Sixth form student umpires for England Hockey
Sixth form student umpires for England Hockey
When Mia Dewing is not studying her first year of A-levels in History, Psychology and BTEC Physical Education at Bourne Academy Sixth Form, she has been leading the way as a Young Umpire for England Hockey.
She has already started the new year by officiating matches at Warwick University for the Women’s Elite Development Programme Assessment Camp, which selects players for the GB/England International squads.
The opportunity first started when she was playing for Spalding Hockey Club and volunteered to umpire in a friendly tournament. One thing led to another and after being supported by Lincolnshire Hockey Umpires’ Association to gain a level 2 umpiring qualification in 2019, she then progressed through the England Hockey Young Umpire programme and working towards the National Young Umpires Promising List (NYUPL) award.
Mia Dewing (centre) playing for Spalding Hockey Club 1st XI Ladies
Through this national programme she has been able to fast track her way through the ranks and has umpired many school games, national finals and now recently been part of the selection camps for the full international squad.
Next month, Mia will be at Lilleshall National Sports Centre as she has been selected to umpire for the England Under 16 / Under 18 days.
She is managing to do this alongside playing for Spalding Hockey Club 1st XI Ladies who are currently top of East Women’s Division 2 North West and on target for promotion as they are 10 points clear.
Mia’s target for the future will hopefully be to umpire Nationally and Internationally. You never know, we could see Mia umpiring in a future Olympics Games where GB Women’s national hockey team have been so successful in the last decade.
Mia Dewing (centre) with fellow Young Umpires on England duty