England Hockey Officiating Announces Second National Umpiring Conference

The National Umpiring Conference which is hosted by England Hockey Officiating will be returning for its second year on Sunday 31 August at East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. 

The keynote speaker for the conference is international rugby referee Luke Pearce who has refereed at the very top level for several years, including refereeing at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. As one of rugby’s leading international referees, Pearce brings a deep insight into high-performance decision-making, composure under pressure, and the leadership demands of officiating at the elite level. 

Sports psychologist Sue Jones will also be sharing her experiences of working at the highest level. Jones worked with the country’s top umpires in the build-up to the Paris Olympic Games and has a deep understanding of the psychological challenges of sports officiating.  

Jones will deliver a session on self-reflection, discussing how both umpires and umpire developers can improve self-awareness to improve their performance. 

The event will also feature interactive, video-based sessions presented by some of the country’s top officials. These will focus on some of the most challenging and interesting areas of umpiring, including: 

• Positioning and movement patterns; being in the right place at the right time 
• The aerial ball; promoting safety and protecting skill 
• Managing players effectively; dealing with conflict and difficult situations 

The conference is open to umpires of all abilities and experience levels. Whether you're new to the world of umpiring and looking to improve your skills to umpire matches at your club or university, or you're a seasoned umpire taking neutral appointments, the conference is for you.  

The event will be run alongside the annual NPUA conference, providing the opportunity to network with some of the country’s best officials, including English representatives from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

The cost of the conference is £50 per person, with a £5 discount available for EHO gold members. This includes attendance at all sessions on the day, as well as a hot buffet lunch.  

The second edition of the England Hockey Officiating Conference promises to be a fantastic event once again – click here to book your place via the Hockey Hub! 

If you have any questions about the event, please contact umpiring@englandhockey.co.uk