Umpire Talent Pathway Restructure

The success of the Umpire Talent Pathway has been highlighted by a number of umpires officiating at AFL level; including Boundary umpires Chris Simms, Scott Gordon, and Robert Taylor, and Goal umpires Dale Puren and Rose O’Dea (pictured).

At the recent AFL/NEAFL pre-season camp, held in Jindabyne, 19 of the 35 umpires attending had been part of the Umpire Talent Pathway programs.

The new Umpire Talent Pathway will include four programs; starting with the Next Gen (formerly Regional Squad), and will engage 100 teenage umpires involved in umpiring at the junior level.

The other Umpire Talent Pathway programs include the Emerging Umps, NSW/ACT Academy, and the NEAFL Development Squad.

In all, more than 140 umpires will be involved at the various levels in 2014.

The state based Umpire Talent Pathway culminates with the NEAFL Development Squad, designed to assist umpires to make the transition between community and State League football.

“Having a full and structured Umpire Talent Pathway will help our aspiring umpires take their next steps and hopefully follow in the footsteps of the NSW/ACT Umpires at the AFL level,” said NSW/ACT Umpiring Manager, Graham Glassford.

The NEAFL Development Squad was announced at the combined AFL/NEAFL camp in Jindabyne, and includes Lachlan McKeeman, who is part of the player to umpire pathway, having played for Werribee in the VFL.

Also, in the squad is Lachlan Head (Central Coast), Aden Kittel (Newcastle), Lachlan McDonald (Sydney), and Jackson Stokes (Central Coast).

The NEAFL Development Squad Coach will be Nick Angelos.

Invites will soon be going out to umpires around NSW and the ACT for the Next Gen, Emerging Umps, and NSW/ACT Academy.

Full details of the criteria can be found here.