Over 100 attendees gathered in Cookstown for the first Officials Learning Event organised by the Northern Ireland Officials Forum.
The Northern Ireland Officials Forum is made up of nine governing bodies and Sport NI to discuss opportunities, share learnings and challenges in the world of officiating.
The learning event featured a range of guest speakers, a female official’s panel discussion and three workshops.
Mike Riley (Irish FA), Sean Hurson (Ulster GAA) and Dr Noel Brick (Ulster University) all delivered talks with Clare Dowdall of Sport Ireland hosting a conversation with Louise Thompson (Irish FA), Glenda Mellon (Ulster Rugby) and Joy Alexander (Athletics NI) on their experiences and encouragements to other female officials.
Three workshops were delivered during the evening by Eoin McNicholl (Ulster GAA) on Sports Science, Stephen Maxwell (Cricket Ireland) on Self Care and Richard Kerr (Ulster Rugby) on awareness.
Sport NI People Development Manager, Alan Curran said: “We’re working in partnership with our Northern Ireland Officials Forum at how we can develop positive opportunities around officials learning and development.
“We have been working so closely with our governing bodies and therefore been able to use their expertise and understanding of the challenges for them to identify people from within their own sports to come and share their stories. This is only the start of supporting officials.”
One attendee was Holly Cox from the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees.She shared what learnings she will be taking away: “I came tonight as an opportunity to meet other match officials and I got that by meeting people from GAA, swimming, athletics, football.
“The workshop on self-care was important, discussing how we reflect and identify where we need to take care of ourselves and how we do that.”
Special thanks to our partners within the Northern Ireland Officials Forum, Athletics NI, Irish FA, Ulster GAA, Ulster Rugby, Swim Ulster, Cricket Ireland, Disability Sport NI, RYA NI and Ulster Hockey for arranging the evening.
