Story Courtesy of Alan Porter, President Devon County HUA.

The Devon Hockey Umpires’ Association (DHUA) is really excited to report that it has received an Awards for All grant of £8,050.00. Awards for All England is supported by the Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. This grant will allow the Association to continue with the Reinvigorating Devon Umpiring success story that is now in its fourth year.

The projects that will receive financial assistance within Devon umpiring are:

1. Running Young Umpire/Preliminary Umpire/Level One Umpire Award courses. Work with clubs and schools to develop umpires of all ages to undertake the awards and link them in festivals to develop confidence in line with the England Hockey Single System.

2. Run Level One/Two Umpire Coaching Courses - to enable more voluntary tutors to run courses and assess new umpires.

3. Mentor/Coach Umpires - this is vital if new umpires are to become confident to continue and develop. The Association needs more voluntary mentors who can provide the guidance and support to new umpires of all ages in all communities.

4. Set up a Young Umpire Forum to oversee and support the development of young umpires linking schools to clubs.

5. Work towards Sport England target to encourage women by increasing activity.

An action plan has been drawn up that will be introduced to Devon umpire members at a special umpire forum meeting in the new hockey season. Plus a Devon Young Umpire Action Group (DYUAG) has been set up with its own action plan, and is being enthusiastically promoted by Devon’s Young Umpire Coordinator and DYUAG Chair, Julia Gill, who has just returned from the Beijing Olympics.

Umpire course dates have been set and these are open for anyone interested in becoming a hockey umpire regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or religion. The dates below are listed on the Devon Hockey Website at www.devonhockey.net:

Sunday, 14 September 2008 Plymouth – Full Day

Sunday, 19 October 2008 Exeter – Full Day

Friday, 7 and 14 November 2008 Torquay – Split Course

Sunday, 18 January 2009 North Devon – Full Day

Sunday, 3 May 2009 Exeter and Plymouth – Full Day

For further information please visit www.devonhockey.net or contact Alan Porter, DHUA President, on 07736 312190 or presidentdchua@thewillcentre.com

---

For a list of Sport Specific Courses available please visit the booking courses area of the Active Devon Website by clicking here.