You can’t have a cricket game without umpires. Whether you are looking at getting involved for a hobby, or for a career, umpiring is a great way to stay involved and give something back to cricket.
International umpire Tony Hill recently spoke exclusively with www.blackcaps.co.nz about his umpiring experiences and gave his thoughts on people becoming umpires.
Getting started
Hill started his umpiring career over 20 years ago. Back then it was just a hobby, however that has now turned into a career he loves. He’s umpired some of the best players in the world, at the most iconic grounds.
“You get the best seat in the house,” he said. “It’s about being involved and putting something back into the game you are passionate about.”
Like every other umpire, Hill started at club level and progressed from there. These days he spends over 200 days on the road umpiring around the world. He said, however, it doesn’t matter what level you umpire, you should learn and grow from the experience. “You have to make sure you’re focused all the time. I’m not saying there won’t be mistakes, but try and keep them to a minimum,” he said. “Do the best you can. Whether that’s a club game, prem game, domestic or international, take every opportunity you can.”
Umpiring isn’t just for those who have retired from their playing career. Hill said the sooner you get started the better. “Get out there and find the level you enjoy. You have to get enjoyment out of it.
“The day I stop enjoying it is the day I stop umpiring.”
Learning and growing
We are very lucky in New Zealand to have a strong support base for umpires through New Zealand Cricket and the Major Associations. “It’s really neat that New Zealand has two umpires on the top panel and it reflects the training and work done by volunteers to try and keep umpiring standards as high as we can,” Hill said. “There’s brilliant training throughout the country. Enjoy it – anything can happen.”
Cricket is developing constantly, from laws, to playing conditions to the style of cricket and the game is also no longer just male dominated. Some prime examples are the success of the White Ferns and umpire Kathy Cross. Women make both great players and umpires and Hill believes women should get involved. “There’s room for women. They now have the same opportunity as men,” he said. “We need to rid of some stereotypes. New Zealand women are amongst the best in the world regarding cricket. They should start working through a club or school possibilities with their umpiring.”
Man or woman, adult or child, you are never too old to study the laws of cricket and communicate with like minded people. Amendments to the laws are made regularly so it is important to be up to date with all the changes and communicate with other umpires about the new laws.
“The changes to the laws are an ongoing process,” Hill said. “The top panel keep in contact about our yearly plans.”
Friendships, fitness and feedback
Talking with other umpires builds strong friendships and helps the partnership when out in the middle work well. Hill has made a number of friends over the years through cricket umpiring. He said there is a real sense of camaraderie when out in the middle. “We are considered the ‘third team’. We stick together,” he said. “We are away from home and we tend to go out for dinner etc. When you are out in the middle you have a partnership. It’s important to work together.”
Working as a partnership also means being agile in both body and mind. As the game become more professional every year, so too is umpiring. Officiating is now Hill’s career and he takes it seriously. He, like the cricket players, works hard on his fitness. Gone are the days when umpires are rotund and stand in just one place. “Fitness is something you have to keep going all the time. It can’t lapse,” he said. “Like players, preseason we get down to the nets and look at the ball, see what it’s doing and go to our practices. Just like the players we have to look after ourselves.”
Hill enjoys walking and swimming as a way to maintain fitness, while some of the other elite umpires head out to the gym or for a run. He also looks after his body with good nutrition and plenty of sleep. “You can’t go out two or three nights in a row and expect to be standing for seven hours the following day,” he said. “Quite often I’m in bed by 8.30 to ensure I’ve got a clear mind ready for the next day.”
It is also mentally demanding to stand out in the middle and Hill points out the mind is just as important as the body. “We do other things to keep our mind and body as agile as possible. We do puzzles to help make sure the brain is ticking over.”
With umpiring, just like any job, comes feedback and sometimes criticism. Being in the public eye and on television, Tony Hill is no stranger to feedback. “Mistakes happen and off the field criticism is part of the wonderful job you do,” he said. “Don’t let things fester. All sorts of things happen out in the middle, so park it and move onto the next ball.
“You’ve got to understand in that position everything’s going to be scrutinised and I’ve accepted that fact.”
The little things
It can be a daunting experience in the middle when thinking about what can go wrong. However Hill said it is important to clear your mind from everything and focus. He said it’s also important to have a strong network outside of cricket. “Umpiring can impact on your life and it’s important to have people at home who are supportive. It’s that much harder when other things are playing on your mind. When your mind’s not clear it will be the next ball that will catch you out.”
The art of focusing then having a moment after each ball before refocusing is important. The players also do the same. Many will talk with the umpires and Hill has had some interesting conversations with top class athletes from around the world. “Some of us will talk with the players, some won’t. Some chats supply you with a few stories!” he laughed. “It’s part of the fun of being out in the middle and seeing things happen.”
The most important thing, according to Hill, is about appreciating what you’ve got and enjoying the little things. “When you are travelling you see the conditions of other places and how people live. It cements all the thoughts about how lucky we are. Some people don’t have the chance to travel, but when you do you appreciate what you’ve got at home. It’s magnificent here, you’ve got to remember that,” he said. “You have to enjoy the little things.”
