Camden Valley

[tara]

Northern sounds like you guys have found a reasonably happy medium.

A couple of weeks ago I umpired our Ressies match against Sydney Uni. I know I made mistakes but I was also happy to clarify decisions when queried. Players had no problems when I quickly gave a running clarification why a decision was or wasnt made. I was more than happy with that fact that both sides didnt see a need to abuse me of the other blokes that were helping but was left wondering why umpires feel the need to be unaccountable for their decisions. I over the course of my playing days have been pretty bad for giving them a serve but usually becuase they refuse to clarify anything, prefering instead to march you fifty or send you if you see fit to query them. At least when you get an insight into how they are umpiring you can play to it

I probably would be happy to umpire in the future but would only want to do SWS games so that I could stay involved with the club. I couldnt see the league allowing that as I doubt they would believe that I could remain neutral. One reason I do not umpire goals is because I cost us a game against Manly a few years back with a line ball decision (pretty hard to look at your team mates when you know they feel you cost them 4 points - at least I can look at myself n the mirror though). I couldnt take satisfaction from cheating.

Who do you play for up there anyway?

[Northern_Swan]

I'm with cardiff (hence the sig at the bottom of my posts).
You make some very good points about the umpiring fraternity- generally those who were players tend to make the best umpires as they seem to umpire the game they wanted it to be played & they answer the questions to justify their decisions. Accountability for the pay they recieve is a big issue up here- some of the officials seem to think the game is there for them, not the other way around.
The point you make about wanting to still be involved with the club is interesting. The league up here is trying to instigate a situation where each club has one umpire who does the 18's and can still be involved with their club. Lets face it- club volunteers are up there with Umpires- scarce as hens teeth. Its just another attempt to break down the perception that running around in the orange is akin to shaking hands with the devil.
We need to face it- without the players there is no need for an umpire- but without an umpire we'll slowly end up with no players.

To get back on topic- from an outsiders perspective, it would be a shame to see clubs leave the Sydney AFL to join the South Coast. I'm not sure how the Syd AFL is run but i'd have to think there is a way to air the greivences that these clubs have with the way their competition is being run, to ensure it is improved. The competition will achieve nothing by those packing up their kit and setting up elsewhere, especially if they find the grass is not so green on the other side and they decide to come back.

[tara]

I think it is primarly a potentially well thought out threat that may sting the AFL into action. I know that Pekay hates the predicament he was placed in and would dealy love to be fielding two sides in our Division again. I would really hate to see more sides especialy mine disappear.

Sorry I didnt notice your sig. I have played trials against Nelson Bay and Wyong over the years.

[swansrock4eva]

I must admit, in my first year of local footy involvement, I have worked with both UNSW and Greater Western U18s, and was flabbergasted when at my second match with GWP, I suddenly ended up in the goal square waving the flags, and the boys on the field playing were also the ones throwing in. I know umpires are hard to come by, but I think a lot of that relates back to the way the senior level umpires are perceived - "white maggots" etc etc - who'd want to sign their kid up for that?

I know the AFL have been trying to promote better treatment of officials etc, but they really need to be a LOT more out there with their campaigns, and the campaigns need to target all levels - players, club officials, supporters etc, and across all levels of footy. Having said that though, a lot of that simply can't happen while so many contentious rules are so interpretation-based rather than clear black and white. If you could remove the discrepancies in interpretation, and the veil under which some umpires seem to operate, I think you'd see much better treatment of the officials. But until the umps get a better wrap one way or another, you're probably going to struggle getting new blood into the umpiring ranks.

Well, my $0.02 anyway!

[nugget]

These views are all valid.

As swansrock4eva said with the bad wrap that umpires get at all levels why would you want to sign up for it.

I umpired junior footy when I was about 14. So I was umpiring U9 at the time. Even then you would have the occassional game where the parents would hurl abuse. I was only doing it for the free pie and coke and the fact that I was there anyway watching my brother before I played.

Anyway back to the point. We've had this discussion numerous times at home. I remember my Mum saying a few years later that she used to hate me umpiring in case of the abuse particularly against a certain club.

This became worse as the coaches were on the field at that age group and this coach was the worst of the lot. It's sad that he actually became a rep coach a few years later on.

When coaches are leading the way with the abuse (at all levels of football) what hope is there of recruiting umpires.