Aerials are by far the hardest part of the game to umpire. That is the assertion of the NPUA, with the aerial rule leading its umpiring briefing ahead of the new season.
“There has to be a level of acceptance as us from umpires but also from clubs the reality is we will get more aerials wrong than any other decision we make,” said NPUA chairman Sean Edwards. “It is the hardest thing to blow consistently throughout the game.”
With the rule in mind, communication and team-work was also a key buzzword for umpires. Margaret Hunnaball, umpires’ manager at Paris 2024, said: “Reading the aerial is a good example of where good close umpire teamwork can make a big difference.
“It has to go up safely and it has to travel safely. We are pre-occupied now where it’s landing.
“If there is a clear receiver, that receiver is entitled to five metres of space. Let them play and minimise whistle if we can.
“We have to keep the game safe. If someone is four metres away and you think it’s not safe, blow it.”
The person receiving the ball isn’t always the attacker, added Hunnaball. “It may well be that the aerial is falling on the defender,” she says. “So let’s not always get into this mindset that it’s always the attacker who receives.
“If you’re having trouble deciding which is the receiver, there is no clear receiver, and I am in favour of a quick free hit for the team who didn’t put the ball up.”
According to the NPUA, ff there is a clear receiver, the opposing team has two choices.
- Let them receive the ball with a five metre distance until it is under control and on the ground
- Attempt to intercept the ball outside of playing distance, around 2 metres or more. That means taking the ball, taking the ball away from the player when still in the air but outside of contesting distance.
You mustn’t get so close to a player that is likely to cause physical contact.
If the opponent encroaches within the five metres before the clear receiver has the ball under control, there are two points where they could cause an offence.
When is a ball under control?
In reality, most people when they receive it don’t want the ball on the ground. They want to be running with it.
One of the things that does get blown a bit as we seek consistency is people are blowing the defender when the receiver messes up receiving it.
Aggressive receiving
What we need to be aware of (with European nations), is the receiver propelling the ball forwards.
If the opponent is 5m away and in receiving the ball and the player takes the ball two metres in front of them, then that’s game on.
They are entitled to their 5m if they can control the ball down.
Players are prone to putting the ball into the space to try and draw a free hit or PC if it is in the circle.
Dynamic umpiring
More than ever, We are seeing balls being thrown from spaces we didn’t expect to be thrown. Being adept at recognising that you have to move to constantly judge who is the receiver. Sometimes umpires have to back off and move out of the space to see it better.
