It’s all about the location and the Northern Tasmanian Football Umpires Association now has a new home – Prospect Park.
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Association vice-president Danny Horton said they were virtually pushed out of their former long-term base with North Launceston and Old Launcestonians gaining preference of UTAS Stadium and Invermay Park.
However, he said its fresh Meander Valley base comes with plenty of positives.
“We have signed a four-year deal for Prospect Park to be our new headquarters with great clubrooms and ground facilities for us to train and develop umpires,” Horton said.
“We can now utilise a full ground which enhances our ability to conduct drills for all three disciplines – central, boundary and goal umpiring – without restriction.
“Whereas before we were restricted on what we could do because other users were on the ground.”
Horton said the NTFUA was after more people interested in the game to take up umpiring.
He said those keen to pick up a whistle or flag are welcome to register their interest at training on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5.30pm.
“We have full coaching staff for all the disciplines and everyone is welcome, including women of course,” Horton said.
“We start their skills development training from the night they come and that includes physical work for them to get fit and during the course of that we work on their drills and skills.
“It’s a pathway to the AFL and the greatest example for us is Mitch Le Fevre, who umpired the 2017 AFL grand final on the boundary.”
Horton said it is also a great social experience and that football would be lost with umpires.
“Without umpires there is no game, it’s a simple as that,” he said.