Press Release Tuesday 22 September 2009

New Umpiring Management

The Central Murray Football League as part of its ongoing support for the development of football in our region is bringing umpiring under the umbrella of the CMFL Board.
“The future of a successful football competition in Central Murray is dependent upon a dynamic, forward thinking umpire’s group,” Mr Frank Curran, President of the CMFL, said today.
“Each of our clubs recognise the need for a strong, growing body of umpires and by taking the association under our wing we are looking for the clubs to play a major role in the development of umpiring in our League,” he said.
“The CMFL’s aim will be to work closely with clubs and promote umpiring as a reasonable alternative to retirement from football,” Mr Curran said.
“We lose an enormous amount of experience and expertise when players retire and we are looking at promoting the opportunity for these footballers to stay in the sport and continue to contribute to this great game.”
“The new organisation will be the Central Murray Football League Umpires and it will be a sub-committee of the CMFL Board with a manager who will be appointed to oversee the development of new ideas and directions for current and future umpires,” Mr Curran said.
Those umpires who currently operate under the banner of the Central Murray Umpires Association will be strongly encouraged to transfer to the Central Murray Football League Umpires (CMLFU) where they will benefit from CMFL Board support.
“Having the umpiring group under the management of the League Board is a common model being developed in many other leagues and is a reflection of the importance we place on the contribution the umpiring fraternity make to our game,” Mr Curran said.
“By being a sub-committee of the CMFL, the Board will be able to provide professional support, training and development opportunities for umpires which we believe will not only enhance the role of current umpires but also encourage others to take on this role,” he said.

“Clubs have been briefed on the move and over the next few weeks we will be conferring with them and the existing umpires association to determine the best way of effecting the establishment of this new structure,” Mr Curran said.