Author: RivoRoos

Approaching the Umpires

From Robyn Elms – Administrator, Fremantle Conference.

By Law 45.9 – Only the Captain or Team Manager from either team can approach an umpire during the breaks in a match. The Captain or Team Manager cannot question decisions, interpretations or question the free kick count. If the team, the coach or the club has questions about these elements of umpiring then they can be followed up with the District Umpire Manager during the week. Sanctions can be applied at the discretion of the Junior Competition Committee (JCC) if there is a breach of this by-law.

This means:

  • Only the Captain or Team Manager can speak to an umpire during the breaks in a match.
  • The Captain or Team Manager cannot question decisions, interpretations or question the free kick count.
  • The Captain or Team Manager can ask umpires for feedback about their own teams performance (e.g. “are there any discipline issues with our team?”, “everything going OK?”), and anything else that does not relate to decisions, interpretations or the free kick count.

In Fremantle Conference (Year 8-12, Under 12 Girls and Under 15 Girls) a key part of the Match Day Officials (MDO) role is to look after umpires:

  • Ask umpires if there are any issues from spectators or teams that need to be addressed by the MDO.
  • Provide the umpires with water during and after the game.
  • Escort them to and from the field.
  • MDO can talk to the umpires about anything that is not related to decisions, interpretations or the free kick count.

Umpire Coaches, all other youth umpires in the umpiring group are also permitted to approach the officiating umpires of the game during the breaks, they must be wearing their umpires uniforms to do so. This is to give encouragement, advice etc. Competition Directors, JCC Executive, District Football Development Council (DFDC) Chairs, JCC Appointed Stewards and approved WAFC staff can speak to umpires during breaks in the match (and before and after they game). They will identify themselves to the umpires.