V/Line and the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL)
V/Line
has been a major sponsor of the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) since
2004.
Our
sponsorship focuses on regional Victorian youth and junior footballer and
umpire development. Our sponsorship includes the following programs:
·
V/Line Cup (Under 15’s Championships)
·
V/Line Junior Carnivals
·
V/Line Life Training program
·
V/Line Umpire Development, including:
o
V/Line Umpire Academies and
o
V/Line Umpire Development Program
In
2009, we are continuing our work with the VCFL and are again sponsoring a broad
range of football and life skills-related programs to engage the youth of
regional Victoria and strengthen our commitment to communities across the
state.
All
VCFL registered players and officials are entitled to a VCFL 10% discount on off peak
V/Line train and coach services across Victoria.
V/Line Cup
The V/Line Cup competition has been providing
pathway for rising stars from country Vic to the AFL since 1949.
Players can go on to be selected in the under
18’s TAC Cup and then possibly drafted to the AFL. It is the elite under 15’s
VCFL championship for the top junior VCFL players.
Played in Melbourne over 3 days, it’s a ‘round
robin’ style competition with over 500 competitors across four divisions.
2008 winners of the V/Line Cup (previous winners):
- Division 1 – Ballarat
- Division 2 – Hampden
- Division 3 – A.C.T.
- Division 4 – Dandenong Ranges
Team of the
V/Line Cup
The
Team of the V/Line Cup is the players to keep
your eyes on in the future.
V/Line
Junior Carnivals and V/Line Life Training
During
2008 there were 13 V/Line Junior carnivals across the state.
At
each carnival, players participated in a V/Line Life Training session. Life
Training aims to educate players about the importance of making positive
choices in life and focus on areas such as diet, obesity, alcohol, drugs,
isolation, depression and suicide.
Each
session is facilitates delivered by former and current AFL stars. Kangaroos
star forward Nathan Thompson is the program’s
ambassador. Nathan grew up in country Victoria, and his struggle with
depression allows him to talk candidly with the participants about the
challenges he faced during his AFL journey.
If
you would like more information about this program or you know a team or
community group who would benefit from some life training, we encourage you to contact us.
V/Line
Umpire Development
V/Line Umpire Development program (dates TBC)
This
program gives a selection of young umpires from across Victoria s a taste of
what’s it’s like to be an AFL umpire. The Umpiring Associations nominate young
umpires to attend a four day ‘camp’ in Melbourne. The umpires participate
in a range of activities including:
- Attending AFL umpire training
- Visiting an AFL club
- Attending a development session with key
representatives from the AFL Umpiring Department
- Attending a V/Line Life Training session
- Working at the Salvation Army Outreach Centre serving
breakfast;
- Taking a tour of the MCG; and
- Attending an AFL game and umpiring the NAB Auskick
Grid Game at half time.
V/Line Umpire Academies
Over
200 aspiring umpires have been nominated to participate in the 2008/09 Umpire
Academies, similar to the V/Line Cup, this program is designed as a platform
for launching umpire careers with the AFL.
These
young developing and some more mature ‘elite’ umpires from across the state
participate in an intense umpire training and education program across the
summer months.
The
Academies assist umpires to develop their skills with the aim of officiating at
more senior games including the V/Line Cup and the Australia Country Football
Championships
V/Line Umpire
Academies
|
DATE
|
LOCATION
|
UMPIRE
GROUPS
|
|
Mon
24 Nov
|
Weeroona
Oval, Bendigo
|
Bendigo, Central Murray, Rochester /Echuca
|
|
Tue
25 Nov
|
Kardinia Park, Geelong
|
Geelong, Colac, Ballarat
|
|
Thu
27 Nov
|
Benalla
All Black FNC, Benalla
|
Goulburn Valley, North East Umpires
|
|
Tue
2 Dec
|
Stephensons Park, Sale
|
E.
Gippsland, Sale, Latrobe, Sth Gippsland
|
|
Wed
3 Dec
|
Shepley
Oval, Dandenong
|
Southern,
Yarra Ranges
|
|
Thu
4 Dec
|
Melville
Oval, Hamilton
|
W.
Districts, Warrnambool, North Central
|
Additional
dates will be announced in early 2009.