DECIPHERING UMPIRING DECISIONS

Umpiring is the hardest job in football with most decisions being based off interpretations rather then yes or no/right or wrong rules but it require the same basic decision-making framework as players have to use to be successful.

Before I go into detail on this I just want to add some notes I took from the level 2 coaching course I took early this year on the umpiring component, as well as some thoughts of my own mixed in:

• Saturday/Sunday games come under an expectation that it’ll be umpired the same as the AFL game/s the night/s before
• Players often make 4 – 5 errors themselves between umpiring decisions so supporters also need to look that aspect in deciding what cost their teams the game
• Like players, umpires know when they’re having an off day so like you as a player don’t want feedback from everyone on those days, neither do they
• Ruck and midfielders should shake the umpires hand before the 1^st bounce but also on that, umpires don't come into each team's change rooms pre-game like they used to
• Like players, umpires can’t call what they you can’t see unless you want them to guess
• TV angles are not any of the umpire's angles and telecasters should be aware of this and not replay the 1 missed decision from 27 different angles and maybe try and decide which one was closest to the umpires angle and use that one so viewers can somewhat see what the umpire can see
• Just because it's a good tackle doesn't mean it's a free kick

On 360 last night hey had AFL Umpire Nathan Williamson talking about umpires round this week in all community footy as well as going into detail on decision making around holding the ball.

https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1788150558978630131

Here are the basic frameworks he laid out and it should be coaches and players aim to understand these processes, so that you can play into and off of them, as well as maintaining your focus on what your doing and not on the umpires during games.

TACKLED WITH PRIOR OPPORTUNITY

1 - Has the ball carrier been tackled legally?

No - free kick against the tackler.

Yes = move to the next step.

2 - Has the ball carrier had prior opportunity?

At this point they take into account is the ball carrier balanced/steady? If no then play on. If yes then holding the ball.

Did they try to fend off, lift the ball up or fake a handball/kick? If yes then that's prior opportunity and holding the ball.

3 - The new addition is the end point of the tackle is now just as important as the actual tackle with the dumping rule in strong effect now so did you take them to ground safely? If no,then free kick against the tackler almost regardless of what happens before hand.

TACKLED WITH NO PRIOR OPPORTUNITY 

Has the the tackle been laid legally? If yes, then move to next step.

Has the ball been knocked out in the tackle? If yes then play on.

If the ball stays in possession of the ball carrier, they must be allowed an opportunity (time or action) to dispose of the ball and during this time the ball carrier needs to show a genuine attempt at doing just that.

If ball carrier makes a genuine attempt but misses the ball, without prior opportunity, then that's play on and this is where coaches/players get the most frustrated - but now you know and instead of whinging about, try to exploit it!