So much of what makes a good hockey umpire is about communication, says Andy Mair
That doesn’t mean a running commentary throughout the match - but making our thinking clear, be it verbally or with non-verbal signals. There are times...
We want to encourage quick free hits in as fair a way as possible and to avoid retakes, writes Secret Umpire.
The more quick free hits we can allow the more opportunities are created and the more excitement for...
Hockey is in danger of having an overly player-centric sport, writes our umpire columnist Andy Mair
I was fortunate enough to be working with the umpires at the Premier Division indoors this season. One of the main things to come out...
As a coach at school and club level, much of my preparation for a season would be focused on drills, cones, bounce boards, enough practice and match balls and pitch availability, writes leading official Andy Mair.
But here’s a thought:...
By Richard Bright
An 11-year-old hockey fanatic is widely thought to be the youngest ever in the country to become a Level 1 hockey umpire and he now wants other youngsters to follow suit.
History was made in December when young...
By David Ellcock
In a recent Hockey Paper piece, I suggested that people should just try umpiring and that this might lead to their getting the bug and wanting to take the next step. But what does that next step...
Video Umpire expert Andy Mair picks the bones out of the Canada v Ireland controversy
The national teams to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have now been decided, and apparently the ‘blame game’ has been all too often...
World Hockey chiefs hope that England Hockey will still introduce the four quarters rule across the domestic game after a decision to implement the ruling at national level only.
With time ticking until the opening weekend of this season, grass...
By David Ellcock | Umpire's view
In my last column I looked at two of the biggest changes to the Rules of Hockey in their 2019 edition. This time I’ll review the other, no less important, changes.
Rule 13.2(f), relating to...
Analysis
Not surprisingly, the first shoot out of the Vitality Women’s World Cup created the tournament’s first genuine controversy. With Louise Versavel needing to score to keep Belgium alive, the enormously experienced umpire Michelle Joubert, awarded a free hit against...
