Ninety first year umpires and mentors, as well as participants of the Junior District Talent Squads, were recognised for their efforts at the 2010 Umpire Mentoring Program and JDTS Awards, held at Patersons Stadium.

The AFL’s Umpire Mentoring Program (Green Shirts) is an umpire education and development program that aims to use experienced umpires to mentor new and inexperienced umpires during the early stages of their development.

The program takes in new umpires and places them with a mentor within the umpiring group who is there to give feedback and advice to the new umpire.

In the nine Junior Metropolitan Districts in 2010, there were 249 umpires in the program, with 50 mentors assisting their transition into umpiring.

“The Umpire Mentoring Program is our most vital development program for umpires, as it helps to build better game day environments for our new umpires,” said Junior Community Umpire Manager Paul Pitchers.

“The opportunity to recognise these umpires for taking up umpiring, as well as thanking the mentors for their role, we hope helps to retain these people in our great game.”

The DDFUA Development Squad was well represented at this event with nine umpires and their parents attending. They were each presented with a certificate and small gift from the WAFC in recognition of their completion of the Green Shirt program. They also enjoyed the opportunity to walk out onto Patersons Stadium and have their photo taken with the other Green Shirt umpires from across the Junior Metropolitan Districts.