Norfolk Hockey Association

Young Umpire Development in Norfolk

Young Umpire Development Officer : James Colley

email:- youngumpires@nhua.co.uk

07772 588404

My goal for this season (2010/11) is to re-establish the youth umpire development within the county, by setting up a system of support for the county’s young umpires. A database will be produced to maintain all young umpires and their current level of progression by keeping contact with the umpires and coaching there development in a controlled environment over the duration of the season. I will be present at each of the junior tournaments held within the county this season, with a team of colleagues who will be able to provide support and advice to the young umpires whilst they umpire their peers.  They will be appointed to games that they would be seen as capable of umpiring with the view to coach progression.

At these tournaments the county welfare officer will be present for the protection of the umpires as well as the protection of the players. Each of the coaches will have received their CRB checks via the England Hockey Board.

I myself came up through the junior development system in Suffolk. I started umpiring when I was about 13 years old. I umpired my first games at junior club tournaments in Suffolk, then progressing to the county youth games at which I was selected to join the East Regional Young Umpires Action Group. Throughout that time I developed my umpiring gaining my level 1 award and currently progressing to level 2 candidacy and level 1 coaching candidacy. I have recently passed my national assessment placing me on the National Young Umpires Promising List (NYUPL), and the fitness assessments allowing me to umpire any level of national hockey.

It is now my vision to pass on what I have learnt during my time in umpiring to help develop the young umpires in Norfolk.

James

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"Start, stay and succeed" is the theme…recruit new young umpires, support and motivate them while providing a programme of opportunities and events, taking them through to the ‘stay’ stage and then, with those who demonstrate real talent, encouraging and assisting them through to the next level, ‘succeed’.”

This statement has been taken straight from the England Hockey Board and is exactly what the NHUA and Young Umpire Development Officer plan to encourage within the county.

Without umpires the future of hockey is very small, so whilst it is important to develop the playing ability of youngsters, it is just as important to help them to see the importance of officiating the game they love.

For the youngest of umpires the best place to start is the Young Umpire Award. This award is aimed at players aged from 8-13 years old and involves a day where they are taught a basic understanding of the rules of mini hockey played within schools and at junior club level. Then they are given the opportunity to practise these rules in a safe mini hockey environment, in the presence of the development officer, a couple of other NHUA umpire coaches and even a couple of Norfolk Young Umpires who have already been through the system and even progressed to the East Regional Young Umpires Action Group. This day provides a fantastic opportunity for the newest young umpires to build confidence and experience.

The next award is the “Foundation Umpire Award”. This award is aimed at players aged from 13 years and older, or for adults with little experience in hockey. This award follows a similar programme to the young award, but contains a more in depth analysis of the full size, 11 a-side game of hockey. It is designed to prepare the candidates for the full level 1 umpires award.

The next stage of junior development is the “Level 1 Umpires Award”. This award provides a full umpire’s qualification to enable the candidate to umpire a club level of hockey. It is completed in three stages, firstly the theory session which is followed by a written examination, secondly the candidate is required to complete a minimum of three practise matches to prepare them for the third part of the award which is a practical assessment. It is the first of three further awards that are described at: www.nhua.co.uk/ump_dev.html and further details can be found on the England Hockey website. (apologies, it is a difficult website to navigate around - we have no say in it.)

Throughout the young umpires development they will receive coaching and ongoing assessment to determine their stage of progression. They will be given the opportunity to umpire increasing levels of game with the chance to be referred to the East Regional Young Umpires Action Group who will continue their development from there.