Re: D4 Section Ammos
Ok I've kept out of this ump thing so far but enough is enough,Spy,I respectyou and your club,but when you name an ump their needs to be some tempering of remarks,that goes for all,everyone knows who I am ,and that was my choice,I'm a big boy now and can look after myself,this bloke had no say in his name being made public.
Sixty five, reasonable comments,you say "umps take their time out to umpire for us",we do it for the same reason all of you do,because we love umpiring as much as you love playing and coaching,if their are no players we can't play our sport and if their are no umps players can't play,we have to meet somewhere in the middle.Personally after my senior game on sat .I do 2 games in u17 for a junior league on sun,1st at 12 2nd at 2.15,shortage of kids their too,so some vafa umps go down to help the young ones learn,these kids are my replacements,and I know for some of you that can't come quick enough,hah hah.
Buckaz,you speak of money,and yes we do get paid and I agree none of the players do,but lets be realistic,my money disappears after 2 training nights and travel to grounds and uniforms,especially since the tax office has now ruled our umpiring a hobby,no more claims for anything.
You both speak of consistency,most of the rules have to be judged by the ump,their opinion,was he held? did he have prior? was it too high?,get the picture,and all this has to be decide in the blink of an eye and under pressure;do you all think we don't try to be consistent? Just as a player tries to kick through the centre every time,we try to be consistent,then add in you have two umps,two different people, do I have to say this adds yet another factor,we try to overcome this with our pre match meeting.
I played for many years,reported more times than i will admit too as well,I do understand the frustration,I will say this for VAFA,they are trying,believe it or not Brian Goodman's door is always open,suggestions and discusions always welcome.
Many of us are constantly trying to improve our umpiring just as players are trying to improve,there is not a game goes by that I do not say,"don't do that again tug"and so we all improve.
No one more than me would like to walk of the field and say "I didn't stuff up today",hasn't happened yet,but then I doubt that players could say that either.
You can take this as yet another maggot speech, or as it is intended, as a genuine attempt to get umps and players on the same page,I don't want upset players on the field but I have to do my job,and every ruling i make upsets someone.
As a end to this epic I will pass on something from one of my trainers,many years back.
"When an ump gives a free,they are telling the player,you have done something wrong,and no one likes being told they have done something wrong,then the ump awards the free and adds insult to injury by punishing the player,no wonder we aren't loved."
Cheers
Tugger