Language
Remember that swearing is unacceptable in Junior Footy. Stamp it out quickly – warn them, apply 25 metre penalties and if they continue, use your yellow card to send them off for ten minutes. They will get the message.
Don’t retaliate by swearing back or arguing with them. Nor speak normally using swearing in your words. It is a two-way street with respect and decency going both ways.
Similarly, if you hear it from the bench or spectators, get the Team manager to have the Ground Marshall stop it. If it continues from the bench - award frees and 25 metre penalties against them.
If it is aimed at you and it continues after you have warned them, you have the right to report the player or the official, but you must know who it was, what they said, when they said it and the volume (shouting etc). Write it down. This is easy to prove at the Tribunal and the club will get the message.
There is no reason to swear nor to be disrespectful to umpires, officials or players. This is Junior football.
Communication
Following the bad language, umpires in Junior Football need to communicate – verbally and by signalling. This way the players know.
More importantly, the spectators and the coaches/team managers know. If they know what is happening, then they can’t complain. If they ask you a question, answer it in a normal manner – don’t ignore nor be rude. You don’t have to agree with their comments, but you can explain your position and how you see things. This helps build a good relationship between umpire and player/official.
Blocking and Shepherding in U6-8 competitions
Just to clarify that there is NO blocking or shepherding or smothering in the U6-8 competitions. This is a competition for players to learn the skills and have fun. Make sure the opposition players are at least a couple of metres away from the player with the ball. The coaches should know this too and also keep their players away.
Ray Austin
Mark Barnett
Simon Johnson
8/7/16
Off The Ball Incidents and Eyes in the Back of Your Head
One of the most common complaints from Coaches and team managers is the ‘off the ball’ incidents whether it be in front of the umpire, at the side or the most popular one, behind the umpire.
Contrary to what they believe, you do not have your mother’s eyes in the back of your head, so the behind incidents are hard to see.
Those to the side of play or not in the general vicinity are easier to see and reward free kicks, calm the players down and even send-off (or report). These are the players that are clearly not going for the ball. This is our CONTROL of the game.
The gentle holding, pushing, bumping occurs quite a bit and it is used to ‘rattle’ the better players or the opponent. Just tell them to ‘cut it out’ and play the ball. If it gets worse with wrestling and ‘gentle’ hitting, then start giving frees where the ball is or at the point, whichever the greater penalty. They will soon stop it. It is a matter of discipline - coaches should also be doing it instead of complaining.
The wrestling on the ground type incidents where it has gone ‘just that bit too far’, then send them both off to ‘cool down’ – TEN MINUTES OFF with NO REPLACEMENT. Anything more serious – the red card for a report and they are off for the rest of the game – NO REPLACEMENT at all.
The idea is not to get to the Red Card.
The non-controlling umpire should always look around the ground to see if anything else is happening and for those experienced there is a ‘feel in the game’ – this is one way for you younger umpires to start developing that ‘feel’ experience.
Racial ‘Slurs’ and “Adults on the Field’
If you hear any ‘racial’ or ‘sexist’ remarks aimed at players or yourself report the player/official and send them off. This is not to be tolerated. It is not a yellow card but a RED card.
A couple of incidents where adults have entered the field (whether officials or not) have occurred and they have either ‘manhandled’ kids (players) or each other. This is not on. Report them and replace them if they are Runners or Boundary Umpires. Phone Annette after the game as there will be a Tribunal or Investigation.
Reports and other ‘incidents’
If you need to fill out the comments about the game, coach, spectators etc then do so and give the yellow and green copies to the team managers as usual. You can give me a quick text or email about it (or call if I am available) and we can proceed from there.
If there is a report, keep the White Copy (put you name on the form under the report) and all paperwork (for the Tribunal – if no tribunal, then post them in) – the REPORTING Umpire fills out the Report. Give the Yellow and Green copies to the Team Managers as usual. Phone Annette. There may be a Tribunal or they may take the prescribed penalty; we can decide that based on the incident severity.
Finally, if you are to go to the Tribunal, look at the Handbook pages (on the website under Umpires – Resources) about notes etc (or ring Mark) plus when there, use DESCRIPTIVE words NOT EMOTIONAL ones as a Coach (who is a policeman) used and so the facts were buried in this and were not helpful. The Tribunal deals in facts as you see it.
Ray Austin
Mark Barnett
Simon Johnson
24/6/16
Deliberate Out of Bounds
We DO NOT use the AFL interpretation that you see on the TV each week.
We DO NOT use the SANFL harsher ‘last kick out’ either.
We use the ‘normal’ interpretation of DELIBERATE out of bounds where you have no doubt the player looked at the line and hit the ball out or carried it over. You would probably use this once every twenty games if you are lucky.
For U6-10 where there are no boundary umpires, we use the last touch free kick, BUT if the player or players have a chance to get the ball, then ball it up – choose the two players closest to the ball. Believe it or not, we have some ‘AFL’ coaches at these levels that will tell their players to do it so they get a free kick so they can win. Not on.
Ball-Ups U6-9
You call a ball-up and the players put up their hands to contest the ruck. Looks like they all want to go to the toilet.
To stop this, pick the two players that have their hands on the ball. They might not be matched in height, but nine times out of ten they will not back out of contesting the ruck. If they do, then choose a player of similar height to the opposition. This will encourage the players to go for the ball because they are rewarded and this is what they want – get the ball.
Wet Weather Football
Some grounds get muddy (eg Modbury, TTG, Hope Valley etc) especially in the centre.
To avoid the ball-up after ball-up after ball-up, quickly blow a free kick as the pack starts to form. There will be one there as the player comes in. Most of these would be ‘too high’ or ‘holding on to the player without the ball’. You give a free kick and watch the players spread. Suddenly the game starts to flow more freely and you then have more of a ‘dry weather’ game instead of a mud wrestle.
Ray Austin
Mark Barnett
Simon Johnson
17/6/16
Deliberate Out of Bounds
We DO NOT use the AFL interpretation that you see on the TV each week.
We DO NOT use the SANFL harsher ‘last kick out’ either.
We use the ‘normal’ interpretation of DELIBERATE out of bounds where you have no doubt the player looked at the line and hit the ball out or carried it over. You would probably use this once every twenty games if you are lucky.
For U6-10 where there are no boundary umpires, we use the last touch free kick, BUT if the player or players have a chance to get the ball, then ball it up – choose the two players closest to the ball. Believe it or not, we have some ‘AFL’ coaches at these levels that will tell their players to do it so they get a free kick so they can win. Not on.
Ball-Ups U6-9
You call a ball-up and the players put up their hands to contest the ruck. Looks like they all want to go to the toilet.
To stop this, pick the two players that have their hands on the ball. They might not be matched in height, but nine times out of ten they will not back out of contesting the ruck. If they do, then choose a player of similar height to the opposition. This will encourage the players to go for the ball because they are rewarded and this is what they want – get the ball.
Wet Weather Football
Some grounds get muddy (eg Modbury, TTG, Hope Valley etc) especially in the centre.
To avoid the ball-up after ball-up after ball-up, quickly blow a free kick as the pack starts to form. There will be one there as the player comes in. Most of these would be ‘too high’ or ‘holding on to the player without the ball’. You give a free kick and watch the players spread. Suddenly the game starts to flow more freely and you then have more of a ‘dry weather’ game instead of a mud wrestle.
Ray Austin
Mark Barnett
Simon Johnson
17/6/16
Tackling
Some thoughts on a very confusing part of our game - the “sling” tackle.
This term has come from somewhere but it is confusing and causes umpires a good deal of problems. There is probably is no such thing as a sling tackle, but you hear the term thrown about too regularly. Perhaps it is the motion of a player being swung around, but this in itself is not a ‘sling’ tackle. The simple act of “slinging” an opponent will not necessarily cause any great harm – it is often controlled and there is no damage to the player being tackled other than a gentle drop to the ground. So we would be far better off discussing “dangerous” tackles.
These include tackles where smaller players are indiscriminately slung in a circle due to a stronger player grabbing a guernsey BUT in doing so aims the player for the ground, using the surface to inflict possible injury.
The trigger for an umpire is often the fact that the tackler also drops to the ground meaning the tackled player will also hit the ground. This is the difference - could the tackle cause possible injury. If so, a free kick should be paid. Far worse is the tackle where a player has their arms pinned and aimed towards the ground, giving the tackled player no chance of softening the blow by putting their arms out to break the fall. Very rarely we see a player have their hips elevated, having their centre of gravity thrown out, and their head/shoulders then aimed towards the ground - this in most cases should be a report.
The most important factor is how the tackled player is “aimed’ in the tackle and if there is any acceleration in the tackle by using the playing surface as a weapon - the player tackled is deliberately taken/thrown into the ground is a dangerous tackle, whether he is "slung” or not.
Mark Barnett
Ray Austin
Simon Johnson
2/6/16
Reminder: Pizza at Training this week (19th May)
Our philosophy that has been put in place for umpire development is by providing our umpires with the basics at training – positioning, whistle, voice, signals and running. We like to structure their progress over a number of years.
Umpires that attend training develop quicker because they are able to be taught more. A lot of umpires also play and they often train the same night as we do with their coaches reluctant to release them for a night yet want better umpiring.
After basic training they should be placed in U11–12 with a mentor to assist them in what they are learning and practising. It also increases their confidence and experience and we can assess them in order to recommend their next step.
With the adapted rule changes in Under 9 and 10, we prefer to give them an understanding of the two umpire system under ‘real’ rules rather than the modified ones. However, allocation to these games will also occur based on the U11-12 games available, umpire availability and mentors.
The next progress is to the U13-14 bracket which is faster and more competitive. Then to the U15-16 ‘testosterone’ level. Again with experienced umpires.
The U6-8 game is modified and the umpire is more a ‘coach’, encouraging players while giving the kids a kick and a catch as they learn the basics. For umpires it is good for their organisational and communication skills (without a smartphone). Therefore, these games are ideally given to older more experienced umpires.
We also like to keep the travelling time down for umpires and the parents that drive them unless it is for two games. We are also mindful of the games umpires actually play and other commitments.
Umpires are not allocated to the game before or after they play – they should be concentrating on the game they are involved in by umpiring or playing and not thinking about the next game whether to umpire or play. The coaches have to prepare for their match and like to have players there beforehand rather than at the siren. If a coach is asking players to be there one and a half hours before the game at this level, then we would like to speak to the coach because he will be umpiring.
Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world, and the structure over the past year was changed with this mix and match due to other circumstances and limited resources.
We are now slowly ‘back-tracking’ so that we can assess and progress umpires while addressing issues as quickly as we can. Again, we have to juggle our limited knowledge of new umpires, restricted number of mentors, game times and umpire availability.
This means that you may not be allocated the games you want; some may get extra one week so that what they have learnt can be reinforced over a couple of games and others may not get a game for a week.
There are always pull-outs, so we have to replace them based on location, ability and availability.
Patience is a virtue and essential in an umpire.
Please bear with us over the next few weeks as things settle.
The Umpire coordinator role has changed as of 9/5/2016
Ray Austin
nemjfaumps@gmai.com
0419 868 118
Please contact Ray with any queries or issues
This year we are using Schedula system to schedule Umpire appointments - part of that means you need to register online
Please click on this link below and it will take you to the registration page
https://reg.sportingpulse.com/regoform.cgi?aID=7430&pKey=ccff98cbc12a6ac194351558df693dfc&cID=20206&formID=37437
Anyone who needs assistance or does not have access to be able to set this up will need to contact Ray Austin or Annette Cooper 0401 907 955 for assistance.
Setting up system
- All umpires registered online
- Umpires will receive an email with confirmation to schedula system
- Umpires need to set their availability in the system - resources will be sent to you showing you what you need to do
- Program for games is set up by NEMJFA
- schedula will sync with the NEMJFA program
- Umpire appointments will be scheduled and notified through schedula
- Backup a bulk email of appointments from schedula will be emailed
- a copy of the appointments will be uploaded to the website
- Umpire facebook will be updated
As you may be aware, I have now taken over the Umpire’s Supervisor position with NEMJFA.
We have set up this message board in the NEMJFA website so that general messages/concerns can be quickly communicated to everyone involved with NEMJFA, so please get into the habit of looking here each week. It is a one-way general communication to you.
More detailed communication will be by email and at training.
Appointments will be sent out by Wednesday and need to be confirmed asap. This may be by Schedula and/or email. A full list will be on the website Fridays under Umpires.
Any changes to weekend appointments (we make or you want to make) from Friday morning onwards must be communicated by text or phone (quick two-way communication) though you may not get an immediate response as I don’t sit on the phone waiting for you to call. This is for emergency changes (eg injury, sickness) NOT for things you know about earlier in the week.
Phone me first 0419 868 118 or Mark Barnett 0437 299 681 or Simon Johnson 0433 109 331. We will be talking to each other so you will get a reply. We will coordinate the changes, so don’t go swapping unless we ratify it – there are other influencing factors that you may not know.
Emails and Facebook are not looked at as regularly so you won’t get a response.
Best player votes are to be emailed to nemjfaumps@gmail.com or texted to me by Sunday night. Just need Game, Player Number and Team.
Red carded players – Reports – are to be texted or phoned to Annette.
Paperwork to be posted Sunday or Monday at the latest.
Thanks
Ray Austin
9th May 2016
