2012 Annual Report & Year Book - saafl

UMPIRES REPORT
his season has seen an increase in the number of field
T umpire participation over the previous season which has
been a positive especially given many experienced umpires
returned after a few years off, this helped with strengthening the
middle grades and providing added support for our
inexperienced field umpires. Club umpires were required in only
5 rounds during the year, all in Division 7.
Once again we had a relatively large amount of umpires who
suffered soft tissue injury at the early part of the season which
cause selection concern throughout the year. This is an area we
will look at prior to season 2013.
One of my key objectives this year was to improve consistency
with our field umpires. This was achieved by getting back to the
basics in all areas, paying the first free kick, giving the player
making the ball the prime objective every opportunity to gain
possession and dispose of it correctly.
Another was zero tolerance on high tackles throughout all
grades. This was effectively achieved in the higher grades and
in some lower grades where the umpires attend training and are
reinforced with the coaching team’s objectives.
I am looking at increasing the number of assistant coaches for
field umpires next year, this will be reasonably informal. We do
notice a quick improvement in umpire’s performances when
they have had some one on one coaching, a more direct
approach focussing on noticeable areas where the umpire can
improve.
During any given Saturday we would have a minimum of 5
people observing field umpires and at least 3 observing goal
and boundary umpires. A written report of the umpire’s
performance was emailed to the umpire no more than 2 days
after their game, in most occasions by Monday afternoon giving
all parties the opportunity to discuss if need be on Tuesday
night at training. A minimum of 20 umpires would be observed
each Saturday.
We have purchase our own video camera with tripod and
television which will provide us with opportunities to not only film
Paul Montesi
our umpires during games but also provide a valuable tool to
film areas of umpiring at training where we can play back during
lectures and coaching sessions.
I attended a meeting prior to season commencement with 3
members of the tribunal with a view to bridge the
communication gap which has existed over previous years, this
meeting was positive and along with Ron Stennert’s attendance
at one of our early lectures, the relationship between the
tribunal and the umpires is improving. We will build on this going
forward. The increase in support of the umpires by the tribunal
has been well accepted and appreciated; we look forward to
further improvements next year.
Communication with club coaches or suitable personnel from
clubs was less than anticipated. Visits to a few clubs during the
year provided an enjoyable and I believe a mutually positive
experience and also helped build relationships, I would like to
see this happen a lot more in 2013 and will be implementing a
programme at the start of the year to ensure this happens. I did
not have an opportunity to meet with the club coaches as a
group this year, I feel this is important and will encourage this
meeting to proceed next year.
Administration was handled well this year mainly due to the
hours Peter Angel has available. We were on top of the early
season administrative requirements due to my early
involvement and the information we had from last year. We will
however seek to implement some more rigid procedure next
year especially in the areas of lower grade appointments and
commination with club umpires and recreation umpires.
Recruitment currently happens through word of mouth and
enquired on the AFL website and through the advertisements
late in the year. Our league is unique in a sense as umpire and
player involvement and attachment seems to be longer than
involvement in the SANFL or the AFL. We need to develop a
focussed strategy early in the New Year to target potential new
umpires.
Casey Cooper Medal: Carsten Dethlefsen
Rex Lambert Achievement Award: Matthew Schmidt
Best First Year Field Umpire: Alistair Cameron
Most Improved Field Umpire: Chris Rasch
Rick Starkie Medal Boundary Umpire: Cory Watkins
Best First Year Boundary Umpire: Scott Hargraves
Most Dedicated Boundary Umpire: Ian Handley
Most Improved Goal Umpire: James Smart
Alan Egan Goal Umpire Award: John Biggs
23 SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
TEAM OF THE YEAR
SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE 24