YOUNG LEADERS UMPIRES PROGRAM

The AFL NSW/ACT Umpiring Department has announced their new ‘Young Leaders – Staying in the Game’ program aimed at helping reduce the current decline of umpire participation numbers experienced at the end of each season.

Each year, NSW/ACT lose between 25% to 35% of their umpires across the region. The Young Leaders – Staying in the Game program aims to drop this non-return rate to 20% or fewer.

The program will involve leadership sessions with mentors from across the sporting landscape, as well as involvement in the development of the retention program for years to come.

The Young Leaders – Staying in the Game project is expected to run from October 2016 to April 2017.

Applications for this program are now open to anyone currently involved in AFL in NSW or the ACT, and who are aged between 16 and 24 years old. You can be a player, coach, volunteer, or an umpire, as long as you are registered with AFL NSW/ACT.