Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce the relaunch of its Youth Referee Academy for 2022-23 to better fast track the development of the state’s most promising young match officials.
The inaugural 34 referees selected for the academy come from all seven NNSWF member zones. They will work with experienced referee coaches across a two-year program which will focus on their technical, professional and physical development.
NNSWF Referee Manager Brad Carlin and experienced match official and instructor Alison Macready will oversee the individualised training and guidance given to the young referees.
Referees are more likely to be retained if they receive regular feedback on their performances and coaching on how to improve. Referees also need an understanding of the pathway to advance to officiating at a higher level of football.
Carlin is confident the academy will deliver in this regard.
“Young referees need to know the development pathway to the top. The more support and aspirational goals we can give to our referees the better chance we have of keeping them in the game,” Carlin said.
“NNSWF has produced some outstanding match officials in the past and we not only want to continue that tradition but expand on it.
“I am excited by the relaunch of the academy and to it providing a really vibrant, supportive and educational network for our young match officials from right across the state.”
The first meeting of the academy referees and coaches will be held virtually on Sunday. It is planned for them to meet in person for networking and training at the NNSWF State Referee Conference in Newcastle in early February.
NNSWF Youth Referee Academy 2022-23
Football Far North Coast
Lily Dzendolet
Olivia Flannery
Amalia Jobson
Kiara Jobson
Calum Kirkpatrick
Cooper McLean
Jamai O’Malley
Football Mid North Coast
Tianna Colwell
Ethan Cornell
Toby Hall
Kalan Steber
Sam Stewart
Sam Thornton-Collins
Tom Watson
Hunter Valley Football
Isaac Haggarty
Macquarie Football
Sam Donald (also NNSWF)
Jack Moen
Lucas Stace (also NNSWF)
Cory Vizintin
Newcastle Football
Tim Hamilton
North Coast Football
Jarod Baxter
Celeste Cameron
Kori Eaton (also FFNC)
Northern Inland
James Sweeney
Hamish Wallace
Northern NSW Football
James Clark
Arion Doumis
Rory Hersee
Callum Hewitt
Lucy Hungerford
Nathan King
Caleb Low
Paddy Robertson
Erin Tucker
