USAFL Umpire Virtual Clinic – May 7, 2024 @ 8PM Eastern
Accreditation Update; New USAFL Rules; Interactive Field and Goal Umpire Positioning

We hope everyone has had a chance to review (and re-review) the Umpire Virtual Clinic #1 where we covered Match Management. Now we are offering the next installment of the 2024 Umpire Virtual Clinic series, coming up on May 7th, Tuesday, at 8 pm Eastern Time. Mark your calendars!

This clinic will cover three topics:

Accreditation update
New USAFL Rules
Interactive Field and Goal Umpire Positioning

Accreditation Update
This will be the shortest part of the clinic as most everyone is well aware of the process. For newer umpires and those looking for accreditation advancement, it is good to start this process at the beginning of the season rather than wondering where you are at as Nationals gets closer.

New USAFL Rules
Every year the UA Rules Committee meets to review any new rules and/or interpretations from the AFL to decide whether the USAFL should adopt them. There are a few updates this year and we will cover them. These are mostly interpretations of the rules as well as the Stand The Mark process.

Interactive Field and Goal Umpire Positioning
The bulk of the time will be spent using an interactive tool to illustrate how umpires (field and goal) are to position themselves for various plays, including shots on goal, boundary throw-ins, center bounces, switches and pushes.

While we will schedule for one hour, as usual we will go past that time if there are questions that we can address, because this will be recorded for those that might have to leave early, those who can’t attend due to a conflict, and of course for reviewing later as the season progresses.

Please join us as this will be interactive both in terms of the tool we will use to illustrate positioning and our desire for you to be asking questions so that you are prepared for both one- and two-umpire system mechanics as this will greatly help you with your accreditation advancement.

We will still be running our third virtual clinic about a month out from Nationals, Monday, September 16th, so go ahead and mark that date on our calendars as well.

See you on May 7th at 8PM Eastern!

Topic: USAFLUA Special Events – May 2024 Virtual Umpires Clinic

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89206924291

Meeting ID: 892 0692 4291

 

Match Management Umpire Clinic Video

Greetings fellow Umpire Association Members,

Welcome to 2024! 2023 was the tenth year of our Association and it was a very successful season as we had a record number of member Umpires, outstanding umpire attendance at the Regional and National tournaments, and received many compliments on the work of our umpires from coaches, players, and observers. And with what your UA Board has planned for 2024, I am looking forward to an even better year this season. Let’s take a look at what is coming so you can begin planning your calendar…

Umpire Association Events:

February 26, 2024 – Umpire Clinic Webinar on “Match Management”

April 23, 2024 – General UA Membership Webinar

September 16, 2024 – Umpire Clinic and Nationals Preparation Webinar

October 11, 2024 – Umpire Association Annual General Meeting – Austin, Texas

USAFL League Events:

June 15, 2024 – USAFL Regional Super Regional Tournament – Dublin, Ohio

June 29, 2024 – USAFL Western Regional Tournament – Salt Lake City, Utah

August 2-11, 2024 – AFL Transatlantic Cup – Toronto, Ontario, CA

October 12-13, 2024 – USAFL National Tournament – Austin, Texas

Notes on key dates above:

We will be sending more info on the clinics as we get closer to them.

The National Team programs have been redesigned and have made umpires inclusive in their planning by creating an International Umpire Panel featuring a Umpire Liaison and a selection panel. More info on this as well as on the Transatlantic Cup is forthcoming.

The Super Regional will be huge! We hope as many of us can attend.

The Western Regional will bring us to Utah for the first time. While it may seem a bit distant and/or costly, it would make a great start or finish to vacation visiting the beautiful National Parks there :o)

And finally, as we head into this season, please keep these things in your headlights…

Start preparing now! Exercise both the body and the brain. Schedule up a work out regime that fits you. Take time to read and then re-read the laws of the AFL game AND the USAFL law adoptions and/or modifications.

Start Communicating now! If you are looking to improve your skills and advance to the next accreditation level, you need to get in touch with the UA Umpire Coaching staff early in the season so your work towards that next level is appropriate and focused.

Start recruiting now! We need more umpires in all three areas (field/goal/boundary). Talk with your local team players and fans about how much you enjoy umpiring and encourage them to consider the path.

Start planning now! Block out dates on calendars. Start watching flight prices and book when lowest. Talk with fellow umpires on lodging and transportation sharing options.

PLAY ON!

“Millsy”

Jonathan Mills

President

USAFL Umpires Association

 

2023 USAFL UA Umpire Accreditations Awarded

From Jeff Persson – USAFLUA National Umpire Coach:

 

We have had a great year in terms of recruiting, retention, and re-engaging! Now that Nationals has ended, all of the 2023 accreditation and reaccredations have been recorded in the USAFLUA database, each being good for the next four years. The 2023 accreditations, by discipline, by level (note that (r) designates a re-accreditation), are listed below.

 

Arpeet Kamdar

Orion Peterson

Cooper Waddell

 

Kevin Gier

Bob Gravelle (r)

Evan Ling (r)

Laurie Rupe (r)

 

Sid Caesar (r)

Mark Gall (r)

Aaron Nelson (r)

Jason Sherlock (r)

 

Larissa Andrusyshyn

 

Adam Alvarez

Jim Batten (r)

Jeff Blankman (r)

Simon Boyce (r)

Dave Bryant

Matt Byrne (r)

Michael Coysh

Darren Henderson (r)

Rob Liwanag

Glen McLeod

Jack O’Dell

Matt O’Leary (r)

 

Paul Lashier

Milo Lombardi (r)

Ross McLaren (r)

Seth McElvaney (r)

Kevin Murray

Steve Noble

 

On behalf of the whole coaching crew, and all your fellow umpires,