This is the passport to umpire all England Hockey adult club competitions and local / county level leagues.
The Level 1 Award continues to be the ‘passport’ to competitive 11 a-side hockey for club umpires. The Award is made up of three key parts (see below). Completion and accreditation is based upon the final part - a successful assessment on a match by a locally approved assessor.
1. A classroom based presentation representing four hours and 30 minutes (delivered in two sessions and including viewing the Core Skills of Umpiring DVD and an examination paper). The classroom session is tutored by a county based England Hockey Board (EHB) approved tutor and it involves consideration of the umpiring skills required for competitive hockey and a detailed study of the Rules of Hockey.
2. A minimum of three practice games. The practice games can be independently organised and candidates have up to two years within which they can complete. In some counties / areas candidates can umpire local league hockey. Hockey Umpiring Associations and / or counties can advise of local arrangements.
3. An assessment on a suitable 11 a-side hockey match. The assessment can be on any 11 a-side hockey game where the two teams play within a competitive framework. 1st X1 school hockey is included however the match should first be ‘approved as suitable’ by the local umpiring association or county (if no umpiring association exists). It should be noted that most 1st X1 school hockey more than adequately equates with lower league competition.
County Hockey Umpiring Associations are the main deliverers of the Level 1 Umpiring Courses, however there are increasing opportunities for clubs to link together and organise courses i.e. with support from leagues or other organisations. The EHB stresses that while it (the EHB) is the accrediting body, Counties remain responsible for the local maintenance of umpiring registers and there is therefore an expectation that umpires, umpire associations, clubs, counties and leagues will work together to promote and support each other in this process i.e. from recruitment through to coaching.
Most counties have a County Hockey Umpiring Association (HUA) and they are the usual ‘keepers’ of the Level 1 Register. HUAs are encouraged to support local club umpires, to encourage them to join the local association and to use their website offering umpires an opportunity to independently update their information and record confirmation of being active. (The expected definition of ‘active’ as an umpire is 3 games in any calendar year). County HUAs advise EHB of changes to the register on an annual basis (i.e. new address, retirements, active, no longer active etc).
All accredited umpires are issued with an England Hockey Board registration number. Any individual or club or association wishing to check an umpires registration number / status is able to do so by sending an email to umpiring@englandhockey.org and stating the full name and postal address of the umpire/s.
