zedman wrote:Phantom Gossiper wrote:Jetters wrote:Nah bad idea.
Umpires should introduce themselves and build rapport with the coaches pre game, but thats it.
The rules are the rules, not for you to decide 'how you will umpire', the ump may as well hand over the rule book to the coaches pre-game and say this is how I'm going to umpire.
It also just sets the umpire up for failure.
It's not about deciding HOW to umpire, and yes the rules are the rules, it's about raising awareness to coaches and players alike that you will be taking a stronger stance & be more vigilant on aspects of the game that may have been of concern in recent weeks like umpire abuse or sling tackles or something like that.
best umpires we have had this year(and i said it at the time) told us exactly how they would interpret rules before the game and thats what they did and it was a pleasure to have them..nothing wrong with increasing communication between umpires and players and the way they see the rules as everyone is different for interpretations no matter if the rule is black and white..
Just my opninion I guess, but I would never encourage an umpire to do it.
Interesting question about interpretation. Are the rules subjective or objective?
In reality there obviously is a subjective aspect to the 'interpretation' of rules? However, I would argue that it is not open for interpretation. The AFL releases a DVD each year that demonstrates exactly how rules should be 'interpreted'. It is very clear what decision should be made in a certain situation, there is next to no room for an umpire to make a judgement on a situation. Good umpiring involves having an excellent knowledge of the rules, the physical capacity and skill to best position yourself to view an act and having the composure and confidence to execute that knowledge under the pressure of a game.
IMO good umpiring should look like you are 'going through the motions' and the better the umpire the more they would argue that umpiring is objective.
I can see why people would disagree with this, as the argument is that this lacks a feel for the game. I know when umpiring I do not feel I am being subjective.