The Perth Demons Support Umpiring

Posted on 18/06/2012

This Saturday, the Perth Demons will support positive game-day environments and recognise the important role that umpires play in our game by giving umpiring a go.

 

The Demons District, in partnership with the Demons District Football Umpires Association (DDFUA), Perth Football Club, Gosnells Junior Football Club, Kenwick Junior Football Club and the AFL, will help promote the Umpiring is Everyone’s Business campaign and celebrate the important role that umpires hold in Australian Rules Football.

 

The Umpiring is Everyone’s Business campaign focuses on using influential people within Australian Football to advocate positively about umpiring and for all participants within our game to take responsibility for their behaviour on match day.  

 

In support of this event and its important message, Perth Football Club players Paul Bevan and Chris Billings will give umpiring a go in the Yr 9 (14s) game between Gosnells JFC and Kenwick JFC.

 

Bevan played 129 games for the Swans, including the 2005 AFL Grand Final, and Billings is an up-and-coming star defender for the Demons. Both players are looking forward to the challenge and experience of giving umpiring a go.

 

Demons District Umpire Manager Daniel Gibbons said, “that we greatly appreciate Paul and Chris’ willingness to give umpiring a go. I’m sure it will give them appreciation of how difficult a job umpiring is, especially for young umpires just starting out in junior football. Umpiring is a challenging but rewarding opportunity for young people and we have to do everything in our power to ensure that they can learn and develop in a nurturing environment”.

 

Perth Football Club CEO Marty Atkins echoed these sentiments when saying that umpires “are the extra team in every competition, yet no one supports them, which is why the ‘Umpiring is Everyone’s Business’ campaign is so important to the future of our game. The Perth Football Club are very proud that two of our own players are offering to umpire a junior game, to experience the challenges faced by all the umpires that do a wonderful job at many different levels, in many different competitions over this great state of ours.”

 

The Umpiring is Everyone’s Business campaign is an attempt to address problems surrounding the recruitment and retention of umpires at community level. The demand for umpires is not being met by the supply of umpires and if the current trend continues, the game at community level will suffer. Recruitment is difficult, but retention is the more significant challenge.

 

The game also builds upon last year’s contribution to the Umpiring is Everyone’s Business Campaign- the Umpiring is Everyone’s Business Carnival in which Perth players Steve Armstrong and Drew Robinson joined AFL umpires Dean Margetts and Brett Rosebury to umpire an under 12s carnival at Sutherlands Park. This event was hugely successful and was a unique experience for all involved.

 

The game will be held on Saturday 23rd June, between 10.00am-12.00pm at Sutherlands Park, Oval C, Gosnells.

Upcoming Event

Need a venue for your next function? Click here

Sponsors