to be confirmed, but suffice to say that Newcastle will start the joint training regime in April followed by the Central Coast who will hold a training session in May 2008.
Last Modified on 10/04/2008 06:32