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Inge On Umpiring Cricket And Hockey

also the first yellow for the match. So she blows the whistle long
and loud, then realises that the only thing missing in her stored
information is the ‘who-done-it’. No better woman than ‘Jane’
to go through with it, over-act the stopping of time, and then
a very loud and confident ‘up you come’. And up he came….
Needless to say she went on to have an international career and
today is a very experienced Tournament Director for the FIH.

England hockey, along with other sporting organisations, are
doing their utmost to use the forced lull in competitive action
for upskilling, training and other online activities. The other
week, they organised a zoom call for umpires based on ‘what do
the players want from us’. The main speakers were two interna-
tional players who had experience of different leagues and even
different countries: the male player started his playing career
Rules and Wording in Northern Ireland, the female in Scotland, both now playing
in and for England/GB. One of their main ‘issues’ was that um-
pires don’t always clearly communicate, or consistently, and the
Having been in lockdown for 14 weeks means I’ve been very way we assess a situation in front of us is something that could
much governed by rules and wording in a new situation, and easily cause friction with players. I call it ‘pitching interpretation
all the changes, news, fake news and presentations that come and application of rules at the right level’. This is one of the most
with it. It made me think of situations I’ve been in, in sports, or difficult things for an umpire to get under their belt, though.
witnessed that were slightly confusing, confused or very much Someone who has just been promoted to a higher standard of
to the letter. I’m using aliases, no name-calling intended! hockey or cricket, needs to up their game very quickly. Not only
the speed of the game is usually quicker, a lot of players are far
As a starter for ten, I witnessed a hockey match in Amstelveen, more skilled than what they were used to see before, and ‘the
south of Amsterdam, where one of the two umpires was my way the game is played’ can also be quite different. It is prob-
then boyfriend, we’ll name him Joe. It was a men’s match and ably why at higher standards of sport, having played the game
at some point in the second half, Joe decided there had been at a decent standard as an umpire really helps. Once you get
an infringement of the rules and he also decided both players the ‘gist’ of this, getting more experience at that level and being
involved – one from each team – should be awarded a yellow seen to do more matches is very important, along with a clear
card. So Joe blew the whistle and looked around, only finding desire and ability to ‘learn on the job’. A topic for another day, I
one of the two players involved. The other one had hidden digress.
himself amongst his teammates, knowing that he had been
facing the umpire and chances were he hadn’t been able to get The whole zoom-session made me remember a few incidents
his shirt number. However, the player had made a crucial error, that happened to me in the 2019-2020 season. I’m a bit of an
as the other umpire, ‘Ed’, had in fact witnessed the same scene intuitive umpire and the league I often umpire in does not have
and had taken note of his shirt number. So while Joe suspended neutral umpires, so each team brings their own umpire. One
the defender, Ed summoned and suspended the attacker. At the of the forwards on the team I was umpiring for, ‘Jack’, got a bit
time, suspended players were supposed to ‘sit’ their time behind cut off by a defender and I know Jack needs a bit of managing.
a goal. After 5 minutes, both players were told they could get The action was enough for a free, but not enough, at least in
back onto the pitch and so they did. Sound reasonable? Yes, that my opinion, for a card. Jack, however, obviously felt he had to
was what the 2 umpires thought as well. After the match, I was make a point with this defender, and a few minutes later, he
asked for feedback, especially on the incident described as my decided to make it. As, by that time, I can see him searching
boyfriend wanted to know how the second player had escaped for opportunities and I can also see a bit of ‘steam’ coming ‘out
him. I laughed and told him how that player, very cleverly, had of his ears’, I know that I need to keep half an eye on what he is
moved himself out of eyesight. But then I told him that what doing on the ball – Jack isn’t very subtle, he will not usually go
happened next had been even funnier. It turned out, the two for something sneaky. Next, he does something stupid in front
players had been behind the ‘enemy’ goal rather than their own. of me and the bench – what is it with home umpires at this level
So great use of the rules, just a tiny little thing of the wording. who don’t want to take on the bench? – but I think ‘well, you
Yes – cheeky. had that coming’.

Another hockey example from a colleague. Back in the day, So, I blow the whistle hard and make the ‘stop this’ sign, then
when we hadn’t even thought of using radios, one of my female walk back to ‘my’ manager and tell him to give Jack a bit of
colleagues was umpiring a district premier men’s match. As we rest and talk to him. I think it was the fourth or fifth match I
were still getting used to the different speed and different style umpired the team and I had already realised Jack benefits from
of playing in the men’s game, at one point of time she witnessed a little time off to ponder what he’s doing, but not necessarily
something and decided that she had to award a card. This was through cards. And I made sure my ‘advice’ could be overheard

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