Last week was Umpire Appreciation Round, Four of our SFNL umpires – Ryan Mann, Hannah Layzell, Michael Moore and Michael Whelan – attended AFL training and also took part in an on-field experience. They found the pre-match on-field warm-up a little difficult, with our AFL colleagues out-sprinting their younger visitors.
AFL umpire Rob O’Gorman is again part of the Umpire mates program and his SFNL mates this year are Alanah French, Thomas Moore, Rob O’Gorman (AFL umpire)
Congratulations to all our umpires representing the SFNL during the Interleague Carnival. The Field Umpires are Nick Bergman, Nick Ritchie, Sheldon Judd and Ryan Mann, Boundary Umpires Caleb Garraway, Jacob Curry, Courtney Stelling and Olivia Burn, and Goal Umpires Damon Kelly, John Gilley and Matthew Wilson
Om Satija is one of our newest young guns and is already doing doubleheaders and looking as fit after eight quarters as he did at the start of the day. He started following the footy in 2012 after a friend’s dad took him and his brother to a Freo vs Saints preseason game at Subiaco. He played his first season that winter for Morley Bulldogs in Perth and his last season as a player was 2017 (U15’s) for Glen Waverley Rovers. Overall, he has played 53 games. He is an avid Freo supporter and has been since he started following the football.
Om started umpiring in Perth in 2016 for East Perth Districts Footy League and continued at the SMJFL when he moved to Melbourne in 2017. Like so many other SMJFL umpires, he was urged to try out in the SFNL and did 4-5 rounds of Reserves last season to get an experience of umpiring adults and to adjust to the differences in the style of play.
Om is a Year 11 student at Melbourne High School where he is studying Japanese, Physics, Chemistry, English, Maths Methods and PE (unit 3/4). His favourite subjects are Japanese and PE. Om loves music as well and plays a few instruments with the main one being the saxophone. He is in Stage Band (Jazz/rock) at school and has done many sessions of busking on the streets and solo performances on stage. Perhaps he can perform for us at the Association Presentation Night
He is a cricket tragic and it is his dream to play first-class cricket (preferably for WA). He bowls leggies but does enjoy batting long periods of time and listening to the opposition try to sledge the s**t out of him for batting too slowly. Cricket is certainly his favourite sport, pastime, hobby and favourite thing to do.
One boundary umpire last week did a little bit more driving then needed. Her parents upon discovering that there was 2 Hallam Reserves decided that the right field to go to was in Pascoe Vale, just a little further out of the way the Hallam. It is encouraged that we remember that we are the Southern Football Netball League and to look at Schedula to see the map as to where your field is. The umpires handbook also has all the locations for the grounds in it, this could just save you an extra couple of hours of travel on the weekend.
While the games being filmed is a good way for us to review our game, as one umpire found out it can also lead to moments we would rather forget being filmed. Luke Walker has discovered this out over the week with one of his two falls for the game being not only captured on the video but being featured in the match highlights for that week. (From 1:40)
After games, please tidy up after yourself. It is not a club’s responsibility to do this for us. The Japanese soccer team showed this during the World Cup when they went out of their way to clean up the mess, they made in the rooms, after their games. To build positive relationships between Club and Umpires, we need to get into the habit of doing this without being asked. The bin in the umpires room at Heatherton seems to have a mind of its own and can get quite lonely, so it is encouraged that we use the bin provided to us.
After cleaning the rooms, common courtesy would be to stay behind after your game, senior umpires, for a least one drink (water, soft drink or other beverage) in the clubs social facility. Let’s stop leaving this up to the few who do this regularly and work towards it being the many.
Unfortunately, our trainer for many years, Natalie, is unable to continue working with the SFNL, but we are fortunate to have obtained the services of Les Stuart who has been the head trainer at Port Colts for at least twenty years. Les has been keeping the White Knight’s legs in working order for a long time and, if he can get me on the park, he can get anyone up and running.
Our New uniforms are ready to be picked up, if you didn’t already get yours this week we ask that you try and get down to training or organise someone to come down and pick up your new uniform for you. If you have yet to order your uniform please also come down and fill in an order form this week so you can join the rest of your fellow umpires in the new uniforms.
Remember that:
“The Ump in Green Should Not Be Seen” and
“We Bounce, We Blow, The Rules We Know”