Sale Hockey Club

Someone mentioned it might be a good idea to put my experience on the website as a non player trying to become an Umpire, note I did say trying! The problem is, I can’t remember who said it now, I think it may have been something to do with alcohol.

Well after two Months, swotting up on the rules and watching countless games, trying to fast track up to speed for the Umpires course, that day came on Sunday 28th Jan. There were 5 other members of Sale sports club in attendance with only one other non player. I felt the course went well and all the hard work I did paid off. So with all of us passing the theory, it was time to put it into practice. Oh god what have I let myself in for??
It didn’t take Mark long to hint in an email about Umpiring the Men’s 4th game the following Saturday. As the days went by, there were fears of the cold nights to come, which if it carried on would lead to pitch being frozen. Not going out Friday night, I found myself waking up early Saturday morning, not a normal occurrence I should say. The first thing was what’s the weather like?? A quick look outside saw no ice on the windscreens and Yes the Sun was out. Thank God for that, its all go. However the Sun didn’t stay out long and soon started to go very dull. A quick look at the met office and there it was!!!! Snow on the way, but it still looked ok outside. 11:30 no txt, no phone call, things must be on.
I got to the site at 11:45 and found one of the 4th team practicing on the pitch. After a quick chat, I checked out the surface and it seemed fine. At this point I felt really good and more started to turn up. At about 12:10 it started to snow very light, almost like castor sugar flakes.
As the away team turned up their umpire approached, time for my pre-match chat. Remembering what people advised me I soon got into what we wanted and how I would like things to go. Job done, well that went ok. A quick chat with the Captains and a bit of tossing, ends picked, time to blow, and the whistle that is. Their Umpire started, and the game was on. My first time Umpiring!! It was then I notice how much the snow was falling, oh dear this is not looking good. With the game being the first on the list, in theory there would be less people watching to see me make an arse of myself. WRONG!! As it turned out, quite a few turned up due to the only game that was on. Good job I couldn’t see them through the Blizzard.
It took a couple of minutes to realise that I hadn’t even blown for anything? I just couldn’t keep up with what was going on, was that a stick tackle?? My brain was just not working; I wasn’t able to process stuff. With my hands turning purple not even able to feel my fingers Sale were 2-0 down, and this was within about 15mins I think. Was it something I didn’t see??? I felt I was letting Sale down. I just about realised that their Umpire called what seemed at least 6 or 7 Short corners in Sales end, and I couldn’t see why. Everything seemed like an out of body experience, I was there, but not there. Even though it was cold I knew what the problem was! Brain Freeze and it had nothing to do with the weather. I had to reboot. I was expecting too much of myself and to clear my head of this information overload!! Then from the back of my head I heard the words “The Umpire is always right, even if there wrong.” Spoken by one of the biggest members of Sale?? This seemed to help, I started to react to things and sure enough felt more confident, not perfect in any way and yes I did give some minor bad calls, but nobody noticed. If they did they didn’t questioned it. Then I realised Shed was behind me offering support and I was not alone. (No I didn’t break out in a Michael Jackson song)
Half time came with a few words of advice from the big man, who helped me try and stop a bad habit of mine from a previous sport. As the weather started getting worse Sale scored one back, but time was running out the weather was not getting better. The game was stopped 7mins from the end after chats with the Captains. That was it my first game. A few coffees back at the club, (yeah coffees I was driving,) and chats with the team and a few of the well experience Umpires didn’t give any really bad news on my Umpiring, so I think I was a better than Hopeless lol. So this means I can only get better??? We will see, fingers crossed for the next one!!



[Post Edited Saturday 18th of February 2012 05:03 PM]

Thanks Jen, was it you LOL.

Great to have you on board, Mike. Everyone's got to start somewhere, and you're going to have plenty of games easier than that one!

Thanx Mo