INTRODUCTORY
Umpiring Program
Club Based Field
Umpires
Role of the Umpire
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Interpret and apply the basic
laws according to the spirit of the
laws
Ensure a safe environment for all
participants
Presentation
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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
Preparation for a Match
There are eight key things to do to prepare for
each match
1.
Pack your whistle
2.
Pack your runners
3.
Pack your ISC Umpiring Manual
4.
Pack a Drink Bottle
5.
Double check the time and location of the match
6.
Look up the location of the ground on the internet
or in the street directory
7.
Organise how you will get to the ground (discuss
with mum/dad/guardian or self reliant)
8.
Arrive to the ground 20 minutes prior to match start
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.
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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.
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.
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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
SPIRIT OF THE LAWS
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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.
For coaching purposes seven main areas
have been identified.
Area 1 – Contest for the Ball
“The player whose sole objective is to contest
the ball shall be permitted to do so.”
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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.
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.
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.
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)
Area 4 – Tackling
“A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of
the ball will be awarded a free kick.”
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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.
Area 4 – Tackling
“A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of
the ball will be awarded a free kick.”
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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.
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.
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
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.”
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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.
Umpiring Signals
Start of
Game
Holding
the Ball
All Clear,
Goal
All Clear,
Behind
High
Contact
Illegal
Shepard/
Block
Trip
Holding
Push in
the Back
Ball Up
Running
too far
Full Time
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.
Positioning
Centre Bounce / Toss
•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 - 25m
‘Control Distance’
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
10m
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
10m
Positioning - Drills
Set Plays
The Second Step
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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
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
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
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
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
Improving Performance
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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:
– 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