Having the players respect from the beginning is only the first step be it a vital one. Learn how you can step toward respect in your umpiring and become your best. To help, here are 3 things all new umpires should know to start out on the road to respect.
There is only one thing a player, coach or spectator wants to know about any umpire; Are they going to be any good? Not surprisingly, whether or not you dress well has little to do with how good you are as an umpire. The shabbiest umpire is still preferred over a well dressed umpire who makes all the wrong calls or yells at the players. However, it has a huge impact on the level of respect they pay you during play.
From the moment you walked onto that court, people started making assumptions about you. This isn’t a dig at people being superficial. There is so much information we as individuals are bombarded with that making quick judgment calls has become second nature. As unfair as this is, understanding and using this knowledge can pave the way to success.
Imagine this. You step out onto the court for the first time, whistle in hand. As all the players step out onto the court, every single one looks you over. No one smiles to see you. No one says hello. And then, as they have all taken their positions you see all 14 players look to you to blow the first whistle to start the game.
We don’t like to acknowledge it, but a players respect is something we all need to have to be able to perform at our best. No one does a great job when everyone is rolling their eyes at your every decision. One mistake can sometimes take you down a slippery slope of doubt and self-recrimination that is reflected in more incorrect decisions. This is a very ugly place to be and requires a very strong self confidence to dig your way out of. So walking out onto the court with your hair out of your eyes, your clothing neat and clean and your whistle at the ready, your eyes scanning the court with an open and clear expression can have a tremendous impact.
So #1 in an umpires toolbox has to be; Look the part.
Having the players respect from the beginning is only the first step be it a vital one. After the initial whistle, it is then up to you to consistently perform to the best of your ability. Luckily there are another 3 key actions you can use in the ‘fake it ‘till you make it’ tool box.
These are:
1. A sharp, consistent whistle tone;
2. A clear mid-range vocal tone and;
3. Hand signals where your elbows are a distance away from your body.
These 3 actions portray the level of confidence you have in your call. A soft whistle sounds as though you don’t think the call you are making it correct. This may just be that you are scared, that your pea has gotten stuck (a really good excuse if everyone turns to look at you – give your whistle a little shake to make it convincing) or your are just puffed out. But to the player on the court, a soft whistle is a clear signal that this umpire can be intimidated so the player could then do their best to make sure that happens to their advantage.
A clear voice is essential to let the players know why you blew the whistle in the first place. Even at home, having to ask someone to repeat themselves because they were mumbling can be annoying. On the court where time is a vital commodity, a misunderstanding can very quickly lead to a significant drop in respect from all the players. So prepare yourself. Before stepping onto the court you should practice making calls in front of a mirror and do a self assessment. Practice will also help the words flow even when you are not at your best. Luckily, the rule book is very clear on the wording for any infringement, be it minor or major. Infringement, Player, Sanction and Location. Always. Every call.
Last but not least are your hand signals. From a stadium with multiple courts to outdoor courts on a windy day or a single game with vocal spectators, it is always the case that not all players will be able to hear all of what you have to say. Therefore the best way to effectively communicate to everyone, near and far, is using hand signals. We use our first hand signal to identify the infringement and the second to help the players locate where they are to take the sanction. But like any communication we don’t want to mumble our hand signals. A mumbled hand signal is one that is very low and/or close to your body. Your hand signals should be a clear statement. With your elbows away from your body and your hands at chest height or above your head. Always. Every call.
The rest is up to you and your knowledge and understanding of the rules. If you are lucky enough to have a coach/mentor/supervisor they will help guide you through this portion to level up your umpiring proficiency however your look, whistle, voice and hand signals will be the quickest way to have enjoyable, games for you and the players where you all achieve your best.
Amanda Dale
National A Netball Umpire
Some wonderful advice here for all umpires to take on board. Thank you.
Thank yoI Rosemary. Lovely to hear. ♥️
Thanks Amanda. The most baffling thing I’ve seen in recent times is the heel pivot. It looks an unnatural, trained skill to allow players extra movement. I wondered where the umpire is to decide the landed position. Is it the first toe position on the ground or the toes second position on the ground?
The Rule book defines the pivot on page 10.
“ Pivot: a movement where the player with the ball swivels either on the heel or on the ball of the landing foot while this maintains contact with the ground.”
As you are allowed to pivot, if the player chooses the heel as their pivot point we must then take our distance from the nearer part of the landed foot as described in Rule 11.1(iii) on page 58.
This is true at the time of the current rule book Jan 2020.
The Rule Book is your best friend.
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