Umpiring at Somerville & beyond
The game of hockey needs umpires – without an umpire there is no game!
Introduction.
As a club member you can support umpiring at Somerville in several ways across all grades which in turn can open opportunities to umpire across Auckland, across the country and even internationally.
Opportunities to umpire are considered at:
Jump
Club Umpiring
JumpUP
Auckland Hockey
College Sport
Hockey NZ
Junior Umpire Development Pathway
Jump
The diagram below gives a broad view of how JUMP works. A few key pointers:
All games are played on Saturday morning
Year 1 of JUMP generally starts in year 9/10 of schooling although opportunities do exist for older Year 8s.
The program is designed to build your skills and confidence through the junior grades in conjunction with on-site mentors
All umpiring is held at AGS for Somerville umpires. However you can take part at other venues where JUMP is provided.
The program combines theoretical learning of the rules as well as practical experience on the field
JumpUP
In the diagram below as experience is gained as a JUMP umpire, the opportunity to umpire in the Youth Championship initially as well as the Youth Premier becomes possible. A few key pointers:
Youth Championship games are currently held on a Sunday and appointments will be at AGS
Youth Premier games are currently held on a Friday night and whilst focus is on games a AGS the opportunity to umpire at other turfs does exist for those willing to travel
The role is largely supported by an on-site mentor and/or a ground co-ordinator
The umpire receives a travel reimbursement (see the section “Reimbursements”)
College Sport
As identified in the previous section as an umpire develops across the junior and youth grades the opportunity to umpire at College Sport level becomes available. A few key pointers:
Games are held across the school week at locations across Auckland
Under 15s – Monday and Tuesday
A/B Grade – Wednesday and Thursday
C/D Grade - Friday
Mentors are on site at selected grounds and some travel is possible
The umpire receives a travel reimbursement (see the section “Reimbursements”)
Club Umpiring
Another key element of umpiring is the Club Umpire.
AHUA currently does not have enough umpires to cover games so at Somerville senior teams are assigned to another team to provide an umpire. This umpire can come from their own ranks of players or from the club umpire list.
The process for Club Umpiring is
Notification of willingness to umpire at the start of the season
Notification of experience and availability in general terms
Registration with Auckland Hockey for reimbursement purposes
Receive contact from Senior teams as to availability for specific games
As a Club Umpire
Games can be turned down based on availability and capability
Games can be anywhere in Auckland if you so choose
No official support is provided by AHUA but options to attend umpire briefings do exist
Reimbursement for travel is provided by Auckland Hockey and the senior team you are umpiring on behalf of will make a further payment to you – currently $20.
Auckland Hockey
As identified in the section JUMPUp, in conjunction with opportunities to umpire at the College level, as an umpire progresses opportunities to umpire Senior matches becomes available. A few key pointers:
Games are held across Auckland on Saturday and Sunday
By becoming a member of Auckland Hockey an umpire can select the grounds and time slots they wish to be available to umpire
Mentors and coaches are available
Initially the senior games will cover the lower divisions but with experience the potential exists to move up to grades such as Division 1, Premier Reserves and Premiers
The Premier competition is an inter city competition with North Harbour Hockey
The umpire receives a travel reimbursement (see the section “Reimbursements”)
Hockey NZ
Whilst there are plenty of opportunities to umpire at a local level as indicated above there is an overarching and wider programme from Hockey NZ as shown below in the diagram. A few key pointers:
These events are by invitation
Local and regional tournaments are generally held close to Auckland in the case of Auckland Hockey involvement
National tournaments will be throughout the country
Umpires are supported by qualified umpire managers/coaches
Travel to and from tournaments as well as evening meals are the responsibility of the umpire
Where accommodation is provided then Hockey NZ fund that
Local associations will provide the day time snacks
No travel reimbursements
Reimbursements
It is fair to say that if you are looking for a job at the weekend to earn a wage then umpiring is probably not going to provide that. It is a volunteer role and at best the reimbursements cover travel costs.
As covered above various Auckland Hockey matches are subject to travel reimbursement with a sliding scale across youth, college and senior games that are reviewed each year. In 2023 the senior rate was $22 a game as an example.
As a club umpire there is the additional payment however a club umpire is likely to only officiate once a week whereas multiple opportunities to officiate each week exist as an AHUA umpire.
No travel reimbursement is given for Hockey NZ tournaments.
Contact
For further information or any queries, please contact:
John Etherington | Umpiring Club Captain
somervilleumpires@gmail.com