#Askfhu is our ongoing series of posts that focus on a single umpiring issue that you may have been or likely will be faced with at some point in your career. We’ll focus on giving you tangible and effective strategies to deal with the situation. We also want to hear about your experiences and suggestions so don’t be […]
Elena Eskina Celebrates Golden Century | FIH
Hockey World League brings about another wonderful milestone, this time for Russia’s Elena Eskina who achieves her Golden Whistle at the age of 39. She spoke about how far she’s come in an article on FIH.ch: I started umpiring in 2002, my first match was Germany against Argentina – two giants of the game. I felt […]
FIH Releases Rule 13 (Free Hit) Guidance
The new rule regarding attacking free hits taken within the 5m dotted line has resulted in an amazing amount of discussion in some circles even though in practice, it’s been fairly easy for the players to get a handle on. As sometimes happens, we umpires are prone to taking a more restrictive approach than the FIH […]
More Advice From Ice Hockey Referees: Should We Be Talking More To Coaches and Players?
Back in the day (yes, it was a while back and yes, I have first-hand experience with it), field hockey umpires put a stop to any dialogue between them and coaches and players–sometimes with cards. In modern times that attitude has relaxed but we probably don’t encourage as much discussion as ice hockey referees do, who officiate a […]
What’s a Penalty Corner Routine? | #askfhu
#Askfhu is our ongoing series of posts that focus on a single umpiring issue that you may have been or likely will be faced with at some point in your career. We’ll focus on giving you tangible and effective strategies to deal with the situation. We also want to hear about your experiences and suggestions […]
Forced to quit hockey, Nirmala Dagar returns as umpire – The Times of India
Here’s an interesting story published in The Times of India about the success of Nirmala Dagar, who most recently umpired at the South East Asian Games. We lose so many female athletes and officials to the pressures of the roles they are expected to fulfill at home. Somehow we need to work to encourage change at a deeper […]
VIDEO: Watch hockey player slap umpire | DispatchLIVE
Another disturbing report of assault on a hockey umpire, this time out of East London, South Africa: Former South Africa hockey player Reece Basson, who hit an umpire during match in East London two weeks ago, will officially know his fate tonight when United Hockey and Border Hockey meet to discuss his sanction… In the […]
Being Fair Without Losing Control: NHL’s Paul Stewart
Game management is universal across sports. Today’s good learnin’ comes from the ice version of our sport, where long-time top referee Paul Stewart offers his advice on managing the even more volatile personalities known in the NHL. My method for dealing with such situations was to take control. I was a communicator: These are my ground rules, […]
Updates to Dartfish.tv
In case you missed it, the FIH’s Dartfish video library has been updated with 6 new videos. Unfortunately it’s only 6, but since these are the first new videos we’ve seen in the last 4 years, we’ll taken them! The two topics covered are breaking on penalty corners and playing the ball above the shoulder. Hopefully we’ll see […]
7 Habits of Exceptional Team Players » Referee Mindset
Here’s a great article on the tangible benefits of taking a team approach to umpiring. It took me too long to realise how important TEAM is for officiating. I used to compete. Compete with my peers, with players, coaches, spectators, … everyone! I knew it was beneficial for me since competition makes thing more effective […]
Getting The Early Stuff Right | #askfhu
#Askfhu is our ongoing series of posts that focus on a single umpiring issue that you may have been or likely will be faced with at some point in your career. We’ll focus on giving you tangible and effective strategies to deal with the situation. We also want to hear about your experiences and suggestions […]
It’s Raining Golden Whistles
It’s a big day for FIH umpires Deon “Floppy” Nel (RSA) and Nor Piza Hassan (MAL), who both achieved their Golden Whistles (officiating 100 senior international matches). Nor Piza is umpiring at the South East Asian Games and Floppy at the Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Finals. Here are some great shots of Nor Piza’s ceremony […]
Day 3 at the Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Finals
Umpiring Seminar in Trinidad & Tobago – Pan American Hockey Federation
In keeping with the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board’s (TTHB) commitment to the development of hockey, the TTHB hostedtheir annual Umpiring Seminar on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May, 2015 at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua. Wonderful to see umpiring development coming on strong in the PAHF region. Thanks to Renée Cohen for taking the time out […]
Day 2 Appointments at Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Finals
3 Controversial Hockey Umpiring Situations – #1 | A Hockey World
3 Controversial Hockey Umpiring Situations to be analysed. What do you think about them? Personally, I’d rename this “3 Decisions You Have To See In Slow Motion To Realize The Umpire Got It Right.” Source: 3 Controversial Hockey Umpiring Situations – #1 | A Hockey World
Sledge city: the things said to hockey umpires | The New Daily
Is abusing hockey umpires fair game? Tim Doutre investigates the sledging culture within the sport. Source: Sledge city: the things said to hockey umpires | The New Daily
Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Final Gets Underway
After a bit of a quiet spell, international hockey explodes back on the scene with the vital Hockey World League Semi-Finals. First up are the men in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which should be an intriguing affair with African continental upstarts Egypt mixing it up with the likes of perennial Asian performers Korea and Japan. It’s precisely the […]
FIH Upgrades May 2015
It’s a small but lovely upgrade list this month as the hockey world gears up for the World League Semi-Finals in Valencia, Buenos Aires and Antwerp. Congrats everyone and all the best in the future!
Young Umpire Assaulted in Spain
Sad news coming out of Spain today as top FIH umpires Paco Vazquez and Diego Estebanez pass along reports that a young umpire was assaulted by two parents during an U16 competition. Our thoughts are with Luis Miguel Valenciano Montanyana and we can only hope that harsh action from the hockey authorities there as well as criminal […]
“The Invisible Woman”: FIH.ch Features UM Renee Cohen
At any major tournament, such as the Hockey World League Semi Finals taking place in Antwerp, Buenos Aires and Valencia, team work is a quality that is in high demand. But, when the sides take to the pitch there is more than two sets of teams at work. While the kudos might go to the […]
April 2015 FIH Upgrades
The FIH upgrades are out for the month of April. Congratulations to all the umpires!
CLFHA 2015 Rules Updater Released
We’ve moved into the 21st century and charged into online education, folks! Members of the CLFHA* should go to this page to purchase access to the Rules Updater video presentation and then do their Rules Endorsement Quiz. This post also serves as the launching post for discussions on the material in the video. Not sure if you’re […]
HockeyWeekly and Jonas van ‘t Hek on EHL Body Cameras
Leading Dutch hockey magazine HockeyWeekly published a great article about the use of the body cameras in the EHL and interviewed Jonas van ‘t Hek for his insights.
FIH Upgrades – March 2013
Celebrating the latest promotions and retirements of FIH umpires:
EHL Umpires Wearing Body Cams Because They’re Rock Stars
Could the EHL’s coverage of hockey get any better? Apparently, bloody well yes.
Ask FHU: Advantage in the Circle
Advantage in the circle is definitely tricky. Haven’t we all been there when we’ve blown the whistle and as our arms extend to show a PC the ball trickles over the goal line? Immediately, you feel like this:
Top-notch Canadian officials at Jr. Pan Ams – Field Hockey Canada
Field Hockey Canada just put up a great article interviewing TD Madge Johnson, assistant Umpire Manager Chris Wilson and umpire Gavin Caldecott (with umpire Megan Robertson participating via a stunning photograph). Check the article out here.
Complete Guide to the 2013-2014 Rules of Hockey
So the new rule book is out but you’re hoping someone else has gone through all the dirty work of figuring out what’s been deleted, what’s been added and what it all means? You’ve come to the right place, because after all – we’re rules superheroes.
Where have you been, FHUmpires?
It’s been a long time since our last podcast, it’s true. Lots has been happening in the umpiring world but even more for one FHUmpire, John Hrystak, who welcomed his beautiful daughter Brynn into the world just over a year ago.
Revised FIH Outdoor Umpires Briefing Released
Along with the major overhaul to the FIH website, the Umpiring Committee has released “V2” of the 2011 FIH Outdoor Umpires Briefing.
Congratulations, Nov. Upgrades!
A hearty congratulations to all of the November FIH Upgrades:
We Know Turf Hurts – Now There’s Proof
We’ve all felt that umpiring (and obviously playing) on turf is harder on our joints that old-school natural grass, but now you can point to a study to prove it.
WCQ Kazan Day 8: Third Game
Third game, yet again the first match of the day. I think there may be a pattern here. This time I was lucky enough to draw Lisa Roach as a colleague.
WCQ Kazan Day 7: Rest Day #2
Wednesday has brought about our second rest day of the tournament. It seems like we’re having a lot of rest here, but it’s a function of the structure of a qualifying event like this. With only 6 teams competing and FIH rules which limit consecutive days of games to two, there’s going to be a lot of time off.
WCQ Kazan Day 6: Second Game
For the second consecutive time, I was on the first game of the day. Keeping in mind my feedback from the first game, I was determined to sort out the positioning errors and at least get that part together properly. I was also very excited to umpire for the first time with Kang who I’d been at the JWC with last summer.
WCQ Kazan Day 5: Rest Day #1
Rest days are such a conundrum. We’ve been resting, meeting, preparing, eating and sleeping so much between the games over the last two days, we’re so anxious to get out into the world that we find ways to earn air quotes around “rest day”.
WCQ Kazan Day 4: First Game
It’s been stressed to me countless times by UMs and other mentors: you must have a great first game at a tournament. It’s your first impression with your UM, TD and the teams. That game will largely dictate how the rest of your tournament will go in terms of appointments and whether you’ll get further chances to show what you can do in big games.
WCQ Kazan Day 3: Opening Day
The appointments were handed out on Thursday afternoon so I knew early that I wasn’t on the first day of matches, just reserving the middle game of the three. For some umpires, this can be tough to deal with, especially after the Great Wait that we experience at these events. For me, I’ve learned to make the best of it and I just had recent experience where it worked out very well, so I felt good today watching the teams take the pitch for the first time.
WCQ Kazan Days 1-2: The Great Wait
Tournaments are a mental grind. Sometimes I wonder if umpiring the games is actually the easiest part – after all, we all have a lot of practise and preparation in doing that – but everything else is more of a challenge.
Hamish Jamson Back on the World Panel
Via England’s NPUA website, great news that Hamish Jamson has been promoted to the World Panel.
