The Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) under the auspices of the International Hockey Federation and the African Hockey Federation will host the cream of the country?s and neighbours Nigeria?s umpires and umpires? trainers in a 3-day development workshop in Accra from April 6-9 2006. The workshop is part of an FIH project and is jointly organised by the Umpiring Committee and the Development and Coaching Committee of the Federation under the World Hockey Umpiring Boost (WHUB) programme.

The objective is to help as many National Associations as possible to encourage, promote and develop Umpiring in their own country. In the long term, the programme focuses on addressing the worldwide shortage of umpires and the requirement to maintain an improvement in umpiring standards.

The FIH Umpiring Committee approved some funding for the workshop with the GHA co-funding aspects of the programme by courtesy of support under the GHA/Scancom sponsorship.

The FIH appointed course conductor will be South African international Umpires? Manager Dennis Perkins who will be assisted by AfHF international Umpires? Manager Professor Ediga Agbo of Nigeria and Ghana?s male FIH umpire Richmond Attipoe. Richard Akpokavie, member of the FIH?s DCC and Vice Chairman of the GHA will lead the GHA team in coordinating the workshop.

According to the coordinator, the schedule drawn would include an introductory and familiarization session during the evening of Thursday April 6. On Friday April 7th, Participants will have a full day?s session and would have a practical session using a competitive match situation at the National Hockey Pitch. On Saturday, the participants will be the main attraction during the Greater Accra Hockey Association?s Areeba Hockey Gala which will usher in the new season. A wrap-up session is slated for Sunday after another practical assessment exercise at the National Hockey Pitch.

The hosting of the workshop offers Ghana the unique opportunity to expose its umpiring talents and to offer an opportunity to those have a vast experience in the field of umpiring to develop their skills and knowledge as trainers and managers of young umpires. It also offers the country?s 2 FIH umpires the opportunity to share their experiences with their colleagues in the sub-region.