Umpires are the cornerstone of hockey, without them there would be chaos on the field!
The decision of the umpire has the ability to change the course of the game and although umpiring can be challenging (having to make tough calls in the moment despite the pressure of players and fans) it can also be rewarding as you have the opportunity to control game play and educate players. Being a good umpire is about being consistent and positioning yourself in the right spot to see the play.
At South West United, we understand it takes time to develop umpires and so we partner our new umpires with skilled and experienced mentors to give guidance, support and feedback throughout their umpiring journey.
If you want to know more about becoming an umpire, please contact Kathy O'Sullivan, our umpire coordinator for junior grass by email at tkos@bigpond.com.