Caloundra Australian Football Club on the Sunshine Coast is a club that has consistently achieved above and beyond their means throughout their 40-year history
An area which the Caloundra Panthers take enormous pride in is club umpire development and providing pathways for young officials to be involved.
Having been at Caloundra AFC for eight years, up-and-coming AFL youngster, Tom Fullarton decided to pick up the whistle in 2012 and become one of those club officials.
Fullarton enjoyed his time as a club umpire and is set to continue his duties in 2013 in-between games and training.
“This year I’ll be playing Under 14s as well as being in the Brisbane Lions Academy and hopefully I can be selected for the Sunshine Coast Under 14 Regional side and the Under 15 School Boys side,” Fullarton said.
“It will be a lot of footy but I think I will be able to continue with club umpiring on game days and through the week at training if necessary.”
“I enjoy umpiring and it has provided me with the opportunity to see the game at a different angle and it’s good to watch and be a part of the action.”
For a busy young teenager, Fullarton cannot get enough of being involved in AFL especially at club level where he can help the younger players out.
“I like umpiring Under 10s because you get to know a few more of the kids around the club and help them out with their footy,” Fullarton said.
Sunshine Coast Regional Manager, Mark Kennedy believes that club umpires provide an opportunity for participant development and growth in the region.
“Club umpires are another one of the many club volunteers who have the ability through AFL to access further training and education for personal development that benefits the entire sporting community,” Kennedy said.
“Our club umpires are great to have around amongst the younger participants who often look up to older club volunteers as mentors especially if they play AFL at that particular club also.”
The education of umpires is critical to the continued success and growth of AFL- for more information on how to become involved as an umpire or to access online training resources click here.
