BENDIGO UMPIRES ASSOCIATION INC.

A GUIDE TO UMPIRING

                                    2008       

The Bendigo Umpires Association welcomes you as a new member to the 2008 Football season.

 The BUA is one of country Victoria’s oldest and largest umpiring associations, who through dedicated members and administrators have well equipped clubrooms, along with good training facilities.

The association provides umpires to one major league,-Bendigo Football League, two districts leagues – Loddon Valley and Heathcote district Football Leagues along with one junior league – Bendigo Junior Football League. Involvement with these leagues gives all members a clear career path to attain both the fitness and skill levels to match their commitment.

Your association is completely independent of any of these leagues and is governed by its own constitution, as an incorporated association. A Board of Directors is elected by the members each year to manage the affairs of the association in accordance with the constitution and the rules of the association. The Board have the responsibility to appoint personnel to various positions to assist with the operation of the association.

A Coach is appointed to supervise and direct all umpires with assistance from others, he is also responsible for the skills coaching associated with umpiring disciplines and local interpretations of the rules of the game.

Again, welcome and we as a Board trust that all assistance will be provided to you to set and achieve your goals. Please communicate freely with all members of the Board and Coaches regarding any queries or problems that you may have. Above all else enjoy your umpiring.

Board Members

Geoff Millar (Chairman)     5441 7894 (H)                                  5430 2737 (W)

                                                0434864165(M)                    gmillar@scbnetwork.com.au

Jason Seipolt                      5448 3314 (H)                      

                                                                                    Jason.seiplot@bendigobank.com.au

Russell Brodie                    5441 5635 (H)                                   5442 0234 (W)

                                                0417117361 (M)                   Russell.brodie@defence.gov.au

James Reade                                 

                                                                                               

Gavin Carter

Lorna Wild                            5448 4805 (H)                                  

General Manager                0418569394 (M)                   lorna49@bigpond.net.au

Coaching & Advisors Panel

Coach                                   

Assistant Coach     Gavin Carter  5442 5929 (H)

Boundary Advisor Russell Brodie           5441 5635 (H)           5442 0234 (W)

                                    0417117361                          russell.brodie@defence.gov.au

Goal Advisor            John Hagley                                                   5479 1231 (W)

                                    0423504218                          jhagley@flowserve.com

Appointment Manager     

 BFL, LVFL & HDFL                                  

Appointment Manager     

 BJFL                                                            

Benefits of Umpiring

 

At the beginning of the season or when you decide to take up the sport of Umpiring, you must become a member of our Association. Membership for season 2008 is $35  (18 and over) and $25

 (under 18).

 

Like any active sport, Umpiring and the associated training you will receive, will assist you to attain a high level of physical fitness. It is a sport where an individual is given complete responsibility and must make a series of rapid decisions while under continuous pressure.

 

The situation requires intense concentration, the ability to recover quickly from a mistake and to gain the player’s respect while at the same time being firm and cool-header in dealing with highly motivated players.

 

These qualities will not all come together ‘overnight’ but the sport of Umpiring offers the young person an unique opportunity to develop strength of character that will be of great benefits in all walks of life.

 

Some individuals will take longer than others to master these challenges and occasionally someone will fail to come through, but for those who succeed, there will be a new level of self confidence and maturity.

 

You will widen your circle of friends and there will be several social events planned during the year by the Social Committee. This will allow your family or friends to become involved in your sport.

Work Cover

 

Our insurer for all worker’s compensation claims is Work Cover.

You are covered by Work Cover while on training sessions at our training ground and while umpiring official appointments.

If you sustain an injury it is your duty to complete the following:

 

a)         Notify the General Manager promptly after the injury occurs, as he must record the injury in the log book for Work Cover purposes.

b)         Notify the relevant Coach as to availability of appointments.

c)         Employee claim forms are available from the General Manager. They must be completed as soon after the injury as possible, and all the questions must be answered, or they will return for correction; Read the form carefully and SIGN IT at the bottom.

d)         To support your claim form for medical cost you will need to forward all accounts and receipts promptly to the General Manager.

All forms, accounts, receipts, Doctor’s certificates etc, must be forwarded to the General Manager who will co-ordinate claims.

         Physiotherapists and the like, are not claimable under Work Cover without a Doctor’s referral, you must see a Doctor first.

 

The contact for all Work Cover Queries is:

Lorna Wild

General Manager

(H) – (03) 5443 5938   (Mobile) – 0418569394 or at the Clubrooms on training night.

Training & Lectures

 

All Field, Boundary and Goal umpires will be required to attend training which will be conducted by the Association’s coaches.

 

Training is held at Weeroona Oval, Napier Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays commencing at 5.30pm.

 

Attendance at training and lectures is essential for umpires who wish to improve their level of fitness and knowledge. Poor attendance at training and lectures as well as poor on field performances will affect selection prospects.

 

During the season the Association conducts meetings and lectures each Thursday night after training 7.00pm. This meeting is compulsory for ALL members. If you are unable to attend, a written apology is required to be with the General Manager before the commencement of the meeting.

Offences Against The Association

 

The Board may impose penalties, ranging form a reprimand to a 100% match fee for any umpire who fails to fulfil his or her commitment to the B.U.A.

Examples of offences:

.          Late to Car Park.

.          Late to game.

.          Late notification of unavailability for appointments.

.          Late withdrawal without adequate reason.

.          Incorrect dress on field or when attending matches.

.          Not fulfilling appointment.

.          Errors on report forms.

.          Failure to lodge paperwork before prescribed time.

 

Any other act that may bring the Bendigo Umpire Association into disrepute.

Appointments

 

The appointment’s board selects umpires on Tuesday nights after training.

 

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO UMPIRE!!

It is the responsibility of an umpire who is unavailable on a particular day to have his/her name in the ‘unavailability book’ BEFORE 5.30pm on the Tuesday prior to that date.

 

Umpires who withdraw after Tuesday evening may be required to explain to the selection board their reason for the withdrawal and may be fined.

 

Appointments will be read out AFTER the meeting on Thursday nights.

 

Appointment slips that are not picked up the Thursday night MUST be collected from FINDLAY’S SPORTSPOWER store in Hargreaves Street, Bendigo on Friday.

 

 

Paperwork Required at the Match

 

Paperwork required at matches may include Voting cards, Goal Umpires score cards, Timekeepers cards. After the match additional forms will be added. They may include Interchange sheet, Netball results, Report sheets and any other correspondence intended for the league. This paperwork will be provided and forwarded on in the following manner.

 

Bendigo Football League

 

Paperwork will be supplied by the home team BEFORE the match.

 

After completing all the forms, place them into envelope provided. The senior umpires will then return them to BFL House, Q.E.O. BEFORE 7:30pm.

 

Loddon Valley Football League

 

Paperwork will be supplied by the home team BEFORE the match.

 

After completing all the forms, Senior umpires will place them into envelope provided then return them to the BFL House, Q.E.O. BEFORE 7:30pm.

 

Heathcote District Football League

 

All paperwork is to be picked up and left with the home club secretary.

TRAVEL

 

Matches that are played away from Bendigo will require an umpire or umpires to convey other umpires to the match.  The umpire who performs this duty will be paid an allowance.  Travel arrangements are made on Thursday nights after the appointments are read out.

 

Cars will leave the car park at Weeroona oval at the times set out below and return after the match.

 

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

 

	THIRDS	RESERVES	SENIORS
Maryborough	8.15 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm
Kyneton	8.15 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm
Castlemaine	8.30 am	10.30 am	12.30 pm
Gisborne	7.45 am	9.45 am	11.45 am

 

LODDON VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

 

	THIRDS	RESERVES	SENIORS
Mitiamo	9.15 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm
Calivil	9.15 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm
Pyramid Hill	9.00 am	10.15 am	12.00 noon
Serpentine	9.15 am	10.15 am	12.30 pm
Inglewood	9.15 am	10.15 am	12.30 pm
Bridgewater	9.45 am	10.45 am	12.45 pm
Newbridge	9.45 am	10.45 am	12.45 pm

 

HEATHCOTE DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

 

	THIRDS	RESERVES	SENIORS
Broadford	8.45 am	10.00 am	12.00 noon
Mt. Pleasant	9.15 am	10.30 am	12.30 pm
Elmore	9.15 am	10.30 am	12.30 pm
Heathcote	9.15 am	10.30 am	12.30 pm
Colbinabbin	9.00 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm
Lockington	9.00 am	10.15 am	12.15 pm

 

The above times are time that the cars LEAVE the car park, NOT the time to be at the car park.

 

Uniform and Dress Standards (Umpires)

 

An umpire’s standard of dress both on and off the field can make a lasting impression and drastically affect your overall performance in the eyes of players, officials and spectators.  On field dress standards are as follows:-

 

Field and Boudary Umpires

 

Clean, freshly pressed shorts and shirts (B.U.A. type). Orange socks secured below the knee.  Clean white sweatbands on each wrist. white runners or boots.  Shirts, shorts and socks, can be purchased from the Association.

 

Goal Umpires

 

Orange baseball cap. Black trousers. Orange shirt (B.U.A type). Black socks.  Black POLISHED boots.

The following dress standard is the minimum standard required when attending matches.

 

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

LODDON VALLEY and HEATHCOTE FOOTBALL LEAGUES

Clean neat casual including polo shirt supplied by B.U.A.

 

Instructions for B.J.F.L. Umpires

 

Umpires officiating the BENDIGO JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE are required to be at the ground at least half an hour before the starting time of the match.

 

On arrival at the ground, the umpire is to collect a football and voting card from the HOME team manager (yellow bib).  The umpire introduces himself to both coaches and meets the captains.  He collects a team sheet from each team and checks them for accuracy.  They are retained by the umpire for the duration of the match.

 

At the completion of the match, the umpire fills in the vote’s card and folds it and places it in the envelope provided.  The name of the umpire (s) is then printed on the back of the envelope.  DO NOT PLACE TEAM SHEETS IN THE ENVELOPE.

 

The envelope, team sheets and football are then handed to the HOME team manager.

 

 

Preparing For Your Game

 

Each umpire has his/her own ritual for preparing for their game.  This chapter may assist you with a check list of the essential equipment required for umpiring.

 

Your equipment should be packed the night before the match.  Leaving this task to the last minute can cause panic when something can’t be found.  It is wise to use the same bag each week and make its use exclusive for umpiring.  This enables articles of equipment which do not require cleaning to be left in the bag so it is not left out for your next game.

 

The following list is the recommended minimum equipment that should be carried.

 

 

FIELD AND BOUNDARY UMPIRES

 

Two Orange B.U.A. shirts    Two Blue B.U.A. pairs of shorts      Two pairs of Orange football socks            Pair of White shoes and/or boots   Two Acme thunderer, whistles, Two White sweat bands Current V.C.F.L. hand book,Note book and Pencil.

Red and yellow cards (field umpires only), Writing pad and pen 

*Other equipment you may wish to carry.

Track suit, towel, soap, vaseline, oil, bandaids, tape, comb or brush, garters.

 

GOAL UMPIRES

 

Three white flags, Wrist watch, Note book and Pencil, Orange Shirt, Pair of black trousers, Current V.C.F.L. Hand Book, Pair of black socks, Flag holders

Pair of Black boots, Coin,Writing pad and pen

*Other equipment you may wish to carry.

Boot laces, cardholder, plastic rain jacket and pants, comb or brush, tape, safety pins, scissors, bandaids.

 

After Match Duties

 

Field and Boundary umpires join together and move directly off the ground.  Do not loiter even when the crowd seems docile.  Keep your head up as you walk from the arena.

 

Once in the umpires room take your time in completing paper work.  Clear the room if necessary, (always when there is a report) this gives you time to think in quietness.

Scorecards should be filled in by goal umpires and placed folded in the envelope provided.  Care must be taken in selecting and writing details in forms.  Use the spelling that appears on team sheets.  NEVER divulge you final selections to anyone.

 

Check all other paper work for accuracy before leaving the ground.

 

If you are going to remain at the ground for a drink after the game you should accept a Club’s hospitality but never outstay your welcome.  A short discussion over a drink with officials and players can do a lot of good for umpire/player relations.

 

Alcohol

 

An umpire should be temperate on the day before his/her match and must not drink any alcohol on the day of his/her match until his or her official duties are completed. 

 

Furthermore, an umpire who has the responsibility of conveying other umpires to a match is to ensure that his blood alcohol remains safely below .05 for or the duration of his responsibility.  He must also ensure that his vehicle is in a roadworthy condition and drives safely at all times.

 

Skin Protection Policy

 

Peak caps will be provided by the association and will form part of the official uniform as a representative umpire of the Bendigo Umpires Association Inc.

 

The wearing of a cap during any football match will be in the individual’s choice and decision.  The Bendigo Umpires Association in no way stipulates that, “either all umpires in any one game must wear a cap or none are to wear one.”  However, the B.U.A. Inc. strongly recommends that all umpires wear a cap during all games where exposure to the weather conditions may pose a risk to their health.

 

The Bendigo Umpires Association also recommends that all umpires apply sunscreen to all areas of skin that is not covered by any item of uniform during all games where exposure to the weather conditions may pose a risk to their health.

 

During training sessions the B.U.A. Inc. requests that all members apply sunscreen to all exposed skin and wear any item of clothing, including a cap or hat, necessary to provide protection from all weather conditions that may pose a risk to their health.

Umpire Fees 2008

                             Field                                       Boundary                             Goal

BFL

Seniors                       $117                                       $59                                         $47

Reserves                    $79                                         $40                                         $32

Thirds                         $61                                         $29                                         $23

                             Field                                       Boundary                             Goal

LVFL & HDFL

Seniors                       $84                                         $49                                         $36

Reserves                    $52                                         $28                                         $24

Thirds                         $45                                         $24                                         $21

                             Field                                       Boundary                             Goal

BJFL

Under 161/2               $36                                         $23                                         $22

Under 15                    $36                                         $23                                         $22

Under 131/2               $31                                         $18                                         $18

Under 12                    $27                                         $16                                         $16

Payment of Fees

B.U.A members can elect to be payed monthly or the B.U.A’s preferred payment option at season end.

If members elect to have monthly payments they will be paid on the 3^rd Thursday of the month (May, June, July & August) final payment will be paid mid October. Members that elect to be paid monthly must notify General Manager in writing.

Members that elect to be paid at season end will be paid mid October.

All payments will be made by Electronic Funds Transfer.