UMPIRE'S CORNER

Umpiring at TEM

It takes courage, skill, knowledge, confidence, decision making ability and communication skills to umpire.  We recognise that just like playing hockey these skills need to be learned and practised to become proficient. 

Please help to ensure that umpires and officials are treated with respect and encouragement by players, coaches and spectators at all times. Umpires are often appointed for development purposes, or may have limited experience but are willing to help out. Your support is sought to help make the experience a positive one for that umpire and the umpire in turn will have undertaken to do the best job possible. 

Let the umpire coordinator know of any issues, no matter how big or small, including behavioural issues from officials, players or spectators. Feedback is welcome as it provides an opportunity to work things through and address issues straight away.

Try not to discuss your concerns with umpires during or after the game, at this time thanks and positive reinforcement is all that is appropriate. Any issue should be raised with a mentor or umpire coordinator so it can be followed up as part of a debrief session.

UMPIRE MENTORS

One of the ways we're working on building ability and skills and attracting young umpires is to provide mentors to work with those less experienced.  Our mentors are strong and respected role models in our club:

• Annabel Kennedy (Umpire Coordinator U14s, U16s)
• Isabel Wright
• Pip Dudley (Umpire Coordinator U12s, Seniors and Masters)
• Jen Eager
• Joe Connell
• Leesa Needham
• Philip Kennedy (Accreditation, education)

We're especially proud and fortunate to have Isabel and Annabel on board as they have progressed to the elite level and umpire Premier League matches every week (as well as backing up and playing for their team Women Premier League Reserves!).

LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT

We have a group of beginner umpires who umpire U10 and U12 matches and during the season will be able to complete their Community Umpire accreditation.

There is another group of umpires that umpire U14 and U16 juniors on Friday nights, and many of them are progressing to lower grade Seniors and Masters. 

We also have an incredibly important group of resilient senior players who are happy to umpire and help out with the senior and masters roster. Some are keen to keep developing, help and assistance is on hand if this is you, but if you don't wish to progress that's also perfectly OK. 

NEWCOMERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME to any of these groups. If you would like to try umpiring, please contact any of the mentors and we'll get you started off at a suitable level.

ACCREDITATION

Umpires are encouraged and assisted to obtain Community, Level 1, Level 2 or Umpire Coach accreditation.  A Level 1 accreditation provides a good foundation to pursue hockey umpiring including lower levels of senior hockey, and tournaments such as the Junior State Championships and Junior Country Championships. 

As a commitment to umpire and coach education, TEM reimburses all our officials for any education and accreditation expenses. If you have any questions about umpire accreditation, please contact Philip Kennedy on 0413 778 138.

So here are our TEM umpires! Please congratulate them and thank them when you next see them as they greatly contribute to making hockey a safe and enjoyable experience for all our hockey community.