Why did you choose to become an umpire?

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[UmpireHockey.com]

I picked up my first stick when I was in high school and 17.  We didn't have a team for boys, it was more just hitting around with the girls for fun -- and much frustration. I had only ran track, I say this as it is such an individual pursuit, though I like relays the best. In college I started practicing with the women's team and, surprisingly quickly, started playing with a mens club (not because I was any good, but I did have a heartbeat AND a hockey stick).

That and a slow-motion-movie-moment of a beautiful blond leaving an elevator at my college with a hockey stick over her shoulders convinced me that this was a sport requiring further attention. The college offered an umpiring course so I took it.

I remember my first "real" call -- an umpire was shadowing me and after quite a lot of bad play (i.e. lots of fouls and zero calls) she asked, "So, are you going to blow that thing?" My reply was something like, "I don't know when to." (I was honestly referring to all the fouls -- like, which one should I call -- but I also was frozen.)

She got both of those things, laughed a little and asked, "You know the signal for third party, right? So, when I say 'now' blow your whistle really loud, point in any direction you want and signal third party." I said, "Okay," and a second later she said, "NOW!" I pointed left and showed third party when every looked at me like I was crazy. She asked, "Feel better?" That first in-game whistle was really hard and it all got much easier after that.

Purely by coincidence, at my next club game, I suspect in recognition of my now amazing playing ability, the captain turned to me and said, "You know how to blow a whistle, don't you Cris." I said, "Yes. I took a..." He tossed me a whistle said, "Good. It's our turn to supply the umpire."

I had fun, still do.

Cheers...Cris

PS: And eventually even became a reasonable player.

[willc]

Having given up  playing for a period due to family commitments, I started driving my daughter to her games initially at low County league level.  There was always a shortage of umpires so the inevitable happened.  As she progressed, so did I.  When she reached a level where neutral umpires were appointed, I thought I would retire but then got press-ganged into doing neutral appointments.

Somewhere along the line, I discovered how enjoyable it could be when you are able to allow the most skilful players on the pitch to have the influence on the game that their skill deserves and stop players of lesser ability preventing them doing so by breaking down play.

[NicfromSweden]

Alexei yes i could do both but most of the games are during the same weekends when i play so basicly a game could start right after or just before my game which means i could miss out stuff with my own team and the weekends when im not playing (maybe 1-2 every two months during the indoor season) im not feeling like going to the south of sweden to umpire a couple of junior games but i have no problem blowing the wistle during tournaments but one time in denmark i ahd to umpire a game betwen copenhagen and sörbymagle which is two of the top 4 best teams in denmark and that was pritty scarey since the guys playing are the guys we use to play

but hopefully some day i will have the chance to give umpiring a shot but right now i dont have the time when im playig both club an nationalhockey

[Folmer]

Wow, you guys actually chose to start umping. Here we don't have that choice, when you become a senior player everyone is required to get their umpiring accreditation. Most clubs don't make much of a fuss if you haven't, but some clubs even go so far as not to assign you to a team if you haven't got your ump-card.
Of course there are some players you don't want to ump a game and there are some that deliberately fail the test (if not obligatory at that club) but most seniors in Holland have their accreditation.
I got mine when I was 16 (16 years ago... damn' I'm getting old ) and have enjoyed umping since.

[Hacker]

I  used to umpire back in the days of grass and off-side but as a sideline to playing. I then stopped playing for 15 years an donly started when my eldest (then 9) started to play. The following season I decided to start playing again and decided the quickest way of learning all these strange new rules was to get my Level 1. I did this and then continued to play and umpire for the next 6 seasons. Last season I decided that I couldn't continue playing with the amount of injuries I was getting so took the decision to stop playing and umpire full-time. Except for 2 games I had an enjoyable season so will continue with this.

[A Tidewater Ump]

I got so angry      at an umpire at one of my college games that I went to the bench, took my coaches rules book, and challenged the umpire to show me the rule that she was using to make her most recent    ridiculous call.  I got red carded for my behavior  , left on campus the next time the team travelled    , and invited to attend the next rules clinic for umpires    ... so I went     .  I have officiated on and off for almost 25 years now.  I still play (despite the concussions and other assorted injuries) and coach (youth, GK's, and US Futures Development), but the place where I have become a true student of the game is in officiating. 

I am enjoying the replies to the question.

[nerd_is_the_word]

I cant remember exactly how i got into umpiring, just as a kid when i got to the age where i was allowed to start umpiring lower grades i got really eager and decided to give it a go. about a year later i was at home one arvo when i got a call from teh umpiring co-ordinator who said "we need another umpire to send away to under 15 state titles, do you want to go?" since i was 14 and hadnt made the team i decided to go just for the fun that i have on tour, realised at that tournament that umpires get to have way more fun than players, and have tried to get away at least once to umpire every year since

[zippytime]

I started umpiring about 9 years ago as our ladies 1's needed someone and i was injured so I helped them out and passed my level 1 before I decided to go back playing.  I umpired a few games every season till 3 seasons ago when I was persuaded to quit playing and take up umpiring properly as I was and had been playing injured for about 7 years.  Only took me a season till I was umpiring higher than I had ever played so it was probably a good idea and now I can actually walk after a game of hockey.

[Craggsy]

My club needed some more umpires and they paid for the course so I did it. Good thing to have and looks good on a CV, can't loose really well except for when you have to miss your game to umpire 

[Awe_Kid]

Originally started umpiring for my own team as a means to an end. Unfortunately this became all too regular as I was the only one in the team who really knew the rules (apparently  althought my players still argued with me ). Anyway, thats how it started. Then last year I umpired with one of my Uni's old boys. Turns out he was organising the umpires for a student tour this Easter and was in need of umpires (must of been desperate if you saw my umpiring that day) so got on a course ASAP then managed to get the green light a couple of weeks before leaving. Thats the story of how I became an umpire 

Oh.. forgot to say that as I was umpire not only was I one of the people who got bevies bought for them by most teams but I also got all travel and accom paid for by the tour company 

[foozbear]

I became an umpire not of my own volition.

My club would see me week after week telling the umpires the rules...and decided to get me umpire a game.

the thought this would stop me arguing...it made me worse(tbh).

but over time being abused by plyers i saw the error of my earlier life...and now I enjoy plying  AND umpiring.

[Ballingdon]

I draw on a lot of what goes before. I too (re-)started umpiring becuase my daughter is playing in the Colts leagues and cups. I  umpired from time-time at university and once or twice afterwards.  What  really prevoked me into getting my my L1 was seeing a particularly awful decision at a U15 Cup match whch I wasn't allowed to officiate because it required L1!  Then it just snow-balled.  Finally I realise that

'those who know the rules , umpire , those who don't, play !'     

Now I think I umpire more than she plays!     Thoroughly enjoy it - especially if the sun shines once in a while.

[nerd_is_the_word]

'those who know the rules , umpire , those who don't, play !'     

I always thought of it as:

You start by playing. If your not co-ordinated enough to do that they take the stick off you and make you umpire. If your not co-ordinated enough to do that they give you the stick back and make you goalkeeper [/i[]

[braxer001]

 

We need more coordination than those bloody fieldies !   


 

[SLM285]

I always say that its because I forgot my kit one day (at school) and the coach gave me a whistle and said "well Umpire then!!!" and I loved it so continued. which is partly true, but the real reason is because I'm a nerd. Its the more technical and detailed side of hockey, where people depend on you making the correct decision beyond just if you get it wrong they might score. I love the pressure, and the concentration required.
Woop!