NORDIC TOP UMPIRE PROGRAMME

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NORDIC TOP UMPIRE PROGRAMME

• Developing Nordic Umpiring to World Level
• 2007 - 2016

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Presentation Content

• Background
• Purpose and programme objectives
• Organisation
• Candidate Acceptance Requirements
• Participant Requirements
• Programme Content

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Background

• Historically, the Nordic countries have had
  difficulties in producing top umpires. The reason
  for this have been
• the relative low level of playing skills,
• the low numbers of umpires in the Nordics,
• few international umpiring opportunities,
• the lacking attractiveness in the umpire job,
• lack of focus on the umpiring part of the game.
• This idea to this programme came from a vision
  that 4 small hockey playing nations together can
  produce the same as any larger association and
  that allocation of both resources and talent is
  more likely if the population is larger.
• Through a united approach, it is more likely the
  listed reasons can be bypassed and a positive
  development can be established.

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Purpose and programme objectives

• The Nordic countries have at this point one World
  Panel umpire, Henrik Ehlers, who will retire due
  to age in 2013. In order to fill the space after
  HE - and utilise the marketing effect of HE -
  this programme has been established with the
  purpose to increase the focus on Nordic top
  umpires and as a consequence of this, higher the
  probability of producing Nordic umpires for the
  World and World Development Panels.
• The number of Nordic umpires is low. So in order
  to optimise the use of umpiring development
  resources, we suggest the well-proven common
  cultural Nordic approach, which in other areas
  has proven successful.
• Another key purpose of this programme is to make
  it more attractive to begin an umpiring career so
  more and more youngsters take umpiring up in the
  4 Nordic countries.

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Programme Objectives

• The Programme Objectives are
• To develop at least one Nordic World Panel Umpire
  by 2016.
• To develop at least one FIH Grade 1 International
  Umpire per Nordic Country by 2012.
• To increase the numbers of Umpires in the Nordic
  countries by 50 in 2009.
• To produce at least one female international
  umpire by 2012

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Organisation

• The Nordic Top Umpire Programme will initially be
  run by two persons. The management group consists
  of
• Henrik Ehlers. Denmark.
• Currently on the World Panel and with around 150
  international matches one of the most experienced
  umpires in the world
• Javed Khan. Sweden.
• A FIH Umpire Manager and ex-international umpire.
  Often used in European tournaments. Very
  experienced in handling the young international
  umpires.
• The organisation will be added a representative
  per country. The four representatives will form
  the Steering Committee of the programme.
• It is the intention that the Steering Group
  should meet once yearly.

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Candidate Acceptance Requirements

• Each country can have 1-2 umpires in the
  programme. In seldom cases one country can have 3
  umpires in the programme.
• The candidate should
• Be an FIH International Umpire, or national
  umpire who has at least umpired in one official
  tournament with a tournament mark of at least
  6.5. (Outdoor only)
• Be between 18 41 years old
• Have the potential of at least FIH Grade 1 level.
• Regardless of age, be able to reach level 9.0 in
  the Progressive Shuttle Fitness Test (Bleep
  Test).
• Be umpiring at the highest level in their own
  country.
• Show dedication, focus, engagement, and wish to
  become a top umpire.
• Have the back-up from the national association to
  be sent out as national umpire to the most
  prestigious international tournaments the nation
  participates in.

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Participant Requirements

• When accepted in the programme, the participant
  should
• Allocate the time to participate in the complete
  programme.
• Allocate personal time to improve own
  performance, that being umpiring and fitness
  wise.
• Willingness to improve and positive approach to
  change and coaching.
• Constantly show progress in his/her umpiring in
  accordance with the career/development plan.
• Pass the annual tests
• Rules and interpretation test
• Regardless of age, Progressive Shuttle Fitness
  Test at level 10.0
• Live umpiring evaluation(s)
• Umpire in at least one international tournament a
  year with
• Minimum a cross/tick in Umpiring to current
  level on the FIH Umpire Feedback Form every
  year.
• Minimum a cross/tick in Umpiring above current
  level on the FIH Umpire Feedback Form every
  second year.
• If a participant do not live up to the
  requirements listed in this paragraph, in the
  discretion of the Management Group, the
  participant can and will be remove from the
  programme.

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Programme content

• 1 annual seminar with EHF/FIH Instructor
• At least every second year an excursion to an Top
  International tournament (World Cup, European
  Championships etc) played in Europe.
• Umpire exchanges in the Nordic Countries.
• Face-to-face coaching/feedback
• Telephone sessions before, (during) and after
  international appointments.
• It is also the intention to try to arrange umpire
  exchange outside of the Nordic countries, if
  possible.