Umpire development takes a regional tourTuesday, May 3, 2016 - 9:51 AM

WAFC Manager Umpiring Pathways Tim Priest has spent the past few weeks on a whirlwind tour delivering of laws of the game educational development sessions through much of regional WA, including Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton, Esperance, Broome and Carnarvon.  

An Albany session was also conducted back in February by WAFC Manager Dean Margetts following his AFL umpiring commitments in the town.

In the Pilbara just last week further umpiring sessions were led by seasoned WAFL match day umpire coach John Beaton in Karratha, Dampier and Tom Price.   

Priest said the purpose of the regional visits were twofold.

“To firstly provide local regional umpires, umpire and player coaches, plus league officials, additional support and understanding of how the laws of the game have evolved, particularly around dangerous tackles, plus players responsibilities around safety in general,” he said.

A combination of WAFL passages of play and community football vision was utilised.

Vision included WAFL reportable incidents, as Priest also deliberates weekly on the WAFL Match Review Panel alongside former AFL Umpire Trevor Garrett and former WAFL player and broadcaster Phil Lamb.

The second purpose of Priest’s regional development sessions has been to promote the WAFL Umpire Talent Pathway as an achievable realty to aspiring country based umpires.

WAFL umpire ranks include regional umpires such as field umpire Matt Carpenter and boundary umpire Brayden Almond, the latter commuting from Bunbury each week to train midweek and officiate each weekend in the WAFL competition.        

Priest said that country based umpires that have the commitment and ability are monitored in their respective local leagues throughout the season.

“The July Landmark country football carnival is also a key umpire pathway program to coach, assess and mentor talented regional umpires wanting to make it at WAFL,” he said.