Umpire Development Programme

Introduction

Telford Hockey Club is launching its new Hockey Development programme open to all players and parents.

The first objective is to develop more umpires to Level One Umpire standard to support our teams. The new league structure and rules has greatly increased the requirement for qualified umpires and this is a very welcome step in raising hockey standards overall.

Recent Examples

We have some great examples, with Ben Stevens and Bradley Williams now qualified and Jon Cook and Sadie Dain ready to take the next step. We also have many players umpiring as well as playing... but we need more!

 

The Core Plan – Umpire Level One Qualification

The Level One qualification represents the standard qualification for club umpires and the requirement for most club games.

This qualification is available for anyone aged 14 upwards.

 

The Benefits of Umpiring

For Badgers, it is a great personal development option whether part of other education qualifications or helping players to understand the game from the other side of the whistle.

For parents, it does not matter if you have played the game or not, and it will add to your enjoyment and understanding when watching the game. Better than just standing on the sidelines?

And for everyone, very simply, it is a fantastic way to get to know your way round the club and meet more people whilst having fun.

 

The Steps for Umpire Level One Qualification

The plan is to achieve qualification from scratch within a three month period. Anyone who has umpired before will probably progress more quickly and the time needed may vary.

Step One – The England Hockey (“EH”) Online Course comprising a Rules Test and online course. (There are opportunities for you to take this course at various locations around the country, should you wish)

Step Two – Umpiring Practice (estimated at 4/5 games)

Step Three – Match Assessment by Level Two Umpire

 

This balance of courses and actual umpiring supports an umpire in learning good habits early. Both courses will be relatively early although confident umpires with some prior knowledge can umpire before.

It is not a one size fits all and we will be flexible, supportive and give feedback.

The umpiring practice will be structured to allow progression with increasing demands in terms of speed, hockey skill levels and game management (a big part of the umpire’s role as he/she deals with the many characters in a hockey team).

Badgers games will feature strongly for all as this allows early practice and progression to the older teams as well as ability for our Saturday umpires to watch and coach.

We will also pair developing umpires with qualified umpires on games with occasional use of radios for communication (the new radios are superb and the club is starting to use them).

When the EH Online Course has been completed and enough experience gained then adult Saturday games will be umpired, again with increasing difficulty.

We will arrange Assessments when umpires are ready.

 

Costs

The Online Course cost is £30 with no other costs for Assessment or otherwise with costs met by the club.

 

More information

More details and registration to Hockey Hub can be found here https://hockeyhub.englandhockey.co.uk/officiating

Or contact Chris Chiverton chris.chiverton66@gmail.com