At ACPE our students don’t only learn the theory of their academic units, they also get to learn from industry experts, gain qualifications, and apply what they have learnt.
For example, in Semester 1 the Bachelor of Sports Coaching students will be learning from Ben Williams. Ben is the former A-League, FIFA World Cup, and Olympic Football referee, and supports ACPE sports coaching students to develop their understanding of officiating at community and elite level.
Ben is looking forward to working with the ACPE students again and had the following to say about the PER1205 Officiating unit.
“It is a fantastic initiative from ACPE to include the Officiating Unit in the Sports Coaching degree. It is imperative that we as a sporting country, learn more about all aspects of our respective sports. By furthering our education, understanding and empathy for the varying roles that makes sport a passion for so many, we can learn to augment not only our own role, but enhance the whole of sport experience for all – athletes, coaches, officials and the viewing public. The links between coaching and officiating are many, and rather than focus on the differences between the roles, we should seek to build upon the strengths of the similarities”.
Having taken the officiating unit last year, sports coaching student Lindsay Elliot has begun a refereeing pathway alongside his coaching one. Having been tutored by NRL referee Gavin Badger, Lindsay will be working with Penrith Referees Association and one day hopes to referee professionally. Commenting on PER1205 Lindsay said
“From my experiences within the unit, I am now more aware about how it takes physical, psychological, emotional strength as well as passion and drive to succeed within officiating. I now hope to grow in Rugby League as a match official. To me, match officials are also athletes who constantly need to train to meet the demands of the game.”
Find out more about ACPE Sports Coaching degrees here
