ITF Scotland Umpire Course Report

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ITF Scotland Umpire Course Report

by admin February 28, 2014

ITF Scotland held their first National Umpire Course on Sunday 23rd February. The course was delivered by the ITF Scotland Umpire Committee of Master Gordon Wallace (VII Degree), Mr David McNairn (VI Degree), Mr Mark Boydell (V Degree) and Mr David Lupton (V Degree),and hosted by Tournament Committee members Mr John McIlvaney (V Degree) and Mrs Gillian McIlvaney (IV Degree) at their GMAC gym in Livingston.

67 participants took part from across Scotland, with 18 of those attending from GMAC schools.

The course started with an introduction to the ITFS Tournament Rules for 2014 by Master Wallace, who was happy to discuss the changes and answer any questions the participants had. He then moved on to cover Pattern competition judging, as well as some discussions on team pattern. Mr McNairn explained the changes to Sparring competition rules prior to lunch, with a more practical session after lunch involving all participants, giving everyone the opportunity to practise umpiring in scenarios (there was some super acting on some of the participants parts, to show the use of warnings and minus points…Miss McGown…Mrs Dickson?!). Mr Lupton moved the core forward to the points sparring section, for our junior competitors. The course culminated in Power and Special Technique umpiring shown by Mr Boydell.

This was the first umpires course prior to the ITF Scotland National Championships to be held in April. We look forward to putting these new skills into practise in time for the 2014 competition season.

Congratulations to the following GMAC participants;

1. Mr John McIlvaney

2. Mrs Gillian McIlvaney

3. Mr Arthur Doyle

4. Miss Roxanne McGown

5. Mr John Munro

6. Ms Myra Foster

7. Mr Iain Stewart

8. Mrs Kerris Dickson

9. Mr Christopher Dickson

10. Mr Michael Murray

11. Mr Aaron Walker