TASMANIAN TALENTED UMPIRE PATHWAY 2018
Contents DEFINITIONS... 2 TASMANIAN UMPIRING OVERVIEW... 3 TASMANIAN TALENTED UMPIRE PATHWAY CHART... 4 JUNIOR UMPIRING PATHWAY... 5 Regional Junior Umpiring Association... 5 High School Football Umpiring... 5 School Based Umpiring Academies... 6 Junior Talent Academy... 6 SENIOR UMPIRING PATHWAY... 7 Regional Senior Umpiring Association... 7 State League Nomination... 8 STATE LEAGUE PANEL... 9 TSL Development Squad... 9 TSL Senior Squad... 9 NATIONAL TALENT PROGRAMS... 10 Umpire State Talent Academy... 10 AFL National Talent Program Bronze (inc. AFLW National Under 18 Championships)... 10 AFL National Talent Program Silver (inc. AFL National Under 16 Championships)... 11 AFL National Talent Program Gold (inc. AFL National Under 18 Championships)... 11 Advanced Development Program... 12 AFL... 13 AFL Senior Panel... 13 1 P a g e
DEFINITIONS TFUA NTFUA NWUA TSL AFL AFLUD STJFL NTJFA NWJFL SBUA Tasmanian Football Umpires Association Northern Tasmanian Football Umpires Association North West Umpires Association Tasmanian State League Australian Football League Australian Football League Umpiring Department Southern Tasmania Junior Football League Northern Tasmanian Junior Football Association North West Junior Football League School-Based Umpiring Academies 2 P a g e
TASMANIAN UMPIRING OVERVIEW With umpiring across Tasmania continuing to evolve and develop, there is a necessity for both new umpires beginning their journey and existing umpires who are looking to further their career to understand and recognise the pathway towards umpiring in the AFL. Whether it is someone s ambition to make it to the top and become an AFL umpire or they just want to get the best out of themselves, having a clear understanding of the pathway will help them achieve their own personal goals. This document will include a detailed explanation of the steps involved in the pathway, the criteria for how an umpire will be eligible for the programs involved and the expectations of those umpires who are looking to further their career in umpiring. This document will be updated annually, as new competitions and alternative pathway opportunities arise (such as the AFL Women s Competition). If there are any questions about this document or you require any more information around the pathway model, please contact: Sam Bridges AFL Tasmania Umpire Development Coordinator Sam.bridges@afl.com.au 0433 037 759 Note: You do not have to start at the beginning of the pathway to have an opportunity to further your career in umpiring. Many boundary and goal umpires are required to begin their development in senior football so missing the junior pathway won t affect their chances of progressing. Many thanks to Adam Davis, Hayden Kennedy, Adrian Wilson and Cameron Lee for their contributions and assistance to the formation of this document. 3 P a g e
TASMANIAN TALENTED UMPIRE PATHWAY CHART 4 P a g e
JUNIOR UMPIRING PATHWAY Regional Junior Umpiring Association Junior umpiring is generally the beginning step for field umpires to start their journey. These umpires will work through the different age groups to gain experience in umpiring and learn the basics involved in positioning and decision making. In the higher age groups, there is often the opportunity for boundary and goal umpires to begin learning the skills involved, although many begin in senior football as there is more opportunity. These junior umpiring associations are in each of the three regions: TFUA supply umpires for the South (STJFL) NTFUA supply umpires for the North (NTJFA) NWUA currently don t supply umpires for the North West (NWJFL) Umpires must be over the age of 12 All umpires who begin their journey must complete the Level One Accreditation program by the end of their first season All umpires over the age of 18 must apply for and have a valid Working with Vulnerable People card High School Football Umpiring There is also the opportunity to begin your umpiring career in high school games. Many schools offer the opportunity to umpire their games at part of both regional and state-wise school competitions, allowing another avenue for students to become involved in the sport and will often lead into these umpires becoming involved in the regional associations. No selection criteria required, just need to make yourself available to the school 5 P a g e
School Based Umpiring Academies Based in specific schools across the state, SBUA are another training venue for students to begin their umpiring journey. Here they are taught one night a week by an accredited umpire coach after school and through this coaching can umpire on a weekend or, if available, school football competitions. In 2018 the schools that run these academies include: Hutchins (South) St. Patricks (North) Marist (North West) Attend the school that runs the program OR study at a school close by must have the ability to get to the venue in time for training each week All umpires who begin their journey must complete the Level One Accreditation program by the end of their first season Junior Talent Academy This talent academy involves a group of junior umpires being mentored and developed by members of the State League panel. 2-3 TSL umpires will alternate observing these umpires throughout the year, providing them with written feedback and involving them occasionally in TSL video sessions and training drills. This panel will benefit from having State League umpires as mentors, with the aim to enhance their development and have them ready for when they make the step to senior football. Identification by their Regional Coach as meeting a certain set of criteria to be considered as part of the academy Must umpire in the regional junior competition and attend training regularly Must be Level One Accredited 6 P a g e
SENIOR UMPIRING PATHWAY Regional Senior Umpiring Association Senior umpiring associations are the next step for many in their umpiring journey. This level involves umpiring in the colts, reserves and senior divisions in all disciplines (field, boundary or goal). Depending on their development and skill level, they will work through the ranks of the senior competition at the discretion of their senior umpire coaches. For field umpires, they have generally come through the junior program and have been recognised by their coach to be ready to move to a higher level of football. Here they will develop their skills under the guidance of the coaches to continue their development. For boundary and goal umpires, this is the level they generally begin with. As with the field umpires, they will advance depending on their skill level and development as judged by their umpire coaches, with the aim to move up the ranks in their discipline to then be considered for the next level. For those coming out of junior football, a recommendation by their junior coach to umpire senior football All umpires who begin their journey must complete the Level One Accreditation program by the end of their first season Must commit to training with their senior panel to continue development (at the discretion of the association and the coaching staff) Must be open to undertaking the Level Two Accreditation course to advance to the next level of the pathway 7 P a g e
State League Nomination Once an umpire has demonstrated that they possess the necessary talent to progress to TSL football, their coach can put the umpire s name forward to the TSL State Umpire Coach to be considered for inclusion on the TSL Umpire List. Process A prescribed Nomination Form will be available on the TSL Webpage and sent to all Regional Presidents, Coaches, Umpire Development Officers and TSL Umpire Coaches by 30 September. Nomination Forms must be signed by the umpire. It is strongly encouraged that all Nomination Forms be returned to the TSL State Umpire Coach by 30 November. All Nomination Forms must be received by no later than 1 February for inclusion on the TSL Umpire List. The TSL Umpire List will be announced by 15 March. Nomination Forms can still be submitted during the course of the season and umpires added to the TSL Umpire List, particularly in the case of a new umpire who displays significant potential. However, that process will be at the discretion of the TSL State Umpire Coach and dependent upon, amongst other things, whether the nomination could have been made earlier, existing numbers on the list and the particular stage of the season. While the process will generally be for a regional umpire coach to put an umpire s name forward to the TSL State Umpire Coach, an umpire can nominate themselves without that referral being made. Once a Nomination Form has been received, the TSL State Umpire Coach will arrange for a TSL Assistant Umpire Coach, Talent Officer or Game Day Coach to observe the umpire. Following that observation, the nomination will either be accepted or feedback will be provided on what the umpire needs to work on to be reconsidered. 8 P a g e
TSL Development Squad STATE LEAGUE PANEL Once the nomination has been accepted, the umpire will become a member of the Development Squad. Here they will be involved in umpiring the Development League competition, with the focus of this area to improve their skill level and progress them onto the TSL Senior Squad. Upon umpiring 3 TSL senior matches, the umpire will be promoted to the TSL Senior Squad. Must be in the process or hold a Level Two Accreditation. If commencing their umpire journey, they must complete the Level One Accreditation program by the end of their first season. All umpires over the age of 18 must apply for and have a valid Working with Vulnerable People card TSL Senior Squad The TSL Senior Squad is the highest level of umpiring in the state. The umpires on this squad umpire in the premier competition in Tasmania, with feedback weekly from coaches in each discipline and video footage each week to be analysed by the coaching staff and reported back to the umpire. This is the level where umpires will be selected for the AFL National Talent Programs. Must be Level Two Accredited Strongly prefer that umpires commit to training two nights per week All umpires over the age of 18 must apply for and have a valid Working with Vulnerable People card 9 P a g e
Umpire State Talent Academy NATIONAL TALENT PROGRAMS This academy involved members of the TSL Development or TSL Senior Squad who have been recognised by their respective coaches to have the talent and desire to become an AFL umpire. This small squad includes being involved in initiatives such as the AFL Mates Program, more advanced training alongside state footballers and access to strength and conditioning coaching from AFL Tasmania. This pathway is at the discretion of the TSL State Head Coach and in conjunction with the State Academy Coaches and Umpire Development Coordinator. Must be Level Two Accredited Must be a member of the TSL Development or TSL Senior Squad Must be nominated by TSL State Umpire Coach or respective coaches AFL National Talent Program Bronze (inc. AFLW National Under 18 Championships) The AFLW National Under 18 Championships is run each year and showcases the best Under 18 Women s talent across the country. Umpires for this championship are selected from the TSL Squads. This stage of development is intended to give the umpires the opportunity to build on their learning and development while experiencing High-Performance programs equivalent to their experience level. Must be a member of the TSL Development or TSL Senior Squad Must be in the process or hold a Level Two Accreditation 10 P a g e
AFL National Talent Program Silver (inc. AFL National Under 16 Championships) Run in June/July each year, the AFL National Under 16 Championships is an opportunity for umpires who have been recognised to have the talent to make the AFL list to receive elite coaching and be involved in umpiring the best young talent across the country. Here they can gain a taste of what the AFL umpiring group are coached and instructed on, with coaches from each of the disciplines involved in providing them with feedback and instruction across the championship. This stage of development is intended to give the umpires the opportunity to build on their learning and development while experiencing High-Performance programs equivalent to their experience level. Must be Level Two Accredited Must be a member of the TSL Senior Squad Must be nominated by TSL Head Coach or respective coaches AFL National Talent Program Gold (inc. AFL National Under 18 Championships) The next step up from the AFL National Under 16 Championships, the AFL National Under 18 Championships is an opportunity for umpires to impress AFL umpire coaches and press their case to be recruited onto the AFL list. Some of the top umpires from the state league will be nominated to run in this carnival with the ability to be recognised by the AFL. This stage of development is intended to give the umpires the opportunity to build on their learning and development while experiencing High-Performance programs equivalent to their experience level. Must be Level Two Accredited Must be a member of the TSL Senior Squad Must be nominated by TSL Head Coach or respective coaches 11 P a g e
Advanced Development Program The aim of this program is to prepare field umpires at the top of the State League for the requirements of umpiring in the AFL by developing their skills in a range of different areas: Decision Making Match Management Skills Bouncing Teamwork Communicating with Influence Giving and Receiving Feedback Self-Discipline Personal Resilience Leadership The objective is to compliment the on-field development focus of the State Umpiring Department by providing additional development coaching support across the range of skills to develop a High- Performance level of umpiring. Must be Level Two Accredited Must be a member of the TSL Senior Squad Must have potential to umpire in the AFL at the discretion of the AFLUD Have the aspiration to be promoted to the AFL Panel 12 P a g e
AFL Senior Panel AFL The end goal becoming an AFL Umpire. To make this level, they must be the top umpire in their discipline in the state league and can meet all required fitness and psychological benchmarks set by the AFL. Must be Level Two Accredited Must be a member of the TSL Senior Squad Must have the potential to umpire an AFL match if required, at the discretion of the AFLUD Provision of a satisfactory Police Check and meet character standards The ability to display the skills and fitness requirements of an umpire at AFL level Have participated in the Advanced Development Program or other Talented Pathways programs 13 P a g e