Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
Mental Health and wellbeing were the themes of the annual WA Cricket Umpires Seminar held last weekend, with more than 70 umpires gathering together to gear up for another busy summer in the sun.
The two days of valuable learning and development were hosted across both the WACA Ground and Striker Indoor Sport Centre in Leeming, with new umpires being put through their paces in the indoor training centre.
During the seminar, umpires were briefed on several aspects of their role, including communication, match, and player management.
They also had the opportunity to learn from two of the states finest, with National Umpire Panel member Nathan Johnstone and WA State Umpire Group member Kate Holloman offering the group valuable advice on how to take their umpiring to the next level.
Aswell as theoretical learnings there was a practical element to the sessions, which included assessing how our umpires handle in-game situations, run out scenarios and assessing wet pitches.
The aim for these sessions was to give umpires an opportunity to develop their mental skills away from the field and arm them with the knowledge that gives them the best chance to succeed on game day.
Keynote speaker, former Perth Wildcat Greg Hire from ‘A Stitch in Time’ discussed wellbeing and mental health for cricket umpires, highlighting the importance of regular exercise, mateship and consciously practising gratitude to grow personal wellness.
Speaking after the event, WA Cricket Umpire Coach and Talent Specialist James Hewitt said:
“The seminar weekend has been attended by the highest number of umpires since well before COVID. It’s been fantastic to see our highest performing umpires in WA sharing their experience and expertise with others in such innovative and practical ways.
‘’The umpires were challenged to take golden nuggets from each presenter to enhance their performances, I am sure they will have hugely benefitted from attending such an enjoyable weekend.”
