OKC! wrote:YOu seem to know a fair bit so answer me this...
Is there deliberate in Div 5 or any grade in SAAFL? Is there the 1 meter for ruck men rule in our grade/comp? Is there deliberate rushed behind in our comp? What about hitting below the knees?
I guess if I was a bit better informed I would know the answers to these questions, but I don't, because the only people that I ask about these rules are the umpires.... which DO NOT HAVE A CLUE week to week what other umpires are doing. Half of them say one thing, half say the other. I was told 2 weeks ago that someone can hit below the knees as hard as they want, as long as they are going for the ball. This shows that they do not have a clue what they are doing, because the week before, we had 2 or 3 paid. SO the 'training'that they do is either not working or it is absolute rubbish, you can decide on that, like I said you seem to know a fair bit about the situation.
The standard is horrible.
Just as you get PLAYERS that rarely attend training in DIV 5 - you will also get umpires that don't attend training regularly - and yes, inconsistency occurs. Amazing how players and umpires are alike? Both are human and make mistakes?
Deliberate rushed behind - does not exist in SAAFL - I did hear of a lower grade umpire paying a free for it. His mistake - not a major issue that the SAAFL need to address - 99% of umpires would know this. (I would say less than 80% of players and supporters would know the interpretation?)
1 metre ruck rule exists in all grades of SAAFL - do umpires interpret it correctly "every" time? Clearly, not. Do players obey the rules every time and get away with it - absolutely yes. Inconsistency exists at every level.
Hitting below the knees - a very difficult interpretation to give a definitive answer to - is the players "sole" intent to take possession? - or does he use that tactic to put the opposition player out of the contest? - many times its line ball. I would think the umpire looks at how hard the player goes at the ball/legs - and in an instant has to make a call - do they get it right every time - no - does the player get it right every time - no. Works both ways?
You make the observation that it is Div 5 football - and even at the very highest level of AFL, there are contentious decisions every week - so, will you ever fix it?
Despite the numerous "howlers" you focus on - I would guess (even in Div 5) the umpires get it right 90% of the time - I doubt there's a player in ANY level of competition who can get what they do right 90% of the time?
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:56 pm
