All umpires need to be aware of this video through the attached link, so you know exactly what they have been advised as to how we will be umpiring this season!
We hope this will aid in the player and coach understanding of what we are trying to achieve as a team of umpires this year, throughout the country.
You will have hopefully seen the Hockey Ireland ‘Return to Play Protocols’. There will undoubtedly be a number of questions that members will have about different aspects of the Protocols which is totally understandable. The safety of our members has been paramount in our discussions with Hockey Ireland regarding the Return to Play Protocols.
We are presently putting together an Umpiring Advice and Guidance Document which will hopefully provide more clarity about the expectations of our role within competitive play.
We appreciate that it is difficult to predict how the COVID situation will progress, however we would like to know your opinions, based on the situation as it currently stands. A questionnaire has been sent to all IHUA members via email. All responses will be treated in confidence. You do NOT need to supply your name and individual responses will not be shared outside of the Executive Committee. Please respond by Tuesday 25 September!
All IHUA umpiring appointments will be covered by insurance for official matches played in accordance with the Hockey Ireland Covid regulations and guidance.
We will ask the Provincial Associations to confirm the insurance situation with its members in relation to official appointments within their region, in case there is any disparity with the National position.
Umpires are recommended NOT to umpire unofficial or friendly matches in the current climate UNLESS they seek and obtain the required assurances from the match/tournament organisers regarding insurance cover. In these circumstances, the officiating of an unofficial or friendly match/tournament is entirely your own personal decision. Stay safe!
We are aware of a few problems that have developed at the end of last season and the start of the current season with some of the UmpireTalk radios, mainly due to natural wear and tear. Of course there are a number that continue to work with no problems.
This notice is just to say that we are working on solution in conjunction with the Provinces as everyone recognises the widespread importance of radio usage for all matches. It is important that we try and get a radio that suits our wider needs as well as ensuring the cost is affordable. For this reason we will be looking to test some options in the next couple of weeks.
If we can agree on a radio then realistically we are probably looking at just after Christmas for their introduction.
