01/09/2021
Third Scoring Goal Umpires
Please note this run-down is specific to community umpiring, and third scorers will only be appointed for the grand finals. It is good knowledge to have in general though, so please everyone read.
If you are appointed to be a third scorer, you have several key roles to play throughout the day:
First and foremost - YOU ARE A SCORER! Your most important role as a third scorer is to have the correct score. Particularly in a close game, or where a lot of goals or points are scored. You are the impartial scorer of the 3 goal umpires, and therefore it is imperative that your score card is correct at the end of each quarter.
Second - you are the umpires timekeeper. This has a few parts to it but they are all just as important:
It is your responsibility to ensure the umpires are ready and walking out the door and onto the field at the correct time. Grand final days are often jam packed and time is of the essence. Prior to the game, you should be sourcing out the match manager and getting a run down of what time they want the umpires entering the field. Often there is an anthem being sung/played prior to the match, and the match manager will be able to tell you what time the umpires need to be walking onto the field.
When you know what time you are walking, it is then your responsibility to be counting down and ensuring your teammates are aware of how long they have till walk. You should be counting down from 60mins and calling out at 60 mins, 45 mins, 30 mins, 15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins, 4 mins, 3 mins, 2 mins, 1 mins and finally “time to walk”.
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE FIRM TO ENSURE PUNCTUALITY! A discussion point raised with the Brisbane umpires on Wednesday training was the fact that some umpires dawdle along and take their time getting ready. On grand final days, timing is everything and you MUST ensure that all the umpires are ready to go at the walk time.
As the umpires timekeeper, it is also your responsibility to keep a track of breaks, and let the field umpires know how long is left until the recommencement of play. For 1st quarter and 3rd quarter breaks, this will often mean telling the field umpires how long is left in the break so they can get players back onto the ground. At half time, your role is the same as before the game, and it is your job to ensure that the umpires are ready and out the door with 5 minutes left in the break. Once back on the field, alert the fieldies when 2 minutes remains as they may need to blow their whistle to get players back on the field.
On field duties:
As the third scorer, it is your responsibility to have the coin for the toss. Where the two on-field goalies will leave for their goals almost immediately after the formalities, you will wait with the field and boundary umpires until after the toss. This does not mean chatting to them or getting in the way, or distracting them. It is expected of you to stand off to the side and provide the field umpires with the coin when they conduct the toss, and after the toss you will leave for the interchange.
During the game, you still need to have your stopwatch running as you would if you were on the field, and you will still keep an eye on play watching for any incidents that need to be reported. That comes second though to your first priority - you are a scorer! If there is stuff happening behind play, but the attacking team is pushing towards goal, then your focus will be on the goal end. Leave the incident/s to the emergency field umpire.
At the end of each quarter, restart your stopwatch for the break (remember you are the umpires timekeeper), make your way out to the middle, BUT DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THE GOAL UMPIRES! You are there to assist if they have conflicting scores. If their scores are incorrect, they will turn to you for your input and the correct score. Once scores are confirmed and waved off, it is your job to ensure the field umpires are aware of how long there is left in the break. Generally speaking, when there is 2 minutes left in the break, your field umpires should be blowing their whistles to get the teams back onto the field to recommence if there is a team/s still in their huddles.
As a third scorer, you wear the full on field uniform, however you will only take out 1 flag, and your hold your hat. You are there as an emergency, and you must be ready to take the field at a moments notice if one of the other goal umpires was to be injured/go down.
Same with the flag, you only require one in the unlikely off-chance one of the on-field goal umpires breaks a flag you will have a replacement for them. Should this happen before half time, you would then grab a second flag for yourself at half time to have spare for the second half - you always have 1 flag with you.
As you can see, if you are appointed to be a third scorer, you will still have a massive role to play, and it is hugely important that you get it right. Use this as a guide, and any questions, comment them below and I will answer them
Steph
