Level 1 Umpire Accreditation Manual - AFL Community

Unit 1 – The ApproachPeople-Management SkillsEffective people-management skills are attributesthat are common to successful Umpires. E.g.s:• Acting courteously.• Being a good listener.• Speaking clearly.• Acknowledging others.• Respecting others’ opinions.• Projecting positive body language.These skills are demonstrated when communicating,relating and interacting with other people.Words used by the Umpire in communicatingwhy a decision was made can have a positiveeffect on players and help to build a relationshipand develop rapport with players.When communicating with players, use a strong,firm and clear voice, this portrays composure.Avoid screaming or shouting, this portrays lackof composure which creates anxiety in players.Umpires who are composed, cool but firm,will win the confidence of players.Try to develop good communication techniques– the words “please” and “thanks” never go astray.“Move back on the mark two metres please No. 7”.“Thanks No. 7”.“Move away from the goal area please, thank you”.There will be many opportunities during the matchto implement these skills. Some examples are:• informing players what free kicks are for;• responding to questions from players;• directing players in certain situations;• responding to conflict between players;• Player reaction to communication from Umpireswill mostly be determined by what the Umpiressay and how they say it.ASSESSMENTYou will need to demonstrateeffective people managementskills, such as:• Communicating effectively with players and others;• Treating players with respect;• Responding to potential conflict situations.30 level one umpires manual