Umpiring is a family affair for Nickells

Dailyadvertiser.com.au
By Matt Malone

YOUNG Wagga Wagga umpire Evan Nickell is keeping it in the family.

Nickell is one of several Wagga youngsters coming through the umpiring ranks thanks to the AFL’s school-based academy program.

The 12-year-old completed his fourth game of senior boundary umpiring at the weekend but the fact he shared the game with grandfather Chris Nickell was an even bigger thrill.

Chris Nickell is a former field umpire and life member of Riverina Umpires Association and has returned to the game as a goal umpire.

The Nickells are just one of a number of good stories currently happening in the umpiring ranks, according to Southern NSW AFL umpire development officer Luke Olsen.

He said the number of young umpires taking up the sport is increasing by the minute.

“The school-based academies are a way of getting kids to umpire a game of footy without having to take the extra step initially of going to RUA training,” Olsen said.

“It’s a great way of getting kids umpiring footy for a start and a lot of them are doing it every week for a bit of pocket money.

“We’ve got 25 new academybased umpires this year and even if we only keep half of them, it’s still 12 or 13 more umpires for the RUA.”

The Wagga and district junior competition has been the big winner from the academy with all age divisions now being covered by independent umpires.

“We’re now doing 10s, 11s and 12s and for the first time in a long time we’ve got independent umpires umpiring every group in junior footy bar Auskick which is pretty good,” Olsen said.

“We’re really happy with how the junior clubs and league have supported it. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

The program is now being run in five high schools throughout the Riverina.