NSW umpires excel in the top end

Two of the state’s biggest umpiring talents spent their off-season officiating games in the Northern Territory Football League.

Kyan Everson and Cypress Hart, both from the Newcastle Hunter Central Coast Umpires Association, travelled to the NT to gain some experience and improve their umpiring skills.

Check out how the two enjoyed their experiences.

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Cypress Hart

What have you enjoyed most about umpiring in the NT?

The opportunity to umpire games with state league umpire talent and the opportunity to umpire ex-AFL stars.

Also, the sheer number of different people to get feedback and learn from.

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What has been your biggest challenge umpiring in the NT?

Living away from home, paying rent, eating right and all the stresses that come with that.

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What is one thing you have learnt during your time in the NT that you will bring back to your local umpiring group?

The importance of personal standards, both with umpiring and outside of it. Bringing the right attitude and effort to training, being open and ready for feedback at any time and putting consistent effort into every game. Because a wise man once said: “The game you are umpiring right now is the most important game in Australia, even if the AFL Grand Final is on.”

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What is one piece of advice you would give someone considering umpiring in the NT for next season?

Go for it, there are so many great people involved in umpiring in the NT. The standard of football, the coaches and mentors: Simon Walker, Mark Noonan, Greg Ostler to name a few have helped me improve as an umpire immensely. If you love umpiring and want to improve, I highly recommended it if you’re up for the challenge.

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Kyan Everson

What have you enjoyed most about umpiring in the NT?

Umpiring in the Northern Territory Football League has been a tremendous experience. One thing that stood out to me was the opportunity to learn resilience, due to it not only applying in the umpiring world but in a real world setting too. For this, I am very appreciative and grateful.

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What has been your biggest challenge umpiring in the NT?

Apart from umpiring a higher quality, quicker style of football, mindset was definitely at the top of the list in terms of challenges. Some weeks consisted of running all seven days, five of the days having games and two of them being training days. The challenge lies in being able to keep a positive mindset; to get up each day and perform at a high level when fatigue, muscle soreness and general lack of motivation were lingering around. Although a challenge, again, this has helped me to become more resilient as an umpire and a person.

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What is one thing you have learnt during your time in the NT that you will bring back to your local umpiring group?

From an umpiring perspective, the amount of knowledge around the rules of the game, positioning and general attitude towards umpiring has been invaluable. This better understanding of the game will help me be a greater mentor to younger umpires aspiring to reach a higher level of footy but also help already fantastic umpires in our league become even stronger.

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What is one piece of advice you would give someone considering umpiring in the NT for next season?

If you are keen on never having a core body temperature under 36 degrees, go for it…

No, in all seriousness, the NTFL is a great way to become a better umpire and meet new people in the footy community. Through its many coaches for all three disciplines it can expand your knowledge and improve your umpiring tenfold. It also, as stated before, makes you more resilient in every aspect of your life.

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