FOOTBALL leagues around the State will celebrate ‘Umpiring Is Everyone’s Business’ this weekend.
And, taken literally, it is the business of everyone involved in the game. Umpires are intrinsic to our great game: no umpires, no game.
Umpires deserve our recognition, respect and appreciation every week. They do a wonderful job controlling a game where the skill and speed continually increase as do the demands on umpires.
Just like footballers, umpires are dedicated athletes whose preparation and passion for the game is unwavering.
This weekend coaches are encouraged to shake hands with the umpires prior to each game, just like the players shake hands at the end of each match.
Below is an article that will appear in this weekend's record:
UMPIRE and football scouts are no different – they’re both after athletes.
Long gone is the image of the rotund, short guy decked out in white adjudicating the game from ever diminishing circles near the centre of the ground.
Just like footballers, umpires must be elite athletes. The frenetic speed of the game demands it.
AFL Victoria State League Umpiring Manager Kevin Mitchell noted that athleticism was a non-negotiable for umpires.
Mitchell said one of the first considerations for fledgling umpires is their fitness – can they cope with the ever-increasing physical demands to handle State League football and TAC Cup?
As the game prepares to celebrate ‘Umpiring Is Everyone’s Business’ this weekend, Mitchell noted the challenges are considerable for umpires, but the rewards are tangible.
“They have to be real athletes now to handle it all and progress. It is not an easy thing,” Mitchell said.
And, just like footballers, pre-season training is long, testing and challenging.
Each October umpires receive a document which outlines what is expected from them in terms of fitness bench marks – minimum skin folds. For field umpires it is 85 millimeters; boundary umpires (80) and goal umpires (100).
Umpires have a training program to do on-line and from early January they train at Victoria Park where there is a four kilometer trial and five one kilometer repetitive test and what’s called the yo-yo test, similar to the beep test.
All have bench marks that the umpires need to achieve and if they trial satisfactorily they are placed on the AFL Victoria VFL Development panel list. It comprises 26 field umpires, 21 boundary umpires and 12 goal umpires.
The next step is the AFL Victoria VFL senior panel where there are 25 field umpires, 28 boundary and 16 goal umpires.
Mitchell said umpires, just like aspiring footballers, can see a clear pathway for them to advance to the game’s elite level.
He said there are benchmarks in terms of fitness and skin folds that umpires need to obtain to remain on the VFL panel.
“The opportunity is there for them to progress to the AFL,” he said.
“We are about preparing umpires to really get the best out of themselves, but also to go to the AFL. Some have to make way for others if they can’t progress.
“It’s a tough gig, but it’s nice to see that blokes can turn themselves around and reach milestones or progress to the AFL”
The average age on the senior panel for field umpires is 25 while it’s 20 on the Development list; boundary umpires 23 (senior list), 19 (development) and 28 for goal umpires, 21 (development).
Since 2008 there have been 11 field umpires, 12 boundary umpires and five goal umpires who’ve graduated from the VFL to AFL.
Included in the field umpires who have made the transition is latest addition Tristian Burgess, ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain, Michael Vozzo, Chris Donlon and Heath Ryan.
Burgess, who officiated in three TAC Cup Grand Finals and was emergency for last year’s VFL Grand Final, progressed this March from the VFL ranks to the AFL while goal umpire Michael Palm was also promoted, the first goal umpire in several years to advance.
An extra VFL game each week this season has provided an additional challenge to the depth of the umpire’s ranks, but Mitchell said the upside was that it is providing opportunity and therefore exposure to emerging umpires.
“So far the young umpires have done okay,” Mitchell said.
“They lack experience, but like everything else they go through the process and learn.”
Thankfully, acceptance of umpires at all levels of the game is high, but Mitchell noted there is always going to be angst directed to umpires from players, coaches and especially fans.
“It’s been going on for 100 years. That culture is never going to change, but generally overall that culture has improved,” Mitchell said.
“I think that is a positive. In the heat of the battle sometimes it is easier to blame others than yourself.
“Umpires understand that. Look, we’re not perfect, we make errors. It is the nature of the game.
“You have 36 guys on the football field. Umpires have to work hard athletically; they have to make the best possible position to see things.
“A player might just move in front of you at a vital moment where something might happen and the umpire may miss it.
“That’s life, that’s football. It has been going on for 100 years and will go on for the next 100.”
Umpires, like footballers, continually face challenges along their pathway.
Mitchell said umpiring TAC Cup and State Development League games is a significant step up from community or country league football.
He added umpires are under scrutiny not just from fans, coaches and players, but from within. Their progress is tracked and assessed every week.
On average umpires spend about three years on the Development panel.
“If they can’t progress their career to our senior panel then they would go back to local footy. Some might come back for a second try out, others will stay umpiring local footy,” Mitchell said
Umpires are observed every week, video-tracked and all their free kicks are recorded by Champion Data with analysis sent to them.
It’s all about being the best you can possibly be, no different really from any other elite sportsperson.
Last Modified on 03/05/2013 16:25