Congratulations to two Reading Hockey Club members, Lucy Parsons and Emma Dawson who passed their Umpire Level 1 assessment. Despite having their own games to play yesterday, Emma and Lucy offered to help out their ladies section team mates and stepped in to cover two games and in doing so passed their level 1.

Also yesterday, Lizzie Mansell offered to umpire the Ladies 5s and despite it being her first 11 aside game, umpired well, it won’t be long before the ladies section add another umpire to the clubs umpiring pool.

Over the summer and past few years the club has worked hard to provide support to anyone, players and parents who have expressed a wish to help with umpiring at the club. Games have been arranged be it 6 or 11 a side as well as club training sessions, pairing experienced umpires with people who are willing to give it a go has helped to build confidence.

The club is looking to run a new Level 1 course soon and are also looking at ways to provide support and thanks to those who offer to umpire games at the club including offering to pay umpire expenses, access to Reading Hockey Club umpire jackets and shirts, Q&A and Give it a Go sessions. There will be information on the website along with hints and tips for umpires. All this is just a small part of the offerings the club will be providing to encourage and support anyone willing to take up umpiring and to help the club and their fellow team members out.

With the new league rules stating that clubs now officially have to provide umpires for all their home league games and at specified levels, it is even more important for the numbers of umpires in the club to grow. Otherwise games will be cancelled and league points and fines will be imposed!

The club have offered and provided coaching and assessments for any member who wishes to take up umpiring and it was encouraging to see Emma and Lucy pass their Level 1 assessment games with such confidence.

If anyone is interested in wanting to give umpiring a go, receive some coaching and support or to take the Level 1 course, then please contact Liz at umpires@readinghockeyclub.org.uk who will be happy provide information and support.