Hampshire Hockey Umpires’ Association
www.hampshirehockeyassociation.co.uk
President : J M Gawley
HHUA Management Committee Meeting 1
7.30pm 17.07.07
Romsey WMCC
Present: Richard Wood (RW), John Gawley (JMG), Allan Notman (AN), Rowena Shepherd (RS), Jason
Holcombe (JHol), Alan Thorpe (AT), Frank Stokes (FS), Paul Howard (PH), Jason Horne (JH), Phil Griffiths
(PG), Mike Ward (MW), Ginette Tessier (GT – minutes)
Apologies: Chris Bond (CB), David Boyle (DB), Roy Holcombe (RH), Chris Horton (CH), Rob Jenkins (RJ),
Rob Stamp (RSt), Mark Everard (ME), Sarah Frye (SF)
Item
Subject
1
Chairman’s welcome
Action
RW began by welcoming the new committee to the first meeting of season 07/08. MW
was welcomed in his capacity as Chairman of the HHA.
GT welcomed in new capacity as Hon. Sec.
AT and JHol officially welcomed as new members.
Explanation of meeting etiquette: always an open forum, no holds barred, decision can
be taken in meeting as to whether items are for minuting.
RW explained that there was no set agenda for this meeting – simply wanted committee
thoughts for progression of HHUA in forthcoming season. Reports where given will be
accepted.
2
Apologies
Received as listed above.
3
Minutes of the last meeting
Although FS supplied a copy of the minutes of the last meeting of 06/07 season, an
official copy was not available for signing. GT to bring to next meeting.
RW reported that no items to discuss.
4
GT
Reports
RW stated that all reports must be emailed to GT in reply to the calling notice for future
meetings. This will enable everyone to read reports prior to the meetings and keep
them shorter.
ALL (as
applic.)
4.1
Youth Development
JH submitted report. Some good umpires around, and development plan in place to
provide good platform moving forward. Targets set – see report for details. JH to email
report to GT.
JH
RW stated that young umpires are an Association priority, both for development and
representation on the committee. Young umpires should be pushed to get involved – at
least three courses needed to be run in the course of a season and committee members
are expected to help CH, JH and RSt with coaching team to bring them on.
In addition, umpire coaches are needed (RW to speak to RSt) – there is a L1 umpire
coach award available, which involves theory and an exam. RS mentioned that this has
never been officially offered. FS pointed out that it would have to be specifically
organised – normally arranged outside of the HHUA if an interested person contacts the
coaching team.
RW would like all committee members to take on this responsibility. Anyone interested
needs to make themselves known to one of the coaching team. JMG expressed
availability as a coach and assessor.
ALL
Southampton umpire training day in September would be an ideal opportunity to start
umpire coach training.
4.2
Additional reports
RW stated that reports were not expected for this meeting as it is so early in the new
season. Round table round up of any items members wanted to mention:
4.2.1
Hon. Treasurer – AT
Very little to report at this time of year. Changing signatories on the bank accounts
taking far longer than it should! One or two bills need paying, which will have to wait
another 2-3 weeks unless there is anything urgent, in which case something can be
arranged.
RW asked if there were any outstanding club debts – details would be on the website.
AT mentioned that last year’s bills have not yet been sent, as during the summer clubs
change over officers, so would cause delays.
RW mentioned that this may cause a problem for some clubs as they would then receive
two bills, although the automatic bill production via the website (combining HHA/HHUA
fees etc.) would make things easier this season.
4.2.2
Chairman of Selectors – FS
Nothing to report at present, will depend on watchings and games in new season.
4.2.3
Indoor Secretary – JH
Experiencing problem setting up indoor batches. AN to speak to JH.
AN/JH
4.2.4
Coaching team – PG
Have previously mentioned assigning new umpires a ‘mentor’ – someone to chat
through games with as a support to coaching/watching. Should be pursued this season.
RW suggested that PG set this up – maybe 4/5 mentors for new umpires – PG knows
most qualified umpires and could therefore pick the most approachable to take on role.
Suggested names so far would be Eddie Waller and Andy Christie. PG would also like
RS to be involved. GT offered to help if required.
PG to talk to CH about candidate umpires who might benefit from this.
FS asked if it was possible for an umpire coach to progress immediately to a L2 coach
award, as Eddie Waller could probably make better use of his skills at that level. JMG
stated that the rules do not prevent this if the person is good enough.
4.2.5
PG/CH
Development Manager – CH (reported by GT in CH absence)
i) 6 umpires have completed their L1 assessments during the Summer League. 3 more
are likely to complete during the early season. However, this is less than a quarter of
those who have taken the theory part of the qualification: either they didn’t take up the
offer of coaching and assessment, or they were not yet at a high enough standard to
pass. It may be that umpires who are just starting out need more time to gain
experience. CH will be ruthless in his prioritisation of those progressed to L1
assessment in the future! CH also preparing a resource pack (from EH) for new
starters, which will be ready in time for the new season.
CH
ii) Next L1 course being held Sunday 16th September, tutored by Eddie Waller.
iii) Group coaching for new umpires being held on Saturday 15th September at
Southampton Sports Centre.*
*Some confusion over this date, as RW/RS progressing with Roger Merry to hold this on
Saturday 8th September. TO BE CONFIRMED AND PUBLISHED ON WEBSITE.
RW/RS
iv) Question for AT – please confirm if assessors and tutors are allowed to claim mileage
for attending courses/assessments – no-one has refused to help, but question has been
asked of CH.
Confirmed by RW that if they are HHUA members, they can claim mileage through the
website.
v) RW would also like to see a spreadsheet presented at every committee meeting of all
L1 candidates who have taken theory, to follow their progress.
RS pointed out that this has been a long-term problem – the suspicion is that lots of
potential umpires take the theory element but never progress further.
RW agreed that if a potential umpire does not want to pursue the practical element of
the course, there is not a lot we can do about it.
PG mentioned that 25% progressing to L1 standard recently is probably quite good,
sometimes level of entrants can be pitiful! An agreed – the Army conversion rate was
around 30%. GT mentioned that this may partially because of the need to have only
‘competent’ umpires for the majority of HWHL matches.
RS agreed and also mentioned that a number of young umpires may be taking the
theory and then going to university without completing the qualification.
4.2.6
CH
Saturday Appointments Secretary – DB (reported by RW in DB absence)
Some Women’s club have not yet registered an Umpire Liaison Officer, although this
may have been entered directly onto the website – DB to check.
DB
4.2.7
Association Development – RS
i) RS reported that another meeting with Tex and Roger Merry is to be arranged. Key to
further progress is to work out how to respond to the ideas suggested – last attempt at a
committee meeting was not wholly successful.
RW suggested any items are listed on the agenda to allow a full discussion.
RS explained that the purpose of the working group was really more ‘blue skies’ thinking
– looking at how to make HHUA more attractive to potential and club umpires.
RS/GT
ii) One issue that has been discussed previously is the shortage of women umpires
within the HHUA and it is unclear why this might be.
Several suggestions made as to why this was the case:
 Women umpires very often play as well and cannot commit the time to umpiring
a match as well as playing
 This also restricts the time they are available for coaching (in FS experience
many women umpires have not been prepared to spend time chatting through
their performance with a coach after the game)
 PG had not experienced same, but did feel that women umpires were not
prepared to be subjected to ‘abuse’ – perceived or real in a men’s game
 RS stated that this simply justified the status quo, rather than necessarily
addressing how to make HHUA membership more attractive.
 GT pointed out that there is very little available information for any new umpire
following their L1 qualification – there should at the very least be some promotion
of the benefits of HHUA membership on the website and other materials
available to encourage new umpires to join.
 FS asked if women coaches would make women umpires feel more at ease. PG
pointed out that SF was now coaching for that reason – senior umpires don’t
necessarily need to be coaches to encourage those at lower levels to participate.
 RS and GT both felt that the gender of the coach was not necessarily the
problem – some coaches suit different umpires better.
 JHol suggested that appointments secretaries know which matches are likely to
provide more stress than others, given the importance of the game and therefore
could assign a stronger umpire colleague to help them through.
 RW pointed out that the concern currently is more about getting them to the first
stages of umpiring i.e. joining HHUA and being available to umpire.
 RS stated that women don’t necessarily see umpiring as a ‘career’ path open to
them.
 JMG stated that umpiring across the country is traditionally male dominated
because of the lifestyle women choose. Vigorously contested by RS and GT!
 JMG said that encouragement was needed to help women see it as a viable and
worthwhile alternative to playing.
RW suggested that the topic needed further discussion outside of the committee, but
this was an issue that needed to be tackled as it a core part of the HHUA purpose.
4.2.8
SCHUA Rep – ME (delivered by AN in ME absence)
The following umpires from Hampshire are being taken forward for consideration:





N Hoskins
Alex Walsh
Jason Holcombe
Adrian Green
Andrew Clark (L2)
RS
Subject to availability, they will be watched at a pre-season tournament and expected to
be umpiring in the South before the full season start.
Matthew Knight and Phil Gain both found the level outside of their comfort zone during
last season.
A priority is to bring South umpires back to high level Hampshire team games to ensure
exposure at the right level.
4.2.9
Sunday Appointments Secretary – AN
i) Impressed with targets for young umpire development – suggest JH work with AN for
Sunday appointments. Also worth considering BUSA, HWHL D1 and Hants Men D1/2
for young umpires.
ii) AN also asked if any progress had been made with putting dialling code names on the
website to help with working out where umpires are based (e.g. Southampton (02380)
XXXXXX).
RW confirmed that members can see other members’ addresses as per the AGM
request, unless a member has specifically chosen not to have their address details
shown at all.
AN said that this doesn’t help those umpires who simply need to see the general area of
an umpire’s location. This request was applicable on behalf of SCHUA also.
RW to take forward.
RW
iii) AN mentioned that ‘starter packs’ used to be produced for new umpires – they should
be produced again and amended to reflect points made earlier.
CH
5
Any Other Business
5.1
President – JMG
i) JMG available again for coaching/assessment duties from 24.07.07.
ii) Encouragement should be given to new umpires to look at Indoor hockey as a way of
getting to grips with the basics in a pleasant atmosphere.
ii) EH are placing increasing emphasis on top flight matches to be played on Saturdays.
We should be aware that this will therefore have repercussions on Hampshire league
matches as top teams will want best pitch times and therefore other teams will have to fit
around them. Flexibility will be needed.
MW pointed out that this should only affect a few clubs initially: Southampton Ladies,
Trojans Ladies and Havant Men.
5.2
JH/AN
Chairman of HHA – MW
i) Key point that will affect both HHA and HHUA is development of the single system by
EH. Academies and Centres of Excellence are not due to formally be in place for 3
seasons, which gives county associations time to work out how to approach the change
(EH have realised they would not be able to implement the system without the support
and help of the county associations).
ii) Development officers – of the 3 in the region, MW has met with 2 of them. There are
no plans for these development officers to look at umpiring, which will be left to the
county associations. MW suggests that as there is a separately funded Hampshire
Development Officer, this person could be used to help with the young umpire
development programme.
iii) There is a central fund available each year for the next 3 years for southern counties
to use in the development of academies and coaching – especially juniors. This money
is also available to umpires and may help HHUA in the paying of expenses etc. RS
aware of what’s happening because of involvement with SAG. Hopefully there will be a
reasonable sum available and HHUA can make use of the Hampshire Development
Officer.
RW stated that the HHUA would be pleased to take up this offer – it could be used to
target female umpires.
iv) RS asked about the development of juniors. MW confirmed that there will be
‘Badger’ Leagues running, which is connected to the EH attempt to ban all juniors from
playing in adult leagues (even though this has failed). MW confirmed that only U13s are
banned from adult leagues, which is the preferred position taken by HHA and the South.
The juniors will therefore most likely play on Sunday mornings, so parents should be
available for coaching. There is a question over the umpire commitment required for
these leagues – it would be ideal for young umpires, but they will therefore require
coaches too.
v) PG asked if there has been discussion on the structure of the county leagues. MW
confirmed that information was available on the website. The men’s teams will be fully
integrated in 2 seasons’ time and with the exception of the South Premier 1 division,
teams will be mixed up from the current situation. This will cause a problem for HHUA
as the current policy to appoint to each 1st XI league match will have to change. MW
pointed out that this will also be rough on those clubs who pay their county dues, but
may not receive appointments depending on their League position. Fees are currently
levied according to actual appointments made. This will need further discussion once
more is known about the actual structure.
5.3
Chairman – RW
i) HHUA 07/08 AGM will be held on Tuesday 10th June 2008 – request to MW that HHA
AGM is held one week later, as HHUA should report to HHA AGM. To be discussed at
next HHA meeting.
CB
ii) HHUA committee meetings for 07/08 (also listed on website):
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Tuesday 11th September, 7.30pm, RWMCC (apols: JHol, JMG, PH)
Tuesday, 13th November, 7.30pm, RWMCC
Tuesday 15th January 2008, 7.30pm, RWMCC
Tuesday 11th March, 2008, 7.30pm, RWMCC
Tuesday 13th May, 2008, 7.30pm, RWMCC
iii) Committee member normally elected to sit on Executive Team. AN has done this
previously. Nominated again by PH, seconded JHol.
iv) RW extended thanks to committee for travelling to such a short meeting.
Meeting closed 8.45pm.
AN
Signed:
Ginette Tessier
HHUA Honorary Secretary
CHAIRMAN
RICHARD WOOD
15, OAKDENE,
GOSPORT,
HAMPSHIRE
PO13 0DB
Richard Wood
HHUA Chairman
VICE-CHAIRMAN
ROWENA SHEPHERD
COETIR,
7C, WRECCLESHAM HILL,
FARNHAM,
SURREY GU10 4JN
SECRETARY
GINETTE TESSIER
103A RICHMOND PARK ROAD
QUEENS PARK
BOURNEMOUTH
DORSET BH8 8TZ
TREASURER
ALAN THORPE
COETIR,
7C, WRECCLESHAM HILL,
FARNHAM,
SURREY GU10 4JN
[email protected]
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Telephone: 01329 310919
Telephone: 01252 711869
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