Umpiring Update

ST.Johns Antigua/Umpiring Update
by Veronica Harris

(Caption: Umpires off to church)

The 2008 Jean Pierre Under 16 tournament for the umpires started with a seminar facilitated by Mrs. Deborah Lynch Theobalds and Miss Marlyn Hall. 10 umpires attended this seminar which focused on synchronizing the umpires’ interpretation of the rules and terminology but mostly for clarification of the new rules. Some of the other topics covered were:


Match protocols

Umpiring techniques – positioning, timing vision, quickness of reaction, signals and setting penalties

Umpires are still faced with the lack of understanding of the new rules by some of the teams and their officials. One of the areas of concern is Rule 7 Stoppages and Rule 3.4.2 – These rules clearly states that “No coaching is permitted during any stoppage by any Bench Team Official or bench player….”, however, umpires are constantly having to ask these persons the desist from coaching during stoppages. Teams should also be aware that only the first stoppage for injury is up to two minutes, for any subsequent stoppage for injury after that, the injured player has 30seconds to leave the court and receive treatment court side.

Another area of concern is Rule 21 – Failure to take the court for the start of play and the end of an interval. Players will be given a 30 seconds notification and a10 seconds notification during which time they should be on court, in position and ready to play. Penalty for Rule 21 – (i) “If a team fails to take the court by the start or restart of play, the umpire shall penalize for deliberate delaying of play (ii) If a team fails to take the court within one (1) minute of the designated time for the start or restart of play, the umpires shall award the game to the non-offending team.

Setting of penalties is another major area of concern as most players seem unaware of the correct method of setting of penalties and the consequences. They should be aware that the person taking the penalty must take up the position as directed by the umpire before playing the ball and obey the three second and footwork rules.


For the penalty pass/shot, both the player taking the penalty and the infringer must take up the position as directed by the umpire before the ball is played. The infringer must stand beside and away from the player taking the penalty so as not to impede this player in any way. The penalized player may not move or attempt to take part in play either physically or verbally until the ball has left the hands of the thrower. Players are still standing behind the person taking the penalty and giving directions to other players and some of the players taking the penalty are not waiting for the infringer to take up position.