New development program a boost for aspiring Oceania hockey umpires and officials

Hocket Australia has advised that a newly established Oceania Officials Development Program (OODP) - anticipated to begin in 2023 – aims to boost the development and opportunities for hockey umpires and officials across the Oceania region.

The impacts of COVID, resulting in restrictions on international travel and a lack of international tournaments over the past two years, has hindered opportunities for aspiring officials to improve and progress.

As such, the Oceania Hockey Federation (OHF) Officiating Committee has set up the OODP with the aim of identifying, developing and assisting Oceania’s hockey umpires and officials to be vying among the world’s best.

Chair of Hockey Australia’s Officiating Advisory Group (OAG), Lyn Hill advised “Oceania has a history of numerous top level officials involved at World Cups and Olympics, however the past few years have been extremely difficult for our aspiring elite officials.

“Limited opportunities for advancement have challenged officials to remain focussed on a pathway towards a national or initial international career.”

“The launch of the Oceania Officials Development Program will be exciting news for our elite officials from Australia and the Oceania region who are passionate about the advancement of their officiating careers.”

The OODP will see approximately 24 men and women across the Oceania region go through a selection process for the 12 places (six men & six women) who will be appointed to the program at the end of October this year.

Each National Association will be responsible for nominating the umpires during the selection process and the participants will then select a mentor to assists them through the program.

The OODP is set to begin in 2023 with a deliberate intention to be rolled out in the following stages:

• Umpire Development Program (UDP) commencing in 2023 (2-year duration)

• International Umpire Mentor Program (IUMP) to commence in 2024

• Officials Development Program (ODP) will commence in 2024 (2-year duration)

• Umpire Manager Development Program (UMDP) commencing in 2025.

Hill says the Hockey Australia Officiating Advisory Group is passionate about providing opportunities to officials, like the Umpire Development Program (UDP), the first of the OODP. 

“We encourage our officials to become familiar with the OODP, knowing that the Umpire Development Program is just the start of the programs to be offered,” said Hill.

“The programs will provide varied opportunities to work with mentors from across Oceania and additionally branching out to other officiating roles.”

The OODP is supported by Hockey Australia, Hockey New Zealand and the OHF, and has been sanctioned by the FIH Officials Committee to ensure that participants have a pathway into future international events.

Hockey Australia Senior Management of Participation and Engagement, Blair Chalmers added “the OODP is a valuable addition to the officiating landscape and is a program that fits well in the new Hockey Australia Coaching & Officiating Framework.

“With this program in place, we now have a clear pathway for on and off field officials moving from the Foundation level, through the Development, Advanced and into the Performance level.”

Notably, Hockey Australia and other National Associations will remain responsible for their pathways and the nominating appointment processes. The OODP is designed to complement and enhance these pathways.

A high calibre of mentors with a wealth of experience at national and international level have already been confirmed. They include Angela Holloway, Craig Gribble, David Gentles, David Saunders, Gavin Hawke, Jason McCracken, Josh Burt, Karen Bennett, Lynn Cowie McAlister, Lyn Farrell, Lyn Hill, Minka Woolley, Paul Morrison, Peter Wright and Sarah Garnett.

An important component of the program will be for the participants to also mentor officials back in their regions and from member nations from the South Pacific.