VAFA Field Umpires 2012 Coaching Manual EXPECTATIONS In preparing to umpire in the VAFA in 2012, I’d like you to consider what the coaches expectations are of you as umpires. A few thoughts are listed below but you might have others in mind: Strive for an excellent knowledge and understanding of the Laws, their Interpretations and the Spirit of the Laws Train regularly with purpose and enthusiasm Attend and participate fully in coaching sessions Seek continual self-improvement Attempt to apply feedback from your coaches Be open, honest and approachable in your communication with your coaches and the football community Be loyal and supportive of your colleagues Build positive relationships with the football community Take pride in the job that you’re doing Be a role model in behaviour and personal appearance Place the safety and welfare of the match participants above all else More, please… In the two umpire system, umpires using their partner’s whistle as a trigger In the three umpire system, the MZ umpire taking control of ball ups and boundary throw ins from around 35 metres to the arc. Reason: there must always be an umpire in the EZ close to goal Umpires working as a team. Good consultation between all umpires. Plenty of tap throughs, including awareness of the position of the other umpire for “chest tap throughs” For set shots at goal, the umpire staying at the mark until the player with the ball has stopped moving For set shots at goal, the umpire displaying forward vision while and after backing off For effective set kick control in general play, umpires should be no more than 15 metres away Umpires using their voice instead of their whistle for effective set kick control Umpires going in to set up the mark when the ball goes out of bounds on the full, especially near the behind post At boundary throw ins, no more than 15 metres away For a consultation, blow time on; the first question you ask is: What did you see? No leading questions No unnecessary talk such as calling play on at ruck contests, when marks aren’t taken on the first grab or when players dive on the ball Umpires being specific with their instructions, e.g. “come back two metres, please”, “wait till I’ve blown time on, please” etc Umpires checking their appointment, arriving at least one hour before the scheduled starting time with all the right gear Umpires knowing and using the names of all the other appointed umpires Umpires ready to tell the match day observer their focus areas for the day Umpires holding back on the whistle for a fraction of a second, thinking through the process and getting the decision correct: WAIT Umpires blowing time on when they pay 25 metre penalties Umpires only calling advantage when play is continuous and the player elects to take it Umpires NOT calling advantage if players elect not to take it; if play is not continuous; for centre square or circle infringements; when out of zone free kicks are paid Umpires not recalling advantages (can never be done if you’ve called it) OUT OF ZONE FREE KICKS 1. In general play, if you see an infringement that you believe the controlling umpire has missed, your first consideration is NOT: Do I pay this free kick? Your first consideration is: What position is the umpire in? If he or she is on the same plane as you and has no players obstructing their view, as a general rule, you should refrain from paying free kicks. If, however, you believe the controlling umpire is not in the best position to see the infringement, then your next consideration is: Am I 100% sure of what I’ve seen? Therefore, the whistle will be later than normal because you as the non- controlling umpire are weighing up the factors above. As a non-controlling umpire, you CANNOT pay free kicks for HOLDING THE BALL or other areas that are open to interpretation such as DELIBERATE OUT OF BOUNDS (unless the ball has been knocked over on the full at a ruck contest and is not seen by the umpire) or DELIBERATE RUSHED BEHINDS (unless the ball is knocked over the scoring area on the full and is not seen by the umpire). 2. Free kicks at stoppages. This is an area where you have to be careful. The Laws of football do not specifically cover this area but there are infringements such as “pushing, bumping or blocking an opposition player when the football is further than 5 metres away... or is out of play”. Therefore, early in the match you should be identifying who the key onballlers are and their run with opponents and keeping a close eye on them. Being proactive with your communication (“no blocks or holds”, “let him have a clear run” etc) should be your first priority. Of course this equally applies to the umpire in control and those who are not officiating at the time. SEND OFFS IN VAFA FOOTBALL Yellow Card This is for send offs for an audible obscenity without a report being made. The player may be replaced immediately. The offending player is off for 12 minutes of playing time. (In Under 18 and Under 19 matches, players behaving in a generally unruly manner may be sent off using a Yellow Card without report) Red Card This is for most reportable incidents. The player may not be replaced. The player may return or be replaced after 12 minutes of playing time. Black Card This is for SERIOUS INCIDENTS including but not limited to: KICKING, ATTEMPTING TO KICK, EYE GOUGING, MAKING CONTACT WITH OR STRIKING AN UMPIRE, A SERIOUS ACT OF MISCONDUCT. The player may not return to the field. The player may be replaced after 12 minutes of playing time. If boundary or goal umpires make reports, you need to accompany them to the reported player where they will notify the player of the report. You can then show the appropriate card. TACKLING THE PLAYER IN POSSESSION o A player in possession of the ball and tackled illegally will be awarded a free kick o The player who has possession of the ball and is tackled correctly by an opponent shall be given a reasonable time to kick or handball or attempt to kick or handball the ball o The player who has possession of the ball and has had an opportunity to dispose of it and is then tackled correctly by an opponent, must immediately kick or handball the ball o The ball shall be kept in motion There are 4 distinct areas related to tackling players in possession: DIVING ON THE BALL (Law 15.2.5) Did the player DIVE ON THE BALL or DRAG THE BALL IN? Was he tackled legally? Did he knock it clear immediately? If not, holding the ball should be paid RUCK CONTESTS (Law 15.2.3 c) Did the player take the ball out of the ruck? Was he tackled legally? Did he kick or handball immediately after being tackled? If not, holding the ball should be paid PRIOR OPPORTUNITY (Law 15.2.3 a) Did the player take 3 steps? Was the player swung 360 degrees? Did the player bounce the ball? Did the player already beat one tackle? Was the player tackled legally? Did he actually kick or handball? NO PRIOR OPPORTUNITY (Law 15.2.3 b) Was the player claimed immediately? Was it a legal tackle? Did the player attempt to kick or handball? If the player has one arm free, he has to make an effort to kick or handball To pay holding the ball there must be a legal tackle A bump is NOT a tackle A push in the side or front is NOT a tackle Knocking a player’s arm is NOT a tackle Knocking the ball out a player’s grasp (unless this is also part of a tackle) is NOT a tackle A tackle above the shoulders (including on top of the shoulders) or below the knees is NOT a legal tackle RUCK CONTESTS If the ball is taken out of the ruck, WAIT… If there is a legal tackle and the player does not kick or handball immediately (after the tackle), it is HOLDING THE BALL. If it is a poor throw in, bounce or ball up, recall it. DIVING ON THE BALL or DRAGGING IT IN When a player dives on the ball or drags it in, WAIT… Don’t be in a rush to ball it up. Wait and see if there is a legal tackle. If there is, the player who dragged the ball in must knock it clear immediately after he is tackled. If a team mate of the “diver” is holding the ball in, that is a huge clue that holding the ball should be paid. However, there still must be a tackle. Falling on the ball after being bumped or tackled is NOT diving on the ball. In this instance, the player on the ball must make an ATTEMPT when tackled. PRIOR OPPORTUNITY Prior opportunity is regarded as having taken 3 steps OR being spun at least 360 degrees OR already having beaten one tackle but not the second. If any of these occur and there is a legal tackle, the attempt to kick or handball must be successful or holding the ball should be paid. NO PRIOR OPPORTUNITY An attempt to kick or handball is OK. But again, to pay holding the ball, WAIT… and see if the player does not make a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball.