100,000 to boost umpiring, refereeing and judging standards in 34 different sports

14/8/98

The State Government is to spend $100,000 to boost umpiring, refereeing and judging standards in 34 different sports.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore said that the grants would help make sure that officiating kept pace with the developing demands of sport at all levels.

Among projects to be funded are equipment to coach basketball referees while they are involved in a game, regional education programs and a full remodelling of the structure of cricket umpiring in Western Australia.

"WA has produced world-class officials in many sports, but we cannot rest on our laurels," Mr Moore said.

"We are taking long-term action to maintain and improve standards where necessary.

"In some cases this means using new technology to help officials and in others it means better training and easier access to top-class training in regional areas."

The Minister said sports to benefit from the grants were:

Athletics -- $5,000 for communications equipment; baseball -- $4,000 for umpire education in all country centres; basketball -- $1,600 to support video and radio training aids and lectures; cricket -- $5,000 to help with State Strategic Plan for Umpiring; equestrian dressage -- $2,000 for volunteers training program; equestrian saddle horse -- $1,500 for judges and officials development weekend; football -- $5,000 for regional umpiring managers' program and umpire coach accreditation; gymnastics -- $3,275 for development education and mentors; hockey -- $2,100 for development of country umpires; ice hockey -- $2,900 for program of excellence; lacrosse -- $3,000 for expansion of referee training; ladies lawn bowls -- $2,000 for meetings and seminars; men's lawn bowls -- $2,000 for umpiring seminars; netball -- $5,000 for country umpire development program; pistol shooting -- $1,500 for updating rule books; polocrosse -- $3,000 for umpiring schools; pony club -- $2,000 for accreditation course; Riding for the Disabled -- $500 for training program; rowing -- $975 for safety training; rugby league -- $1,950 for recruitment program; rugby union -- $3,000 for provision of training course material; soccer -- $5,000 for seminars, country exams and upgrades and a referee talent acceleration program; softball -- $2,700 for exams, professional development and clinics; squash -- $2,750 for courses and seminars; surf life saving -- $3,200 for accreditation courses and computerised equipment; surfing -- $2,000 to buy computer equipment; swimming -- $5000 for regional officiating courses; touch -- $5,000 for technical workshops; triathlon -- $2,500 for accreditation courses; underwater hockey -- $2,500 for referees courses; women's hockey -- $2,750 for senior and regional umpiring development; women's lacrosse -- $1,000 for officiating clinics; yachting -- $5,000 for national accreditation course.

Media contacts: Bob Figg, Ministry of Sport and Recreation, 08 9387 9749

Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, 08 9 321 1444