Why did you choose to become an umpire?

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[controller]

Because I wanted to go places 

never going to do it an player and now never going to do it as an umpire?

Need to be in the click in some areas and countries to move forward.....apart from that

I actually enjoy umpiring, technical officiating  because I like the game and the people 99% of the time..

[dodgeyumpires]

Everyone had to do a club umpire duty, so I got thrown in the deep ends with some other random guy from another club. 4th grade mens hockey, neither of us had any idea what we were doing. Game turned to custard. After finally 55 minutes of complete hell and trying to warn the captains and players I unleashed with a yellow card. three minutes later, another one. Captain said something rude towards the other umpire, another one. That last ten minutes of hockey was the nicest ever!
I enjoyed it. Unfortunately the other guy never umpired nor played again. I moved to NZ and started playing summer hockey. They paid umpires 10.00 a game, as I was short on money, gave it a go.
After a week or two, an 'old man' on the sideline came and scooped me up. Signed me up with the local umpires association and I havnt looked back. Unfortunately....

Still love playing though.

[Spikey]

Hmmm - I was the world's lousiest player. So the club, the coach, the players, the grounds keeper (grass pitch), the local hospital, the insurance companies, suggested I tried an umpire course... never looked back....

[deegum]

I looked after the kids while my wife played.
One day I stood too close to the side line, and they said" this is a whistle.. you blow in that end'
" but I can't fathom that obstruction rule"
"So what, no one else can........"

35 6 7years later, my, my how time flies.  , I'm umpiring the under 5s... or over 85s

[jtsoldier]

I looked after the kids while my wife played.
One day I stood too close to the side line, and they said" this is a whistle.. you blow in that end'
" but I can't fathom that obstruction rule"
"So what, no one else can........"

35 6 7years later, my, my how time flies.  , I'm umpiring the under 5s... or over 85s

Interesting. I have a similar issue - I only "understand" the obstruction rule when I am playing and appealing to the umpire. What is worse, is that even in hindsight, I think my interpretation is right.  Moment I am the umpire though, I have no clue...

Back on topic: Took it up for turf time. More time for me on the turf means more time I spend enjoying myself - I figured that logic would work in any capacity, and thus far (except one time when I got - <-- that close to carding someone in my first competitive game of the season) I have been correct. It is almost like occupational therapy.

[Martindk]

I must have talked alot , due to this the umpire came and invited me to the umpire course , after this i have umpired for some years , but will go more for umpiring after next indoor season.

[kingo]

Took up umpiring to improve as a coach and player.

As a player, yes still get frustrated by decisions I dont agree with but I dont have a whistle so I count to 3 then politely ask to chat after the game in the bar when everything is cooled down. Most upires are happy to chat about things and it's amazing what you can learn from a relaxed chat post-match. Especially wheo FIH pass on specifics for Nation league games in England! 

As a coach, I like to know what an umpire will blow so I avoid coaching it. 

[Freebird]

I got roped into doing it at Uni by the club captain. She paid me to do it...extra beer money 

[JiMMM]

I got into umpiring initially when I was about 15 when I was getting bored at my brothers games (there are only so many times that I could stand in front of an empty net and hit the ball at it for an hour). Gave it up after a while in part because of parents abusing me, and in part because I couldn't get any one to come and asses me to get accredited (even though people from the association said I was a good umpire).

Took it up again this year, basically because my team (read every team in the association) was required to supply umpires, and I felt I was better equipped to deal with the 2 issues that caused me to give it up, so now I am trying to get my level 1 accreditation (beginner umpire in Australia) and to get the Brisbane Association to accredit me.

[nathan06]

at 16, i went to a seminar on the rules of hockey delivered by Richard Kendrick (ex-olympic ump.) and recognised him from umpiring our match the previous weekend.
i thought he called everything perfectly and after having him clear up a few rules in my mind i took the exam.
passed the exam, got accredited and have enjoyed umpiring ever since.
playing and coaching the kids still come before umpiring but it's something i can hopefully continue and tae further when i stop playing.

[jtsoldier]

Gave it up after a while in part because of parents abusing me,

That is terrible. I still struggle to believe that this actually happens. Mind you, I have a bunch of goons that run around the sideline threatening to kick the crap out of parents like that (read: the local umpire organisation person who has a well-earned - but unfortunate - reputation involving removing people from the grounds for repeatedly hurling abuse at umpires).

[Rutter]

Frankly, whilst it's unfortunate, it's only meeting fire with fire. When I was coaching juniors I had to ask several, non-hockey playing parent to leave the sidelines, two of which were mothers of junior internations. It was becoming more and more embarrassing and this was 15 years ago.

I know of at least one early National League Umpire (who I hold in the very highest respect) who gave up after a season because of the abuse he was getting from supporters, some of which was alledgedly racist.

[JiMMM]

That is terrible. I still struggle to believe that this actually happens. Mind you, I have a bunch of goons that run around the sideline threatening to kick the crap out of parents like that (read: the local umpire organisation person who has a well-earned - but unfortunate - reputation involving removing people from the grounds for repeatedly hurling abuse at umpires).

I'm not too concerned about it now as an adult but when you are a teenager it shouldn't happen, but it wasn't the sole reason I gave up either. To be perfectly honest I didn't feel supported by the association as I couldn't get accredited, although I wouldn't have given up because of this on it's own. If there had of only been one of the issue's it wouldn't have been an issue but both together, it just makes life very hard.

But on the bright side, if I can get out of the administration of my club next year I am going to try and set up a program so that what happened with me doesn't happen to anyone else in my club (I wont be able to do the association due to new bub who is far more important).