Umpiring

[sWAns63]

I believe the only way to improve umpiring is to have open criticism of umpiring after the game by any means whether it be by coaches or players.
The only way to raise the standard is to have their performances scrutanised to such a level that the umpires like players have their peformance called into question.
For too long the umpires have been heavily influenced by the crowd reaction and have been protected by the AFL.
It's time they opened up the criticism to include umpires maybe then the crappy ones would be sacked or pressured out of the game and the better ones would rise to the top.
The only other way is if umpires have a press conferance on their poor decisions after the game.
Those are the only ways short of replays (which we all don't want) that would improve the poor umpiring
standard.
It's just a matter of time before the GF is decided on a poor umpiring decision

[Mike_B]

I think the NRL had found a happy medium - coaches are allowed to criticise refereeing decisions, but are not allowed to insinuate any bias on their behalf. This way the referees have to be more accountable because the people directly affected by their decisions are able to voice their concerns.

The AFL would do well to adopt a similar approach.

[Slick Swans]

What i don't understand is that an umpire can constantly put in bad performances and people just say "Umpirings a high pressure job", where as a player has one bad performance and gets dropped. In case people had forgotten playing footy is a fairly "high pressure job" as well.

[SXP]

You're forgetting one thing. Players are fully professional, umps are not.

[dimelb]

Urgently needed - more training and infrastructure support for umps.

[dawson]

Polly Farmer is still bitter and twisted about the 1967 Grand Final and after Friday night you can't blame him.

What the AFL needs is umpires with a 'Collina' personality who take no crap from the players and let the players know exactly who the boss is.

There are always going to be grey decisions but to pick out such a minor thing in a close match is bewildering and bizarre.

I wouldnt stop at McInerney. Sack Gieschen and Anderson while youre at it.

Why do we always get the dud decisions? Like the really bad ones that swing the course of the match.

Like when we played Essendon last year at the G. Bolton took a mark and he awarded a free kick to Solomon. Someone ran over the mark and he then gave 50 against us.

Ok we may have got Cressa's one to win the game against North but would rather not win that way if it meant we didn;t lose that way.

[ScottH]

I don't know why they can't have one or two umps (4th/5th Ump) up in a box, connected by ear pieces to the field umps. On touch and go decisions they 4th ump can advise them, like in the Leo Barry incident.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by ScottH
I don't know why they can't have one or two umps (4th/5th Ump) up in a box, connected by ear pieces to the field umps. On touch and go decisions they 4th ump can advise them, like in the Leo Barry incident.

four hour matches.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by timthefish
four hour matches.

LOL, not to stop the game like the do in NRL, but to give advice if they see something the other blind dogs don't!!

[timthefish]

Re: Umpiring

Originally posted by sWAns63
I believe the only way to improve umpiring is to have open criticism of umpiring after the game by any means whether it be by coaches or players.
The only way to raise the standard is to have their performances scrutanised to such a level that the umpires like players have their peformance called into question.

i agree that there is an issue of freedom of speech from the most respected coaches in the game but nonetheless if open criticism is allowed it will be all to easy for umpires to become the scapegoats for many poorly performed teams and coaches.
i reiterate my point made elsewhere that i've never seen a match in which the errors of an umpire have a greater bearing on the match that the plethora of errors in judgement made by players and coaches routinely.
open criticism may be acceptable if it were to only occur at the top level where umpires are paid reasonably well. encouraging the increasingly intolerant culture of blame that exists in our society would have a hugely damaging effect upon the recruitment and development of umpires at other levels of the game.

playing in the sydney afl, it makes me cringe and want to gut myself with embarrassement when i see volunteer umpires being abused by players, coaches and observers; sometimes from the same club. doing linesman and goal umpiring duties can be be unpleasant because of the attitudes of some of the arrogant jerks out there. it is, not unsurprisingly, often quite difficult to get someone to take these roles on. there is no doubt in my mind that these attitudes are influenced by the examples set at higher levels.

as i've said elsewhere and others have in the above postings, the thing that will really make the difference is better training, support and remuneration of umpires. what with the expense of putting on games and the responsibilities of the umpires, i see no reason that with greater experience and perfomance that i believe can be extracted, pay levels of 5-10k per match would not be unwarrented.

the other thing that that people can do to raise the standard is get involved. go down to your local club and volunteer to run the boundary or run water. it will be greatly appreciated and there might be a powerade in it for you. if you care even more you might investigate the possibility of learning to umpire.

[connolly]

So your solution is:
1. Whopping great pay rise to reward abject incompetence
2. we all become umpires
3. stifle criticism from the major stakeholders - the clubs
Brilliant solution. Why don't you send it off to the AFL, they are sure to take it up Scotty

[ScottH]

Originally posted by jimmyconnolly
So your solution is:
1. Whopping great pay rise to reward abject incompetence
2. we all become umpires
3. stifle criticism from the major stakeholders - the clubs
Brilliant solution. Why don't you send it off to the AFL, they are sure to take it up Scotty

Where did I indicate any of that???

[connolly]

Originally posted by ScottH
Where did I indicate any of that???

No you didn't - sorry. I was following tim the fish up his creek without a paddle. I though my reply was attached to his heroic attempts to defend the indefencible

[connolly]

Originally posted by ScottH
Where did I indicate any of that???

But then again perhaps you are Scott McLaren not fishy tim?

[ScottH]

Originally posted by jimmyconnolly
But then again perhaps you are Scott McLaren not fishy tim?

No Comment!!