Like players having to learn and practice their skills, Umpires have to do this as well.

We are not perfect, and no one has a perfect game but if umpires, players, coaches, spectators, alike are given the opportunity to better understand the interpretation of the rules and being able to join in with the communication on and off the pitch, it will become an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Players will make many mistakes in a game i.e kicking the ball, missing tackles, giving the ball away, missing goals, not marking…..the list goes on.

However they will not be shouted at in the same manner as an umpire would be for making one or two mistakes.

And yes those mistakes, in the eyes of a player, could “cost us the game” but what about the player that missed the open goal, the player that gave away that short corner…did they not cost their team the game?

Like players, umpires go out onto the pitch to umpire their best game possible, and like players, it doesn't always turn out the way they wanted it to.