goal umpires booklet - Eastern Football League

GOAL UMPIRING 

INFORMATION BOOKLET 

© Eastern Football League 2013

CONTENTS 

SECTION A 

Explanation of Booklet 

SECTION B 

Code of Conduct & Expectations 

SECTION C 

Uniform and Other Required Items 

SECTION D 

Requirements prior to commencement of match 

SECTION E 

Goal umpiring information 

(a) Position astride the goal line 

(b) Position under the flight of the ball 

(c) Assisting a boundary umpire 

(d) All clear by field umpire 

(e) Noting and checking of scores 

(f) Selected laws of the game 

(g) Signals 

G:\UMPIRES\booklets\Umpiring Booklets\Goal\EFL Goal Umpiring Information Booklet 2013.doc Page 2 


SECTION A 

Explanation of Booklet 

This booklet contains information helpful to goal umpires. It is not intended 

that it covers all aspects of goal umpiring, rather basic information that will 

allow new umpires especially to have a level of knowledge necessary to 

commence their umpiring. 

More detailed information will be given to umpires at coaching sessions 

held weekly. 

SECTION B 

Umpire Code of Conduct and Expectations 

As an EFL Umpire, you have a must ensure you uphold the position and 

maintain a professional approach at all times. 

• Appointments/Commitment – You are expected to be available for 

selection each week of the season. If you are unavailable for any 

reason, please provide your relevant coach with 10 days prior 

notice as well as noting your unavailability on the leagues 

Appointment System Schedula at www.schedula.com.au. In 

circumstances where illness strikes leading up to and on match day, 

you must contact your coach of your unavailability. 

• Dress Standards/Uniform – All umpires are expected to arrive at 

their match in a neat manner wearing the official Umpire EFL polo 

top and /or jacket, clean trousers (no shorts, ripped jeans etc.) and 

suitable footwear (no thongs). 

Your umpiring uniform should also be clean and well-presented with 

clean white boots or runners, a tucked-in shirt and garters or tape to 

hold up your socks. 

• Personal Appearance – You are expected to present yourself in a 

neat groomed manner for every match you are officiating in (i.e. 

groomed hair, clean shaven). 

• Training Requirements – Umpires are encouraged to attend training 

and coaching sessions on Wednesday evenings (during the 

season). Regular training/coaching session attendance is taken into 

consideration when appointing umpires to finals. 



• Behaviour - You are expected to represent our umpiring group by 

conducting yourself in a professional manner at all times. This 

includes at umpire functions, training and before, during and after 

any match. Umpires, who also play football in the EFL, are expected 

to be respectful of officiating umpires during their match. Any 

umpire, who receives a yellow or red card whilst playing, will 

automatically be suspended from umpiring for minimum of one 

match, depending of the severity of the offence. 

• Umpires are not permitted to use derogatory comments about any 

umpire, the EFL or any official publically, either verbally or through 

any public/social medium. 

• Smoking and the consumption of alcohol whilst in your umpires 

uniform is strictly prohibited. 

SECTION C 

UNIFORM and Other Required Items 

Umpire appointment details Spare scorecards 

Umpires handbook 

Pencils 

Report forms 

Eraser 

Pen 

Clipboard 

Rule Book 

Flag holders 

Black trousers White flags (3) 

Black socks 

White hat 

Uniform top 

Black boots 

Uniform coat 



SECTION D 

Requirements Prior to Commencement of Match 

1. Be in the umpires change room and changed into your umpiring 

uniform by at least 45 minutes prior to start time of your match. 

2. Regularly advise both the field and boundary umpires of the time to 

ensure the group enters the playing arena five minutes prior to match 

start time. This is also required of the goal umpires at half time too so 

it is important to be aware of the finish time of the second quarter. 

3. Enter the playing arena immediately behind the boundary umpires 

and walk to the centre of the ground. 

4. As soon as the toss of the coin is completed, walk to the goal area at 

which you are to officiate and place your flags in the flag holders as 

appropriate. At half time do so at the time the first of the teams enter 

the playing arena. 

* If running late to arrive at the game contact must be made with your 

coach. 

SECTION E 

Goal Umpiring Information 

(a) 

Position astride the goal line 

Goal umpires should be positioned astride the goal line on the following 

occasions 

• a ball kicked at goal and drops at or near the goal line 

• the ball is bouncing along the ground towards the goal 

line 

• player running at goal and will kick from close range 

• the ball is being contested close to the goal line 



Figure 1 

Point A in figure 1 shows the position of the goal umpire astride the line for 

a ball kicked at goal and dropping near the goal line. 

(b) 

Position Under the Flight of the Ball 

A ball well above touching and contesting height and will travel through the 

scoring area requires the goal umpire to be positioned directly under the 

flight of the ball. 

This will give the goal umpire a good look at the ball and he or she will be 

able to tell if the ball grazes the post. 

A ball to travel over the behind line on such occasions requires the goal 

umpire to run across to a position under the flight of the ball rather than 

adjudicate from the goal area. 

Figure 2 

Point A in figure 2 shows the position of the goal umpire in being positioned 

under the ball across towards the behind line. 

(c) 

Assisting a Boundary Umpire 



When the ball is kicked or played out of bounds and the boundary umpire 

is positioned a reasonable distance away it is the duty of the goal umpire to 

assist the boundary umpire. 

On the occasion of the ball going out of bounds on the full the goal umpire 

will signal this by facing the boundary umpire and signalling with one arm 

extended straight at shoulder height horizontal to the ground and with a 

clenched fist. The goal umpire is required to run across to and if necessary 

beyond the behind post to ensure the correctness of the decision and to 

ensure the boundary umpire will see the signal. 

If the ball is played out of bounds but is first touched in transit or bounces 

out of bounds the signal is a vertically outstretched arm above the head. 

On an occasion a behind is scored and the boundary umpire is not 

positioned on a behind post the goal umpire will tap his or her chest to 

signify that it is a behind. This will tell the boundary umpire there is no need 

to run all the way to the scoring area. 

When a goal is to be given, the goal umpire will come to attention and this 

will signify the goal umpire’s intention. 

It should be remembered that the goal umpire is the sole judge of a score 

and has the final say as to whether or not a score is the case. 

Figure 3 

Point A in figure 3 shows the position of the goal umpire when he or she is 

to assist a boundary umpire with an out of bounds signal. 

(d) 

All Clear by Field Umpire 

On all occasions a goal umpire wishes to signal a score he or she must 

look to the field umpire for an all clear indication from the field umpire 



efore signalling. Eye contact and an obvious hand indication must be 

obtained. 

If this indication is not received and it is obvious no other action is being 

taken by a field umpire the goal umpire must run to the field umpire and 

receive the all clear before signalling a score. 

It should be remembered a goal umpire cam consult another umpire prior 

to making a decision. 

(e) 

Noting and Checking of Scores 

On the occasion a goal is scored, note the score on the score card 

immediately after waving the two flags and holding the score card chest 

high in order to be aware of what is happening in front of you. 

After a behind is scored note the score after the ball is brought back into 

play and it is obvious the play will not immediately return near the scoring 

area. 

At the end of each quarter quickly go to the centre of the ground and check 

the score with the other goal umpire. When the score is agreed one of the 

goal umpires is to turn to the scoreboard and wave both flags to 

acknowledge the scores as shown are correct. 

Should there be a mistake on the scoreboard go over and inform the 

attendant of the correct score and then wave the flags in 

acknowledgement. 

(f) 

Selected Laws of the Game 

1. If the ball makes contact with a player below the knee it is deemed to 

have been kicked. 

2. After receiving an all clear from a field umpire a goal umpire is the 

sole judge of a score. 

3. A goal umpire receiving a touched all clear signal from a field umpire 

( a hand held above shoulder height and hit three times with the other 

hand ) cannot indicate a goal. 

4. The ball must completely pass over the goal or behind line for a 

score to be registered. If any portion of the ball is not over the line, a 



score has not been registered. For a goal to be registered the ball 

must have been kicked over the goal line by an attacking player 

without it being touched by any other player. 

5. The score is a behind when the ball strikes or is kicked directly over a 

goal post. This is also the case when the ball is carried through the 

goal area or is handballed over the goal line. 

6. A ball kicked towards the scoring area and strikes the behind post on 

the full is out of bounds on the full. If the ball strikes the behind post 

but bounces first it is out of bounds. 

7. A ball kicked towards the scoring area and passing through the goal 

area after having been touched by an umpire, trainer or any official ( 

not a player however ) is a goal as long as the touching of the ball 

was accidental. 



(g) 

Signals 

Tapping/Touched Behind Goal 

Out of bounds, throw in Out of bounds on full Mine 



Cancelling a score Waving a goal Waving a behind 

Kicked above the knee 

Blood Rule

goal umpires booklet - Eastern Football League

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