Administration of the Game

Duties and Responsibilities

The range of duties and responsibilities required of an umpire vary from competition to competition throughout Australia.

It is essential that umpires familiarise themselves with these requirements prior to the season.

The Course Supervisor should provide the participants with a written list of these requirements and attach samples of correctly completed paperwork. Where applicable, details of what should be done with the paperwork and deadline times should also be provided.

Dependent on the requirements of the league/association, the list would most likely include:

arrival time at ground prior to match
arrangements for the selection of footballs
arrangements for visiting club rooms prior to the match
arrangements for liaison with other officials, e.g. time keepers, interchange stewards, etc.
paperwork collection and processing thereof
after match requirements

Match Paperwork

The umpire's duties are not completed once the final siren has sounded. A number of tasks need to be undertaken. these may include:

Completing the Best and Fairest votes. Do not divulge who received votes.
Gathering the timekeeper's cards, team sheets, goal umpires' cards and interchange steward's sheet.
Completing a match report on behalf of the League. This report usually refers to the tasks that the football clubs/teams have to undertake or responsibilities that need to be complied with by the home club.

All of the paperwork should be gathered by the field umpire and placed in the bag or envelope and forwarded, mailed or handed to the appropriate person as requested.

Reporting Procedures & Tribunals

One of the responsibilities of an umpire is to report reportable offences. It is important that the umpire carries out the correct procedures at the time of the report and following the match in terms of completing the paperwork. Attendance and performance at the tribunal is also an important element in the total reporting procedure.

Reporting Procedure (Read Laws 16.8, 16.9, 16.10 & 16.11)

On Ground

Identify the reportable incident.
Stop the match, blow time on.
Advise the offender and the player offended against at the time of the incident.
Make a brief note at the time of the report, e.g. Players' numbers, offence, location.
Blow time off and recommence the match.

Post Match:

Compile detailed notes at half-time or end of the match, whichever is appropriate.
Complete the report form, taking care to complete it accurately. (Have a colleague check it).
Sign each copy of the report form.
Distribute copies of the report form to a representative from each club who should wait upon the umpire after the match. (Usually the top copy goes to the League, a copy to each club, umpire keeps a copy).
Never discuss the report with players or officials after the match.

At Tribunal:

Arrive at the tribunal in plenty of time, looking neat and well presented. Remember the image.
When giving evidence, be positive, forthright and honest. Say exactly what you saw and/or heard when presenting your evidence or in response to questions about the incident.
Avoid vague responses or comments like "might have been", "possibly", "er, maybe" etc.
At the completion of the hearing your job is finished. The resulting outcome is a matter for the tribunal, not the umpire.
Always be polite prior to, during, and after the hearing.

Relevant Laws:

Laws 16.8 to 16.9

Legal Responsibilities

Umpires are responsible for supervising a match and enforcing the laws. They also have the responsibility to ensure that the environment in which the game is played is kept safe.

Umpires could be deemed negligent and may be held legally responsible if they fail to act as a 'sensible' person would do and an injury to a player results.

Negligence is the failure to show reasonable care and occurs when harm results from an unacceptable degree of carelessness.

Players 'consent' to a degree of physical contact within the 'ordinary course' of a match. They do not, however, consent to intentional physical 'assaults' in breach of the laws or the safety codes of the sport, or due to carelessness by the umpire.

The younger the player, the greater the responsibility for safety, on the part of the umpire.

An umpire must take all reasonable steps to see that injury is avoided. Sport often derives its value and enjoyment from its speed, physical exertion and, sometimes, heavy physical contact between participants. Where injury occurs from a normal and reasonable practice, inherent in the game, liability would be unlikely.

To act 'sensibly', an umpire has the responsibility to:

enforce the laws of the game
control and supervise the game, e.g.:
- not allow illegal or dangerous plays or tactics
- remove participants who persistently breach the laws
protect the participants, e.g.:
- ensure that facilities are safe such as goal posts are padded, cricket pitch is covered and sprinkler outlets are covered
- stop a match should crowd violence threaten player safety
- ensure that equipment used is safe
- enforce safety guidelines re blood and infectious diseases policies
stop a match if conditions become hazardous

While technically, it may not be the umpire's duty to 'control' open grounds or a crowd, it may be in their best interests to liaise with officials to see that this 'concern' has been given attention.

Umpires have always had these responsibilities to ensure that matches are conducted safely and with a minimum of injury risk.

To ensure all is in order, an umpire must take the necessary initiatives and implement safe practices, as listed above. This will provide a safe environment for all.

Bleeding and Blood Borne Diseases

When officiating in a contact sport such as Australian Football, it is important that officials are aware of the facts about contagious diseases and blood borne infections.

The two which cause most concern are HIV and Hepatitis B.

The Australian Sports Medicine Federation has produced literature explaining the facts about these issues and a policy which it recommends be adopted by contact sports organisations.

Where this policy has been implemented, it is commonly referred to as the "blood rule".

Most competitions have a rule or policy which addresses these issues. If it doesn't, it should have.

The coach or adviser will provide details of the rule or policy adopted by the League, and directions on how it is to be implemented.

Irrespective of which rule or policy is adopted, the ASMF Policy strongly recommends that all umpires officiating in adult football (over 13 years of age) be immunised against Hepatitis B.