Junior Football Umpiring Program Club Umpiring Theory Session 1 (First Years)

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

Match Day Schedule Prior to Match Arrive at Ground a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your match Contact your Club Umpire Coordinator if you are running late Report to Club Umpire Coordinator or Ground Marshall on arrival Get changed and be ready to start your match 5 minutes prior to scheduled start time If necessary, report any problems with the field of play to the Ground Marshall Meet the Captain and Coach for both teams Introducing yourself to all players prior to the start of the match Introduce yourself so players know your name Project yourself in a positive, firm and confident manner There is no need to discuss how you will umpire for the game- we never change the way we umpire, only improve

Match Day Schedule During Match Cooperate with volunteers (eg: Parents as goal umpires) Treat players with respect at all times Eg: Please and thankyous Act as a Mentor as well as an Umpire Officiate as an umpire applying laws and ensuring a safe environment As required, act as a mentor to all players to guide them where they may confused. If required, use the coach as a tool to control/manage troublesome players If required, use the Ground Marshall as a tool to manage possible conflict situations After Match Report to Club Umpire Coordinator or Ground Marshall after your match to advise of outcome or incidents from match

Laws and Interpretations Spirit of the Game GIVE ALL AVAILABLE PLAYERS A GAME OF FOOTBALL IN WHICH THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN POSSESSION OF THE BALL AND SAFELY DISPOSE OF IT BY KICK OR HANDBALL The player whose sole objective is to contest the ball shall be permitted to do so Ensure a safe environment Project players from illegal contact Award all free kicks

Laws and Interpretations The Team U8’s 9 a side (3 forwards, 3 centres, 3 backs) Interchanges can be made at any time but all players must play at least 3 quarters of the match U9’s/U10’s 12 a side (4 forwards, 4 centres, 4 backs) Interchanges can be made at any time but all players must play at least 3 quarters of the match B B F F C C C C B F F B B F C C C F B F B

Laws and Interpretations Zones / Positions U8’s Backs - restricted to the back zone. Centres - restricted to the centre zone. Forwards - restricted to forward zone. Rotate players to provide opportunities in serval positions Players must stay inside their zones U9’s/U10’s Umpire to instruct players to stay in their positions Players may cross their zones into other zone however will be instructed to return by the umpire at ball ups / start of plays

Laws and Interpretations Scoring U8’s/U9’s/U10’s Only forward zone players can score F F F

Laws and Interpretations Start and Restarting Play U8’s/U9’s/U10’s A BALL-UP is conducted between 2 centre players of similar height as nominated by the umpire. The umpire should nominate different pairs of players for subsequent ball-ups after goals are scored. TIP - If possible, at the start of the quarter, line up centre plays from each team against an opposition player of equal height. Assign each pair a number so you can call a different number at each ball up

Laws and Interpretations Scrimmage and Field Ball Ups U8’s Where a scrimmage develops, if a free kick is not possible the umpire shall stop play, send players back to their positions and nominate 2 players of equal size to contest a ball up. At the ball up, ‘full possession’ and diving on the ball are not permitted. U9’s/U10’s Field ball-ups are contested by 2 players if similar height (selected by the umpire) after all other players have been sent back to their positions

Laws and Interpretations Full Possession U8’s/U9’s/U10’s In relation to all ball-ups the following full possession rule applies as follows: A player contesting a ball up may not grab the ball and play on The player must knock, palm or punch the ball to a team mate or open ground and may not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player or hit the ground

Laws and Interpretations Transition U8’s/U9’s/U10’s When a team moves the ball from the back zone, it must be touched by a player from the centre zone, or a free kick will be paid to the opposition team at the point where the ball entered the end zone

Laws and Interpretations Marking and Playing On U8’s A mark is awarded, irrespective of the distance the ball has travelled, to any player who catches the ball, or makes a reasonable attempt to catch the ball from a kick. A reasonable attempt means two hands/arms to mark and eyes on the ball Umpire to set the mark after awarded No playing on allowed (as in running off the mark)- reset kick is occurs U9’s and 10’s A mark is awarded, irrespective of the distance the ball has travelled, to any player who catches the ball directly from the kick of another player. (Player must have control of the ball in the mark). Playing on (running off the mark) If a player takes a mark and an opposition player is in the immediate area the player must go back and kick or handball the ball where the umpire has set the mark. They are not permitted to run off the mark If a player takes a mark and there is no opposition player in the immediate area then the player who marked the ball is permitted to play on (Run off the mark) If a player is paid a mark (shown control) but the ball has hit the ground the player must go back and kick or handball the ball where the umpire has set the mark. They are not permitted to run off the mark.

Laws and Interpretations Tackling/Possession Rule U8’s Once a player gains possession, all other players must back off to the side of the player in possession, so that the player may kick or handball uncontested. There is to be no tackling, blocking or standing in the pathway of the player in possession. Decide doubtful cases with a ball up. Umpire: “He/She has the ball, clear out for the kick” A free kick is awarded is a player holds, tackles or blocks the path of the player U9’s/U10’s Players can “Hold and Release” a player in possession of the ball by grabbing his/her jumper. Bumping, slinging or deliberately bringing a player to the ground, grabbing the arms or applying a wrap around tackle are prohibited. No Prior Opportunity Player said not to have had an opportunity to dispose of ball before being tackled Umpire: “Hold, Release, 3, 2, 1” Holding the ball free kick will result if a kick or handball is not achieved within three seconds Play On will result if the player achieved a kick or handball within three seconds Once called to release, the player with the ball will receive a free kick if the opposition does not release within reasonable time. Prior Opportunity Player has had an opportunity to dispose before being tackled Umpire: “Hold, Release, Holding the Ball” Holding the ball will be the result Can’t knock ball out of hand (except accidental), once a hold and release tackle is applied players must allow a kick or handball to occur

Laws and Interpretations Out of Bounds U8’s/U9’s/U10’s From a kick – a free kick is awarded against the player who last kicked the ball. From a handball, the ball is run over the line or the ball comes off the body, the umpire shall call for a ball up 5 metres in from the boundary Decide doubtful cases with a ball up 5 metres in from the boundary There are no rules deliberate relating to deliberate out of bound

Laws and Interpretations Shepherding / Barging U8’s/U9’s/U10’s Not permitted Kicking off the Ground Not permitted unless accidentally

Laws and Interpretations Bouncing / Distance Run U8’s Bouncing is optional but no more than one bounce is permitted. A player running with the ball must bounce it within 5 metres. The player must then dispose of it by hand or foot and may not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player. Encourage the player to dispose of the ball towards the end of their 5 metre run If the player exceeds the distance and after encouraged to dispose, penalise the player for running too far U9’s/U10’s Only one bounce is permitted. A player running with the ball must bounce it within 10 metres. Encourage the player to dispose of the ball towards the end of their 10 metre run If the player exceeds the distance and after encouraged to dispose, penalise the player for running too far

Illegal Shepard/ Block Umpiring Signals Start of Game Holding the Ball High Contact Trip Push in the Back Running too far All Clear, Goal All Clear, Behind Illegal Shepard/ Block Holding Ball Up Full Time