1. 2018-9 Indoor Umpire Briefing

2. How will we achieve this goal?
Umpire Philosophy
Why are we here?
To serve the teams with an outstanding umpiring product that allows the league to be a success in all aspects with regard to fairness, visual experience and entertainment.
How will we achieve this goal?
By providing a fair, safe playing environment for the teams to demonstrate skill.
What will we deliver?
An umpiring product that offers high level decision making, with a high level of accuracy, in an environment of openness with team management.

3. Understanding the Context of the Game
4 Key Pillars

4. BALL POSSESSION and TACKLING
4 KEY PILLARS/ASSETS
SKILL
We need to protect skill to promote exciting sequences
PRESENTATION
The manner in which we manage the play and work with the players
FAIR, ATTRACTIVE ENTERTAINING HOCKEY
FLOW
We need to celebrate the advantage rule
BALL POSSESSION and TACKLING
Deliberate actions to break down play or dangerous actions that effect player safety will be carefully considered and responded to

5. PROTECTION OF SKILL
PROMOTION OF FLOW
POSSESSION/TACKLING
Eliminate dangerous tackles – enhance player safety
Strictness around physical aspects
Use of appropriate personal penalties
Common sense approach to free push management
Reasonable actions in 3m situations from both attackers and defenders are encouraged
Breaking down of play understood, taking the context and influence on the game into consideration
When and where (parts of the pitch/stage of the game) “illegal” actions take place by either attackers or defenders will determine the appropriate technical and/or personal penalty
Distinguishing between poor, deliberate and dangerous actions
Acknowledge skill
Note: There is a difference between the game becoming more physical versus physical play eliminating skill
Acknowledge skill and/or flow when ball is played in the air I think this needs to be removed as it pertains to outdoor and could confuse matters for indoor!

6. PRESENTATION OF HOCKEY
Abusive outbursts and misconduct are not the best advertisement for our sport. We must be mindful of the negative impacts of these types of actions in terms of the marketing our sport.
The crowding of players around an umpire is not permitted. One player may approach an umpire – the umpires have been instructed to award a green card for this type of action
our sport remove as it’s repitition from 1st sentence and add: hockey

7. ✗ ✓ Crowding One to question
There is a mandatory green card when a player – but manage the situation:
Engages in crowding the umpire as the second player
In repeated instances, the green card can be upgraded to a (4min) yellow card.
One to question

8. LINK BETWEEN OFFENCES, TECHNICAL DECISIONS and PERSONAL SANCTIONS
UPGRADING TECHNICAL DECISIONS (E.g. Free Push to Penalty Corner)
Playing the ball away AFTER the whistle with HIGH IMPACT on play
Playing the ball or trying to influence play within 3m dotted line area around the circle
Breaking down play/intentional fouls by defender their defending half
GREEN CARD OFFENCES
Playing the ball after the whistle or interference within 3m with low impact on play
Off-the-ball minor physical offences (pushing/holding at free push)
Breakdown of play with low impact by deliberate use of feet, body, back of stick… (dependant on impact and in which half)
Team not ready after 40 secs (stop clock) or after goal.
Minor misconduct – crowding umpire, interfering with umpire decision
Dependent on where offence is. Reminder, indoor…two halves.

9. YELLOW CARDS 2 MIN YELLOW CARD OFFENCES
Playing the ball after the whistle with high impact on play or repeated offences
Breakdown of play with high impact on play or repeated offences by deliberate use of feet, body, or back of stick
Physical fouls with body or stick including ‘off the ball’ incidents, drilling
All other repeated offences in the ‘green card’ area
5 MIN YELLOW CARD OFFENCES
Physical fouls – dangerous and cynical tackles by both attackers and defenders that ground or trip players, including sliding tackles, drilling dependent on the danger and intent
High impact, nasty, deliberate breakdowns with no regard to player safety
Repeated technical yellow card offences
Changed statement as thinks it reads better – this is original: Physical fouls – dangerous and cynical tackles that ground or trip players, including sliding tackles, drilling dependent on the danger and intent by both attackers and defender

10. CONCLUDING REMARK
The officials team is committed to developing an open and honest working relationship with players and team management to deliver a high class umpiring product

11. Umpire Briefing & Agreement

12. Our Team Objectives? Opening Remarks
To provide high quality performances to the players and teams
Your role is to provide a fair, safe playing environment for the teams to demonstrate skill
What will the umpire team allow or not allow?
You may need to sacrifice your “comfort” to satisfy their needs

13. Elite Requirements
Take charge of your situation – on and off the field
Be willing to give everything to achieve your outcomes
Brave is the new Safe
Focus : High Class basics, high level of accuracy

14. Brave is the New Safe

15. Key Areas Tackling and breakdown of play Circle play, PCs and accuracy
Trapping / side boards
Presentation of the sport
Dangerous Play ( drilling)
Originial: Trapped

16. What are our goals as an Umpiring Team :
To serve the teams, Scottish Hockey, and the teams with an outstanding umpiring product that allows the event to be a success in all aspects with regard to fairness, visual experience and entertainment.
Deliver an umpiring product that offers no surprises in our decision making calmness, clarity and consistency
Initiate and sustain an environment of openness and transparency with the participating teams through ongoing dialogue with team managers and team coaches.

17. Fair & Attractive hockey
The 4 Vital Assets
Fair & Attractive hockey
1 Protecting skill
2 Increasing flow
3 Ball Possession Tackling
4 The marketing of our game

18. Key Areas and your umpiring craft
Rules & Regulations
Positioning and anticipation – be in the photo!
Whistle timing and advantage
Game Management

19. POSITIONING & ANTICIPATION
Be in the Photo!
Try to always be in a good position to see what is happening
POSITIONING & ANTICIPATION

20. Management Clarity Constant communication
Awareness
Recognition
Action
Clarity
Constant communication
Setting and re-setting standards
Only engage when necessary
Accuracy
Watch the game – not the ball
Management
Awareness……….Recognition……….Action – requires Courage
Clarity…..opposite of clarity is confusion – often the game gives us clues
Constant communication – reinforce the connection and relationships
Setting and re-setting standards
Clarity around tackle situations – accidental, clumsy, deliberate
Only engage when necessary – have the confidence to ride along – especially with more technical aspects
Accuracy : Both ball related and personal penalties
Watch the game – not the ball. Ball focus vs general scanning

21. Self Pass
Position of the infringement : Ball in the ‘right’ area and ‘stationary’ is a good foundation (early communication/whistle - avoid ‘replays’ if possible - reverse decision if necessary – but be smart) Be careful when you chose to make your point!
Action of attackers……what is acceptable? How far is 3 meters?
Action of defenders…..what is acceptable? Remember they can be less than 3 m as long as they are not influencing the play
Around the circle (within 3m) - What is acceptable?
-Defenders inside the circle do not need to retreat
- Simple & common sense
- Game context vs Rule
- Fairness
- Speed re taking the free push
Added: & common sense

22. Break-down of play / Poor tackling/ Dangerous Play
Look at the game for clues!
Numbers behind the ball?
Possible outcomes and attacking potential
Accidental v deliberate? Context.
There is a difference between our game becoming more physical and physical play eliminating skill
Technical and personal penalties - green to 2min yellow to 4min yellow.
What are the differences?

23. Penalty Corners
Is the ball stopped inside or outside the circle? Is it hitting runner above or below the knee … 3m?
Obstruction (screening/blocking) by attackers
Obstruction (screening/blocking) by defenders
Breaking : Defenders / attackers
Injector “feinting” – be clear about what needs to happen
Up to 40 seconds – manage & encourage
Face Masks & Knee Protection
sliding? What was your thought on this?
, &
Added: Face Masks & Knee Protection – could be good to consider this

24. Raised ball Aim for top quality technical decisions and consistency.
Make sure who gained advantage or player disadvantaged, it applies to the whole pitch.
Consideration of within playing distance, versus could the defender play the ball legally.
Early judgement
Establish clarity around this potentially confusing area Do you think this could be removed?
Ascertain I like - but - Make sure will be easier for all to understand

25. Technical
Subsequent corner versus re-taken corner for players returning from the halfway line. Remember that the player cannot return until the PC has been completed i.e. ball outside the dotted line
Do not count down the clock at a PC situation. You have no right to say when the game ends - the match clock will decide this
Think this should be removed : Remember up to 40 sec… umpires to encourage, manage.

26. Presentation of our sport
Crowding in circle situations and penalty corners will be dealt with using the green card
Time wasting at a PC – use of green card if team is not ready
Off-the-ball incidents – team work, co-operation, communication – be brave!
Nasty, unsavoury, unsporting, audible swearing and other examples of misconduct should be dealt with appropriately to preserve the image of the sport

27. In conclusion How does your umpiring craft contribute?
Visual teamwork – You have to visually show you are connected. Find solutions to off-the-ball situations
Positioning – stationary decisions in the right place. Anticipate using game clues
Circle accuracy – get to the right post early. Get the decision on the pitch if possible - teamwork
Communication and management – you are striving for fairness. Build relationships. Work with the teams. Express yourself.

28. In conclusion
What is our purpose?
Enabling
Delivering
Promoting
Celebrating
An entertaining visual experience to the Scottish Hockey Community community
Took out underline: entertaining visual experience

29. Good luck & enjoy it!