1 Birmingham Counties Hockey Umpiring Association How Can You Improve Your Umpiring? Presented by John Litchfield NHL Level 3 Umpire Coach and Chairman of Midlands RYUAG

2 To improve your umpiring what are the two main skills you need to work on and develop……?  Reading the Game  Managing the Game

3 Overview To discuss “Reading the Game” To discuss “Managing the game” To discuss the “Control Ladder ”

4 Reading The Game What do we mean by “Reading the Game”? STAGE 1 AWARENESS

5 Reading The Game What do we mean by “Reading the Game”? AWARNESS of everything going on - off & on the pitch. Understanding what the players are trying to do. Be able to recognise formations and patterns of play. Be able to Anticipate where the ball will go next. Recognise Skill and the tactics to negate Skill. Differentiate between poor technique and Breaking Down of Play.

6 Reading The Game How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?” Awareness Play Hockey yourself ! Train with a Club. Talk to Players after the game. Ask them what really happened? Watch more experienced umpires. Umpire with a Good umpire and see whether you read incidents the same. Build up your experience. Watch games in a higher league than yours.

7 Reading The Game When Preparing to Umpire – Think about: Where are these two sides in the League? Is it a Local Derby? What happened when they played each other before? Are the sides Skilful or Physical? Does either side have any “Hockey Characters” you need to watch? What playing formation do they both use?

8 Reading The Game How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?” STAGE 2 RECOGNITION

9 Reading The Game How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?” Recognition - Ask yourself: Could I see clearly? Was I in the right place? Have I adapted my game to umpire the “Self Pass” changes – particularly 5 metres & Breaking Down ? Did I misunderstand that incident? Am I reading the players’ BODY LANGUAGE? Did I identify what happened there correctly?

10 Reading The Game How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?” Recognition - Ask yourself: The incident happened so quickly! Am I up to speed for this game? Had I stopped concentrating? Do I need more experience at this level? As the Game went on, were there any changes to the players’ Body Language. Did I recognise them?

11 Reading The Game How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?” Know when to move on to:- STAGE 3 ACTION

12 Reading The Game STAGE 3 The final stage of Reading the Game is deciding when to take Action and which Sanction to apply. The Timing must be right Let us now move on to “Managing the Game”

13 Managing The Game Do you Plan how you are going to Manage the game with your partner? Do you have a check list of topics to discuss? Please write down the things you consider with your partner when formulating your Game Plan

14 In the first question, several of you answered Control as one of your 2 priorities. Control is a major part of Managing the Game but consider - Something has to happen for you to be able to control it. Control mainly consists of re-active tools to try and stop a breach of the rules happening again. Please think first about Prevention. Can you Manage the game better to stop the breach happening in the first place? Try to be pro-active. Let us look at this in more detail The difference between Management and Control

15 Managing The Game Instead of two halves, divide the game in 4 quarters - First Quarter. Watch how the players start. Be proactive in warming the game up. Set the standards you want to maintain during the game? How do you Communicate these to the players? Use your voice as well as your whistle to Communicate - talk to the players Confidently, Assertively but not Aggressively. Recognise and take the Management opportunities the players give you.

16 Managing The Game Instead of two halves, divide the game in 4 quarters - First Quarter. Is the degree of physical play appropriate for the standard of this game? Can you recognise any early deliberate Breaking Down? Help the players – they need to understand what you want. Set up Free Hits & Line Balls correctly. Make sure the Players are 5 metres. Are they from the right place – but don’t be too fussy. Avoid replays.

17 Managing the Game PLAYERS UMPIREUMPIRE INCIDENT If the umpire leaves a gap the players will move in

18 Managing The Game Instead of two halves, divide the game in 4 quarters - Second Quarter Maintain the standard you have set. Gain the confidence of the players. Be pro-active. Prevention is better than cure. Take action on the rash tackle. Do not lose your grip on the match as a result of allowing too much flow at this stage. Sometimes a quick free hit is the best advantage..

19 Managing The Game Maintaining the standard – Can you keep the game balanced? Can you stay on the beam?  Too strict -- and you fall off one side!  Too lenient – and you fall off the other!

20 Managing The Game Instead of two halves, divide the game in 4 quarters - Third Quarter. Discuss the game situation with your partner at Half Time. Review your Management and Control strategies. Re-establish the standard you have set. Maintain the confidence of the players Be pro-active. Remain alert..

21 Managing The Game Instead of two halves, divide the game in 4 quarters - Last Quarter. Are players getting tired? Watch for late or clumsy tackles. Is frustration closer to the surface? Is one team leading one nil? Watch for time wasting. Remain very alert for any deliberate Breaking Down?

22 Managing The Game Maintaining the standard IF AT ANY STAGE THE PLAYERS STOP RESPONDING TO YOUR PRO-ACTIVE ADVICE……… ……. THEN YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO THE CONTROL TOOLS TO MANAGE WHAT IS HAPPENING. LET US NOW LOOK AT THE CONTROL LADDER.

23 Managing The Game Maintaining the standard Use the Control tools at the bottom of the ladder first. Move to a tougher tool if the players do not respond. Keep monitoring the temperature of the game. Keep watching the Body Language. Be prepared to vary the length of Advantage that you allow if the Temperature changes.

24 The Control Tool Box - For Controlling physical fouls and other breaches of rule 9 - For Controlling verbal outbursts and appealing

25 The Control Ladder We usually rank the Control Tools we have in the box to form a ladder. We can then go up the ladder to increase the severity of the sanction as the fouls become worse or more persistent. While we can use a lower rung for a foul of a different type, we should use a higher rung for a repeated foul

26 Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Minor & Accidental Offences Typical ladder for Rule 9

27 Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles - Players Muttering Typical Ladder for Rule 9

28 Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles - Players Muttering Typical Ladder for Rule 9 Warning – you have had enough of that!

29 Typical ladder for Rule 9 If you leave a Vacuum by doing nothing – the players will move in Leave a Vacuum X Doing Nothing This is not a Control Tool!

30 Long Whistle Green Card ? ? ? Medium Whistle Some Reckless Tackles - Players Muttering Can you add extra tools? HOWEVER….. Does Your Control ladder look like this?

31 OR….. Does your Control Ladder Look like this? Yellow Card Green Card Green Card Green Card Green Card Green Card Long Whistle Medium Whistle Short Whistle

32 Managing The Game Remember – Can you keep the game balanced? Can you stay on the beam?  Too strict -- and you fall off one side!  Too lenient – and you fall off the other!

33 Long Whistle Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles Players Muttering First Deliberate Foul Penalty Corner Typical Ladder for Rule 9 Warning – you have had enough of that!

34 Long Whistle - Use Body Language - Talk to Player Long Whistle Up 10 meters Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy –Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles - Players Muttering First Deliberate Foul Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering Typical Ladder for Rule 9 Warning – you have had enough of that!

35 Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Talk to Player Long Whistle Up 10 metres Medium Whistle Some Reckless Tackles - Players Muttering First Deliberate Foul Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Warning – you have had enough of that! A good ladder for rule 9

36 Long Whistle Yellow Card Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Talk to Player Long Whistle Up 10 metres First Deliberate Foul Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Players Getting Angry! Typical ladder for rule 9 Warning – you have had enough of that

37 Long Whistle Red Card Long Whistle Yellow Card Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Talk to Player Long Whistle Up 10 metres First Deliberate Foul Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Players Getting Angry! Red Mist Player Furious Typical ladder for rule 9 Warning you have had enough of that

38 The Control Ladder You may need a slightly different Control Ladder to deal with Verbal offences directed towards other players and yourself

39 Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Typical ladder for Verbals

40 Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Players Muttering – Finger to your lips Typical Ladder for Verbals

41 Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Players Muttering – finger to your lips Typical Ladder for Verbals Warning! – you have had enough of that!

42 Long Whistle Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Players Muttering – finger to your lips Change direction of hit or turn a Free Hit to a PC Typical Ladder for Verbals Warning – you have had enough of that!

43 Long Whistle Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles Players Muttering Talk to player – Make calming gestures Typical Ladder for Verbals Warning – you have had enough of that!

44 Long Whistle Up 10 Metres Medium Whistle Short Whistle Players Happy – Playing Hockey Some Reckless Tackles Players Muttering Talk to player – Make calming gestures Typical Ladder for Verbals Warning – you have had enough of that! Talk to Captains

45 Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Long Whistle Up 10 metres Medium Whistle Players muttering – finger to your lips Talk to Player – make calming gestures Talk to Captains Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Warning – you have had enough of that! Typical ladder for Verbals

46 Long Whistle Yellow Card Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Long Whistle Up 10 metres Medium Whistle Talk to Captains Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Typical ladder for Verbals 5 Minute Suspension

47 Long Whistle Red Card Long Whistle Yellow Card Long Whistle Green Card Long Whistle Long Whistle Up 10 metres Medium Whistle Talk to Captains Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful Typical ladder for Verbals 5 Minute Suspension Remove from Pitch

48 The Control Ladder How you use the Control Ladder should come from your own Personality

49 The Control Ladder Plan in your mind which tools you will use for each event so that you have the best course of action clear in your mind. Remember to use the tools calmly and slowly so that the players remain confident in your Management of their game.

50 Thank You!

51 Midlands Region Hockey Umpiring Association Managing the Game And Control Presented by John Litchfield NHL Level 3 Umpire Coach and Chairman of Midlands RYUAG