AFL Umpire Diversity Academy

Throughout Term 3 students from across different year levels have come together to participate in the AFL Umpire Diversity Academy, which runs at Shepparton High School through a partnership with AFL Goulburn Murray and the Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association (GVFUA).

The program has concentrated on exposing all students to the game of AFL and how to officiate the game as a boundary and goal umpire. Not only did students improve on a range of skills including boundary throw-ins, flag waving, signalling, positioning and whistle blowing, but also communication skills, teamwork and problem solving, in match-like conditions.

Both Xhovana Mulla and Sharna Sheehey, officiated their first-ever match at the end of the program in a game played at Murchison (in very cold & wintery conditions).

Both girls also featured in the Shepparton News earlier this term, as they have been invited to officiate in the AFL Girls Diversity Championships to be held at Deakin Reserve in the September school holidays.

Thank you to all involved including Mark Lambourn (AFL Goulburn Murray), Dan Napolitano (SHS Sports Coordinator) and our coaches from the GVFUA – Brett Hancock, Charlie Zampaglione, James McLeod and Sam Wood.

Students who participated – Arielle Sutherland, Mohsin Haidari, Mohamad (Bashir) Hashimi, Mahdi Aloachey, Xhovana Mulla, Sharna Sheehey, David Ryan and Lochlan Hodgson.

Ben Murphy

Health & PE Domain Leader

Main image provided by Shepp News  (l – r): Victoria Sports Minister John Eren, Sharna Sheehey, Xhovana Mulla and Shepparton Mayor Dinny Adem, launching the AFL Girls Diversity National Championships at Deakin Reserve.

Above – Umpire Div Team

 (l – r): Bashir Hashimi, Mohsin Haidari, Brett Hancock, Mahdi ‘Elvis’ Aloachey, Arielle Sutherland, Xhovana Mulla, Sharna Sheehey and Charlie Zampaglione.