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Notes to Proposals for Umpire Recruitment

Provinces

[Read Proposals that accompany]

1.This level of club commitment is intended as the start of a process to eventually have all senior team matches umpired by neutral umpires under the appointments system of that Province’s Umpires appointments. This will increase the pool of qualified umpires and should lead to improvement in level of umpiring and increase the enjoyment for all. Umpiring is an integral part of hockey and needs to be developed further. Clubs and schools are encouraged to have a group of umpires within their organisation who have attained an umpiring grading, enabling all levels of hockey to benefit.IHUA will set the parameters for being considered a graded umpire which Provinces would be encouraged to use. Initially it may need to be at a low level such as having passed a written rules test within the last two years or holding a current provincial panel grading.Some clubs/teams may have more than one umpire per team wishing to join the provincial panel of umpires. This should be encouragedto increase the number of panel umpires and to allow those umpires the opportunity to progress to national and even international appointments.

2.Note it is the umpire’s responsibility to ensure they are registered on the appointments system in conjunction with the club’s Honorary Secretary that the team belongs to. This ensures clubs do not nominate people who have no willingness to participate and self-nomination by an individual as a nominated club umpire cannot take place. [Sanctions will be automatically applied by the Competitions Committee. The appeals process will apply if a club wishes to use this.]

3.Individuals who do not wish to be nominated by a club should be able to join the Provincial Umpires Panel, but must make the same commitment that is expected of club nominated umpires.During the transition period it would be hoped that all the current members of the Provincial Panels will continue as active members. Each individual panel member will be free to choose whether they continue under 2 or 3.

[2. & 3. Allows umpires to register and join the panel throughout the season.]

4.Umpires should not be able to pick and choose where and when they will umpire. However, Appointments should try to accommodate occasional requests to allow umpires to fulfil other activities. Those with genuine work commitments should be helped, as long as this is logged with the appointments system as soon as is known by the umpire. Excessive travel on repeated appointments should also be avoided if possible. Appointments should try to have the appointments made in blocks and with at least 7 days notice.

[After the first season this should change to say that there has to be 100% umpire availability from clubs. Hence they will be able during the first season to develop a panel of graded umpires within their club who will replace the nominated umpire whenever that umpire is not available. It is envisaged that clubs may wish to develop a team of graded umpires from within their club who can rotate as the nominated umpire during the season. The only proviso is that the name of the umpire nominated is registered and the Provincial co-ordinator informed in advance of appointments being made. Thus players could umpire at a different time or date from matches they are playing in, provided this is logistically possible.]

5.This is essential for the replacement system to work.

6.Umpiring appointments will almost invariably be neutral appointments, therefore all the panel need to be available. Replacements for genuine non-availability will need to be made, possibly at short notice.

Appointments

1.Each province can decide how their system will be managed but there needs to be a known person for clubs and umpires to communicate with. They need the authority to make day to day changes as required to try to ensure best use of the available umpires.

2.Failure to inform the appointments secretary/co-ordinator of a match postponement will lead to a sanction. The Competitions Committee will be informed of all breaches of this rule and will have the power to impose the sanction. Clubs will have the right of appeal against a sanction through the Province’s normal appeals procedure.

3.Matches must be played. It is preferable that the substitute is a graded umpire. Final responsibility is with the team captains on the day.

4.When only one of the appointed umpires arrives late common sense should prevail as to avoid disadvantaging one team numerically.

5.Clear identification of who umpired the match is essential.

Provincial Umpiring Development

To assist the clubs then the provincial umpire’s organisations must have a development programme. This should follow the framework set by IHUA to help have national consistency of approach to grading and promotion, along with coaching/mentoring provided at a provincial level.

This will include Rules and umpiring techniques courses for the minimum requirement for being graded a Candidate umpire and eligible to be a member of the Provincial Umpires Panel.

Promotion within the Provincial Umpires Panel should be defined by the IHUA, but administered locally.

Provinces will need to look at their Rules & Regulations when and if these proposals are accepted. They may adapt them to suit their local needs.