1. INTRODUCTORY Umpiring Program Club Based Field Umpires

2. Role of the Umpire Interpret and apply the basic laws according to the spirit of the laws Ensure a safe environment for all participants

3. Presentation ISC Match Day Uniform – –The Match Manager will provide an umpiring shirt – –If you have umpiring shorts and socks, wear those – –If not, that’s ok - Wear your own football shorts and normal socks

4. Preparation for a Match There are eight key things to do to prepare for each match 1. 1. Pack your whistle 2. 2. Pack your runners 3. 3. Pack your ISC Umpiring Manual 4. 4. Pack a Drink Bottle 5. 5. Double check the time and location of the match 6. 6. Look up the location of the ground on the internet or in the street directory 7. 7. Organise how you will get to the ground (discuss with mum/dad/guardian or self reliant) 8. 8. Arrive to the ground 20 minutes prior to match start

5. Match Day Schedule Prior to Match   Once arriving to the match at least 20 minutes prior to start, introduce yourself to the Match Manager. The Match Manager is an AFL Queensland staff member and can assist you on the day.   At 10 minutes prior to start, walk out to the middle of the ground and have a warm up   Call the captains to the centre for the decision of which ends they will kick to.   Place your whistle in one of your hands, both hands behind your back and randomise which hand the whistle is in.   Ask the away school to choose a hand.   If the hand is correct, that team gets to choose the direction. Quarter and Half Time Breaks   Umpires stay out in the middle of the ground waiting for the break to finish.   Umpires are welcome ask the teams if they can have a drink or leave a drink bottle with the Match Manager. Full Time   Umpires to confirm there are no reports or issues to the Match Manager then are welcome to leave.

6. Approach to a Match Good umpires identify 3 approaches to each match they will strive to do better in. The following are examples of approaches umpires use. You might like to incorporate 3 into your own approach. Protect the player going for the ball Pay all correct free kicks, avoid missing free kicks or paying unwarranted free kicks Watch for free kicks, don’t go looking for free kicks Run hard to get into the correct position for each contest Blow the whistle strong to demonstrate confidence and control Communicate effectively and explain free kicks Position 20-25m away from the contest to ensure you have good vision of the play

7. SPIRIT OF THE LAWS In an effort to achieve consistency in decision making there is an emphasis on understanding the Spirit of the Laws. In an effort to achieve consistency in decision making there is an emphasis on understanding the Spirit of the Laws. The spirit of the laws are the philosophies underlying the laws. The spirit of the laws are the philosophies underlying the laws. For coaching purposes seven main areas have been identified. For coaching purposes seven main areas have been identified.

8. Area 1 – Contest for the Ball “The player whose sole objective is to contest the ball shall be permitted to do so.” General Play General Play –A player may be fairly met by the use of the hip, shoulder, chest, arms and open hand and be pushed or bumped in the chest or side. –Contact to the head is illegal –A free kick will be awarded against a player who bumps or makes forceful contact to an opponent from front on when the player has their head over the ball.

9. Area 1 – Contest for the Ball NOTE – HEAD OVER BALL –A player can bump an opponents body from side on but any contact forward of side on will be deemed to be front on. –A player with their head down in anticipation of winning the ball or after contesting the ball will be deemed to have their head down over the ball for the purposes of this law.

10. Area 2 – Diving on the Ball “The ball shall be kept in motion.” –Where a player elects to dive on the ball or, when on the ground, elects to drag the ball underneath his or her body and is correctly tackled, the player is to be penalised for holding the ball if he or she fails to immediately knock the ball clear or correctly dispose of it.

11. Area 3 – Marking Contests “The player whose sole objective is to contest a mark shall be permitted to do so.” –Where there is incidental contact in a marking contest where the ball is the sole objective (ie eyes on the ball) play on will result. –When a player leaps early, the attempt must be realistic (ie he or she must be able to touch the ball)

12. Area 4 – Tackling “A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of the ball will be awarded a free kick.” NO PRIOR OPPOURTUNITY – REASONABLE TIME NO PRIOR OPPOURTUNITY – REASONABLE TIME “The player who has possession of the ball is tackled correctly by an opponent shall be given reasonable time to kick or handball the ball or attempt to kick or handball the ball.” –If the tackle pins the ball then a field bounce / toss will result. –If a correct tackle or bump causes the player with the ball to lose possession, play on will result.

13. Area 4 – Tackling “A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of the ball will be awarded a free kick.” PRIOR OPPOURTUNITY – IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL PRIOR OPPOURTUNITY – IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL “The player who has possession of the ball and has an opportunity to dispose of it and is then correctly tackled by an opponent must immediately attempt to kick or handball the ball.” –If a correct tackle pins the ball or cause the player wit hthe ball to lose possession a free kick will result. –If a bump or knock to the arm causes the player with the ball to lose possession, play on will result.

14. Area 5 – Ruck Contests “The player whose sole objective is to contest the ruck shall be permitted to do so.” –Where there is incidental contact in a ruck contest when the ball is the sole objective (ie eyes on the ball) play on will result.

15. Area 6 – Advantage Plays “The ball shall be kept in motion by permitting the team offended against to take advantage, provided play is continuos.” –Advantage can apply only to a free kick. It cannot apply to a mark. –A guide as to whether play is continuous is that the outcome of the play would have been the same had the whistle not been blown

16. Area 7 – 50 metre penalty “After a mark or free kick has been awarded, a 50 metre penalty will be awarded against the opposing team which unduly delays the play or abuses the umpire.” An undue delay of the play includes An undue delay of the play includes –Going over the mark before the umpire calls play on. –Not returning the ball directly to the player after he or she has been awarded a free kick or mark. –Unduly holding up an opponent after that player has marked the ball. –A player not involved in a marking contest holds a player who has marked the ball or has been awarded a free kick.

17. Umpiring Signals Start of Game Holding the Ball High Contact TripPush in the Back Running too far All Clear, Goal All Clear, Behind Illegal Shepard/ Block Holding Ball UpFull Time

18. Positioning The ability to be in the best position is without doubt the most important skill in umpiring. Umpire must always strive to achieve the best position in order to pay all free kicks. Two major skills that enable a field umpire to adjust his positioning continuously are: Anticipation – being able to think ahead and guess accurately where the play will head next. Identifying the intent of players – being able to correctly predict what players will endeavour to do with the football once they gain possession, i.e. kick or handball.

19. Positioning Centre Bounce / Toss 20 - 25m ‘Control Distance’ The umpire stands in the middle of the ground with their back to either wing. The decision on which side to stand may take into consideration factors such as Sun, Rain and Wind. Having thrown up the football, the umpire runs backwards 20-25m. This distance away from play is called our ‘control distance’

20. Positioning Centre Bounce / Toss If the umpire does not back out far enough The umpire can interfere with the play The umpires scope of vision will be narrow 5 – 15m is not sufficient

21. Positioning Centre Bounce / Toss Having backed out the appropriate distance from play (20 - 25m side on) the umpire has increased their peripheral vision 20- 25m is correct distance

22. Positioning Field Toss For a field toss around the ground, throw the ball up with your back to the centre of the ground and run backwards out 20 - 25m This increases the umpires ability to anticipate and subsequently gain the best position for the next act of play 20 - 25m

23. Positioning General Play – Ideal position In general play, the ideal position is 20 - 25m side on to the contest By positioning side on, the umpire is unlikely to have their view interrupted 20 - 25m

24. Positioning General Play – If not side on…… If the umpire is not side on (finding themselves looking at the front or back of the contest), they may by unaware of any incidents of holding or interference occurring in the contest Similarly, if the umpire is not side on for a contest, it becomes harder to achieve a side on position for the next contest

25. Positioning General Play In situations such as this, reposition to 20 - 25m side on to the contest with your back to the centre of the ground

26. Positioning - Drills Set Plays A set play occurs when an umpire awards a mark or a free kick There are three stages involved 1.Communicating the free kick 2.Setting the Mark 3.Anticipating the next kick 10m

27. Positioning - Drills Set Plays The First Step From the control distance (20m/side on) the umpire identifies a free kick The umpire runs 10m forward from A to B and communicates the free kick 1.Whistle- Blow is loud and strong 2.Verbal Communication- Explaining the free kick to the players in the vicinity 3.Signals- Explaining the free kick to everyone not in the vicinity 10m

28. Positioning - Drills Set Plays The Second Step Having communicated the free kick, the umpire runs into the mark to set the play The umpire runs 10m forward from B to C 1.Raises their arm to signal the team that is receiving the free kick/mark 2.Shows the defending player the mark 3.When younger players are confused as to what they need to do, act as a mentor and guide them 10m

29. Positioning - Drills Set Plays The Third Step Having set the mark, the umpire must back out from play, return to the control distance and anticipate the next act of play The umpire runs backwards from C to A 1.Running backwards to watch the set play 20m

30. Positioning - Drills Linking Set Plays From a mark or free kick, the umpire must anticipate the next act of play Having set the mark, instead of backing out straight to the control distance, the umpire will run backwards at an angle of 45 degrees to the act of play. The umpire will wait there, watching both areas, until the football is kicked to the next contest Once the ball is kicked, move to a position side on the next contest

31. Positioning - Drills Set Shot at Goal The umpires lines a player up along an imaginary line between the centre of the goals and the spot where the player mark or was awarded the free kick Having set up the mark, the umpire positions 10m side on to the mark The umpire maintains their vision on both the player with the ball or the player on the mark 10m

32. Positioning - Skills Kick In after a Behind After a behind has been score, the umpire will position in the middle of the ground, 10m from the kick off line A defence player is allowed to stand 5m off the kick off line The umpires position allows for good verbal and visual control of the players As the defensive player kicks in, the umpire moves to a position side on to the contest

33. Improving Performance Umpires always strive to deliver a better performance to be appointed higher games, earn more money, earn representative appointments, achieve finals and to be appointed to a Grand Final. Umpires always strive to deliver a better performance to be appointed higher games, earn more money, earn representative appointments, achieve finals and to be appointed to a Grand Final. To improve his/her performance, umpires can pursue various strategies to improve their performance. These include: To improve his/her performance, umpires can pursue various strategies to improve their performance. These include: –Asking the AFL Queensland Staff member for advice and tips –Emailing or calling Aaron Hall (coordinator), asking for advice –Watching more experienced umpires officiating at your club on the weekend at U16 or Senior Level –Watch AFL games and look for what the umpires are doing –Revisit the ISC Educational resources