HDFNL taking zero tolerance stand towards umpire abuse

READ MORE - Last weekend's HDFNL round 16 wrap

THE Heathcote District Football-Netball League board has put its clubs, players, coaches, officials and spectators on notice that umpire abuse and poor behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

In the wake of last Saturday's reserves match between North Bendigo and Lockington-Bamawm United that was called off early by a young umpire due to it getting out of hand, the league has not only written to all its clubs stating its zero tolerance stance, but will also publish a full page warning in this weekend's edition of the YABBA.

According to both the letter sent to clubs and the piece written for the YABBA, the Bendigo Umpires Association describes the behaviour towards umpires as "among the worst they have seen or heard."

Following a meeting between the HDFNL and BUA on Monday night the directive to all coaches, players, officials and supporters is clear - "no abusive or threatening behaviour towards umpires will be tolerated whatsoever".

And the league expects "immediate improvement" having now drawn a line in the sand.

"Barrack all you like, but don't get personal with the umpires or players because that's when we can see situations flare up," HDFNL chairman Peter Cole said on Wednesday.

"We're struggling for umpires and situations like last weekend (the North Bendigo-LBU reserves game being called off early) just undoes all the work we're trying to do in getting more umpires, plus encouraging young players to play in the reserves."

As well as putting all its clubs on notice that umpire abuse will no longer be tolerated, the HDFNL board has reiterated to the BUA that umpires must stamp their authority early.

There hasn't been one report laid this year in a HDFNL senior, reserves or under-17 match.

"We've told the umpires that they have the power to nip issues in the bud... if they see melees or are copping abuse, pay free kicks, pay 50 metre penalties because all the clubs now know they are on notice," Cole said.

"And if they need to get the book out and make a report, do it."

BUA chairman Craig Findlay applauded the HDFNL for taking the stand it has in regards to treatment of umpires, but says the issue isn't just confined to just one league.

As well as Heathcote District, the BUA also officiates games in the Bendigo, Loddon Valley, North Central leagues, plus junior and women's competitions.

"Probably the best way of putting it is we probably feel that we're lacking a bit of respect," Findlay said.

"But it's not just the Heathcote District league, it's football in general. But it's the Heathcote District league that is taking the stand that something needs to be done and we obviously back them all the way with what they're doing.

"Hopefully, we can start to get a bit of respect back. This is probably the worst that it has been for a while.

"I don't know whether I could say it's at an all-time low, but in 2019 with the way the AFL has been pushing their treatment of umpires and bullying in the workplace, the issue is probably standing out more now than it has in the past.

"We've got a lot more younger and inexperienced umpires who probably aren't used to the types of comments that come from over the fence at them, so when you take all that into consideration, it's certainly pretty bad at the moment."

Meanwhile, both the HDFNL and BUA are providing their full support to the 15-year-old umpire who was placed into the situation of having to call off the North Bendigo-LBU reserves game with about six minutes left in the final term last Saturday.

"It's obviously really disappointing to be put in a position where I've got to ring this young umpire's parents on Monday night and apologise for the behaviour of two of my clubs," Cole said.

"Personally, I feel so sorry for him, but also, it's taken a 15-year-old kid to call it out and say, 'enough is enough'.

"Not one person has said to me he did the wrong thing in calling the game off... everyone has said he has done the right thing and I reckon he's a hero for calling it out."

Cole said both North Bendigo and LBU have been issued with please explains as a result of the actions that led to the game being called off early and he expected sanctions would be handed down.

EDITORIAL: Call it out, enough is enough

The HDFNL's full warning to its clubs relating to umpire treatment:

As you will have seen in the media, a spate of recent events have tainted the reputation of our league and all clubs affiliated.

On Monday night representatives from the HDFNL board and Bendigo Umpires Association met to discuss not only recent events, but behaviour in general.

It became evident through these discussions that umpires officiating our matches have been consistently subjected to abusive behaviour from not only players, but coaches, officials and supporters.

In fact, the BUA described the behaviour towards umpires as the worst they have seen or heard.

This is not good enough.

As a board, we want to ensure that our league is safe and enjoyable for all - including those who officiate our games.

As we lead into finals, the following is a clear and direct mandate to all coaches, players, officials and supporters:

NO ABUSIVE OR THREATENING BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS UMPIRES WILL BE TOLERATED WHATSOEVER.

In response, umpires have been given clear instructions to pay free kicks or award 50 metre penalties against those who do, whether they are playing or not, and this is wholly supported by the board.

This is your only warning.

Board members along with other representatives will be attending games over the next fortnight and throughout finals to monitor the situation and we expect immediate improvement.

We appreciate your leadership and support in distributing the message.

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