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

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Birmingham Counties Hockey Birmingham Counties Hockey

Umpiring AssociationUmpiring Association

How Can You Improve How Can You Improve Your Umpiring?Your Umpiring?

Presented by Presented by

John LitchfieldJohn Litchfield

NHL Level 3 Umpire Coach and Chairman of Midlands RYUAG

http://www.mrhua.org.uk/mrhua.php


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To improve your umpiring what are the two main skills

you need to work on and develop……?

Reading the Game

Managing the Game



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Overview

To discuss “Reading the Game”

To discuss “Managing the game”

To discuss the “Control Ladder”



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Reading The GameReading The Game

What do we mean by “Reading the Game”?

STAGE 1AWARENESS



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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.



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Reading The GameReading 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.



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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?



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How do you improve your “Reading of the Game?”

STAGE 2

RECOGNITION



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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?



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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?



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Reading The Reading The GameGame How do you improve your “Reading

of the Game?” Know when to move on to:-

STAGE 3

ACTION



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Reading The Reading The GameGame

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”



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Managing The Managing The GameGameDo 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



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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



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Managing The Managing The GameGameInstead 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.



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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.



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Managing Managing

the Gamethe Game

PLAYERSPLAYERS

U

M

P

I

R

E

INCIDENT

If the umpire leaves a gap the players will move in



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Managing The Managing The GameGameInstead 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..



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Managing The Managing The GameGame

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!



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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..



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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?



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Managing The GameManaging 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.



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Managing The GameManaging 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.



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The Control Tool BoxThe Control Tool Box

- For Controlling physical fouls and other breaches of rule 9

- For Controlling verbal outbursts and appealing



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The Control LadderThe 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



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Short

Whistle

Players Happy – Playing Hockey

Minor & Accidental Offences

Typical ladder for Rule 9



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Medium

Whistle

Short

WhistlePlayers Happy – Playing Hockey

Some Reckless Tackles -Players Muttering

Typical Ladder for Rule 9



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Up 10 Metres

Medium

Whistle

Short




Warning – you have had enough of that!



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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!



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Long Whistle

Green Card

?

?

?

Medium Whistle


Can you add extra tools?

HOWEVER…..

Does Your Control ladder look like this?



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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



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Managing The Managing The GameGame

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!



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Long Whistle

Up 10 Metres

Medium

Whistle

Short


Some Reckless Tackles

Players Muttering

First Deliberate Foul

Penalty Corner





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Long Whistle -Use Body Language -

Talk to Player

Long Whistle

Up 10 meters

Medium

Whistle

Short

WhistlePlayers Happy –Playing Hockey



Second Deliberate Foul -Players Muttering





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Long Whistle

Green Card

Long Whistle Talk to Player

Long

Whistle

Up 10 metres

Medium Whistle



Second Deliberate Foul -Players Muttering

Players ignoring Warnings and Getting Resentful


A good ladder for rule 9



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Long Whistle

Yellow Card

Long Whistle

Green Card

Long WhistleTalk to Player

Long Whistle

Up 10 metresFirst Deliberate Foul

Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering


Players Getting Angry!

Typical ladder for rule 9

Warning – you have had enough of that



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Long Whistle Red Card

Long Whistle

Yellow Card

Long Whistle

Green Card

Long Whistle Talk to Player

Long Whistle

Up 10 metres


Second Deliberate Foul - Players Muttering


Players Getting Angry!

Red Mist Player Furious

Typical ladder for rule 9

Warning you have had enough of that



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

yourself



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Short


Typical ladder for Verbals



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Medium

Whistle

Short


Players Muttering – Finger to your lips

Typical Ladder for Verbals



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Up 10 Metres

Medium

Whistle

Short


Players Muttering – finger to your lips


Warning! – you have had enough of that!



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Long Whistle

Up 10 Metres

Medium

Whistle

Short


Players Muttering – finger to your lips

Change direction of hit or turn a Free Hit to a PC





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Long Whistle

Up 10 Metres

Medium Whistle

Short


Some Reckless Tackles Players Muttering

Talk to player – Make calming gestures





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Long Whistle

Long Whistle

Up 10 Metres

Medium Whistle

Short


Some Reckless Tackles

Players Muttering

Talk to player – Make calming gestures



Talk to Captains



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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






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Long Whistle

Yellow Card

Long Whistle

Green Card

Long Whistle

Long

Whistle

Up 10 metres

Medium Whistle

Talk to Captains



5 Minute Suspension



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Long Whistle

Red Card

Long Whistle

Yellow Card

Long Whistle

Green Card

Long Whistle

Long

Whistle

Up 10 metres

Medium Whistle

Talk to Captains



5 Minute Suspension

Remove from Pitch



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



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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.



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Thank You!Thank You!



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Midlands Region Hockey UmpiringMidlands Region Hockey Umpiring

AssociationAssociation

Managing the GameManaging the Game

And ControlAnd ControlPresented by Presented by

John LitchfieldJohn Litchfield

NHL Level 3 Umpire Coach and Chairman of Midlands RYUAG



Documents

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