1. AFL Victoria Country Community Umpire Prototype March, 2014

2. Introduction: • As a component of the 2014 V/Line Umpire Academy Program, community umpires from • Ballarat Football Umpires Association • Colac & District Football Umpires Association • East Gippsland Umpires Association • Geelong Football Umpires League • Gippsland Umpires Association • Latrobe Valley Umpires Association • Sale Umpires Association • South Gippsland Umpires Association • Southern Umpires Association • Warrnambool & District Football Umpires Association • Western District Umpires Association & • Yarra Ranges Umpires Association • identified traits and characteristics that they believed a ‘prototype’ community umpire possessed and demonstrated on a continual basis. These coaching sessions were conducted in November / December 2013, revised in February 2014 and then shared and agreed to in April, 2014. • Extensive lists were developed where the collaboration with umpires from other Associations was most noticeable and their final lists appear on the following ten slides.

3. Approach to umpiring • Displays a positive attitude • Respectful of the football community • Seeks continual improvement • Open to new ideas • Provides positive feedback • Adopts a professional approach • Ensure enjoyment and satisfaction • Assist less experienced umpires • Commitment • Punctual • Enthusiastic • Calm • Composed • Well presented • Active listener • Team player • Active and positive communicator • Reliable • Approachable • Respected and respects others • Leads by example • Be organised – with gear and punctuality • Promote umpiring • Mentors less experienced umpires • Coaches and provides feedback • Accepting of feedback • Self-management • Always doing more than is required • Commitment to match-day, training & • Group • Willingness to get involved in Group’s • activities • Respects the Game 1/10

4. Communication Skills • Voice control • Non-verbal e.g. whistle, signals • Remaining calm whilst under pressure • Talk to others how you’d like to be spoken to • Clear and concise language • Positive body language • Confident without being arrogant • Respectful • Clear and concise • Loud and clear • Strong whistle • Respectful Manner • Teamwork • Eye contact • Signals • Active listener • Clear signals & indications • Assertive – where necessary • Demonstrate a knowledge of the Laws • Display an understanding of their interpretation – Spirit of the Laws • Communicate with coaches / players pre-game • Effective communication between umpires • Confidence • Be approachable • Quickly establishes a rapport with fellow umpires and match-day officials 2/10

5. Decision Making • Maintaining an effective decision-making positioning • Effective communication • Awareness of and attention to the process • Impartial, honest and reliable • Appropriate decisions under pressure • Consistency in interpretations and delivery • Composure whilst executing • Confidence whilst executing • Communicates demonstrating respect • Consistent with the Laws of the Game • Decisive • Effective decision-making • Warranted decision-making • Clear and concise signals and indications • Demonstrates positive body language • Sharp • Strong • Displays concentration • Displays courage 3/10

6. Diet • Avoid fatty junk foods • Discourage smoking or alcohol • Be conscious of hydration requirements • Establish a weekly eating plan • Training – pre & post • Carbohydrates / Protein • Maintain fluids and protein throughout game • Post-game replenishment • Preparation • Healthy • Nutritional • Hydration • Jelly beans and bananas! • Restraint / Self-control / Knowing limitations • Pre-game hydration • Match day diet • Pre / Post match diet • Balance / Loading • Consume high energy carbs pre and post game / training • Consume moderate protein foods pre, during and post game / training • Replenish fluids post game / training • Meet ongoing fuel needs during and post game / training • Remember that:- • Poor nutrition and hydration has a clear and direct impact on umpiring performance: • Decreased coordination • Poor decision making • Decreased speed and endurance • Delayed reaction time • Headache, stomach upset, increased • heart rate 4/10

7. Leadership Skills • Displays a positive attitude • Adopts a professional approach • Projects positive body language • Someone who motivates & inspires • Confident • Displays commitment • Remains calm under pressure • Role model • Effective communicator • Well groomed and presented • Displays effective preparation pre-game • Is a role model at training • Displays a willingness to learn • Respect everyone else • Possesses a sound understanding of the knowledge of the Laws of the Game • Demonstrates an understanding of the Spirit of the Laws • On-field and off-field • Mentors less experienced umpires • Able to think clearly • Is a problem solver • Sets the example • Trustworthy • Encourages others • Seen as a role model • Displays maturity • Builds effective relationships with other umpires • Establishes effective relationships with Coaches, players and match-day officials • Demonstrates strong ethics and values 5/10

8. Match Day Performance • Attitude • Knowledge of the Laws • Be a good listener • Demonstrate commitment • Fitness • Equipment – cards, whistles, flags, scorecards, flag-holders, • Uniform – correct and clean • Punctuality – know where to go • Preparation – ensure everything’s packed • Confidence • Composure • Respect • Organisation • Presentation • Knowledge • Preparation • Effort • Enjoyment • Positioning • Flag-waving • Presentation – well dressed, footwear, sunglasses & jacket (goal umpires) • Sharp and crisp indications / signals • Communication with other umpires • Match management – keeping time pre-game • Keeping the correct score • Preparing a game plan • Sharing a game plan with fellow umpires • Undertaking an effective warm up • Ground / Work-area inspection • Delivery of the game plan • 100% effort, 100% of the time 6/10

9. Preparation • Committed to training • Maintains an injury free body • Match day preparation / Equipment • Knowledge of the Laws of the Game • Maintains physical fitness • Right mental state • Carbohydrate and Protein diet • Punctuality • Warm Ups – high intensity • Mind – goal-setting • Clean, respectable gear • Effective training habits / routines • Diet / Hydration • Time management • Improving knowledge • Establishing a game plan • Presentation – off-field and on-field • Positive attitude • Equipment checks (clean) • Organisation • Checking ground location, travel times • Footwear • Expected weather conditions • Knowing the teams • Knowing your fellow umpires • Meeting Coaches and match-day officials • Goal umpires’ monitoring time to walk • ‘Zoning in’ on the job to be done 7/10

10. Teamwork • Help create a positive environment with other umpires • Build relationships with other umpires • Demonstrate respect for other umpires • Demonstrate trust for / with other umpires • Share game-plan discussion with colleagues • Focus on the game at hand • Communicate with fellow umpires • Work together as a team • Remain positive • Assist one another – off-field and on-field 8/10

11. Training • 100%, 100% of the time • Never give up • Dedication & commitment • Maximise attendance • Seek improvement • Professional attitude and attire • Attentive in coaching sessions • Train seriously, but have fun! • Work hard to attain benefits • Teamwork (builds relationships) • Motivation (yourself and others) • Strive to achieve group and individual goals • Extra efforts outside group training sessions • 3 – 4 training sessions a week • Dedicated • Train as you would umpire • Perfect practice… • Combine gym. sessions with running sessions • Goal setting • Recovery sessions including ice-baths, pool and beach sessions • Work hard, effort & dedication • Positive attitude • Adopts a professional approach • Inspires / Encourages others • Assists co-ordinate coaching / training sessions • Assists creating a positive environment • Demonstrates teamwork • Leads by example • Establishes strong fitness base pre-season • Maintains level of required fitness in-season • Ensure speed and stamina levels are appropriate and effective 9/10

12. Willingness to Learn & Share • Committed • Positive • Teachable • Open and honest • Confident • Eager • Be a good listener • Displays a positive attitude to learning / teaching • Self-evaluates • Listen to other umpires /coaches • Accepts and provides feedback • Engages in activity with the purpose of continualimprovement • Has an open mind • Active participation in coaching sessions • Displays positivity whilst communicating • Be an active listener • Encourage others • Complete what is asked • Approachable • Respected and respects others • Displays a willingness • Seeks continual improvement • Receptive to change / new ideas • Learns from past experiences 10/10

13. Conclusion:- A Community Umpire Prototype would demonstrate evidence of all categories all of the time. Conclusion:- Identified traits and characteristics are not isolated to just one category but are often demonstrated in multiple categories.