Umpiring

Sidmouth & Ottery Hockey Club welcomes any new umpires, young, not so young and mature/senior! With our EH-accredited Club Umpire Developer and several experienced umpires, we are well placed to offer support to all umpires through mentoring, coaching or guidance. While most wish to remain as “club umpires”, the options on progression to take on neutral (appointed) games or joining the West Area Umpires Pool will be fully explained, with guidance offered about the path forward.

Upcoming fixtures requiring Club umpires
datetime & venuefixtureumpires (tbc)
04/10/25
League
1015 Sidmouth
1200 Ottery
1345 Ottery
1515 Ottery
Ladies 4 v CV Hornets 2
Ladies 1 v Redland 1
Men 3 v CV Hornets 3
Men 4 v Yeovil & Sh 3
Peter R & MD
Rob C & TW
JM, one more please
AD & RJ
05/10/25
U-14 Girls
Devon League

1000 OtterySOHC v Isca MH & RJ
11/10/25
League
1015 Sidmouth
1200 Ottery
1345 Ottery
1515 Ottery
Ladies 3 v Chard 2 dev
Ladies 2 v Exeter 4
Ladies 1 v Uni of Exeter 4
Men 2 v Yeovil & Sh 2
two please
two please
Rob C, one more please
two please
18/10/25
League
1015 Sidmouth
1200 Ottery
1345 Ottery
1515 Ottery
Ladies 4 v Ladies 3
Men 2 v Minehead 1
Men 1 v Taunton Vale 2
Men 4 v CV Hornets 3
two please
two please
two please
two please
25/10/25
League
1015 Sidmouth
1345 Ottery
Ladies 3 v Exeter 5
Men 1 v Br Firebrands 2
two please
two please
01/11/25League slip date
08/11/25
League
TBC
table 30
REGISTRATION AS AN UMPIRE on GMS (Important).

Please complete your Registration on the GMS (as an Umpire) as soon as possible.  England Hockey require all umpires to be members of the EHO via the Game Management System so you will need to be registered to become eligible to umpire any fixture other than friendly games.

Please start the EHO registration process by going to: https://gms.englandhockey.co.uk/

  1. Click the “Register” button.
  2. Select “Officiating”.
  3. Enter your e-mail address and submit for a verification code to be emailed to you.
  4. In the Form, select your Primary Area Branch (England Hockey -West Area). Your Primary Area Branch  should be the one where you wish to either undertake the majority of independent umpiring opportunities or receive support with your Officiating (West Area for SOHC). You can leave the Secondary Area Branch blank.
  5. Select the appropriate Membership category – suggest Bronze Membership (this is FREE).
  6. Complete the rest of your details as requested – the ones with a red asterisk are required, the rest are optional. Don’t forget to select your Club (from a long drop-down list!).
  7. Select a Password (and Confirm it).
  8. Hit Proceed at the bottom of the form.

If your registration is successful, you should receive an acknowledgement email from England Hockey.

If you have any problems or questions, please contact Mike Dutton or e-mail officiating@englandhockey.co.uk

NEW UMPIRES NEEDED! And how to proceed

Our Club’s need for new umpires is becoming urgent. it is too often been a real struggle to find sufficient umpires, especially for those Saturdays when we have the full four home fixtures to cover.These days it’s quick and relatively painless to get yourself qualified: England Hockey currently offers plenty of online Umpiring Courses, including Level 1 Umpiring Courses (minimum age 14) and a few Introduction to Umpiring Courses. See the USEFUL LINKS below.

Times of the Level 1 courses vary (morning, afternoon or evening) and they last about 2 hours, after which you come away with a Level 1 (unassessed) Umpiring Certificate. Job done! Be aware that the courses tend to fill up quickly after they become available, but you can join a “waiting list” if a course is full. Cost of the course (about £30) can later be claimed back from the Club after completion of four full competitive games for the Club.

Following qualification Mike Dutton makes it his business to manage further development as an umpire for the club – the pace of that development would be whatever best suits your needs and aspirations. Any playing commitments would always come first.

Additional information on England Hockey courses:

The Level I Umpiring Course is designed for anyone who is going to be umpiring the 11-a-side game and is delivered fully online, with a Level 1 (unassessed) Umpiring Certificate to show for it afterwards. Attendees must be at least 14 years old. Our Club remains committed to a policy of offering to reimburse the full cost of the course after a minimum of five competitive games have been umpired. – and there’s no time limit.

• You will need to complete the Online rules familiarisation test before attending (takes about 50-60 mins or as long as you like, with breaks, and it’s impossible to fail).

 USEFUL LINKS.

West Hockey Officiating – Umpire Development (brief guide)

Online Rules Familiarisation (informal easy test)

England Hockey Level One Umpiring Courses

England Hockey Officiating Club (EHO)

England Hockey GMS login/registration form

west.englandhockey.co.uk/officiating/umpire-development

England Hockey Online Training Hub (officiating)

Your EH umpire number (via EH Hockey Hub)– may have changed recently!

Rules of Hockey

Rule Changes 2022/23

Instructions: umpire’s radio/headset (downloads a Word document)

SOHC Affiliated Umpires (list)
umpireEH umpire awardremarksstatusEHO Member?
Rob CannLevel 3Pool (West)activeyes
Charlie PritchardLevel 2Pool (West)activeyes
Rob StampLevel 2Pool (West)activeyes
Aidan WildayLevel 2Pool (West)activeyes
Peter RiderLevel 2Pool (West)activeyes
Katy MearsLevel 2W2 Player-umpiredormantpending
David AcklandLevel 1activeyes
Mike DuttonLevel 1Club Umpire Developeractiveyes
Gus McVeyLevel 1W1/2 Coachactiveyes
Guy RudolphLevel 1limited availabilityactiveyes
Terry WaldenLevel 1M1/2 Coachactiveyes
Maggie HealLevel 1W 3/4 player-umpireactiveyes
Caroline BiggsLevel 1W 1/2 player-umpireactiveyes
Karen DuttonLevel 1W 3/4 player-umpireactiveyes
Steve EllisonLevel 1M 3/4 player-ump/coach

activeyes
Jon HextLevel 1M 1 player-umpireactive
yes
Jon MutterLevel 1
activeyes
Andy DockleyLevel 1 unassessedM1/2/3 player-umpireactive (new 17/01/25)yes
Andy MinterLevel 1 unassessedM2 player-umpiredormantpending
Alan GadianLevel 1activeyes
George PowellLevel 1M 1/2 player-umpiresemi-activeyes
Paul BakerLevel 1M 3/4 player-umpiredormantno
Simon BakerLevel 1M 1 player-umpiredormantno
Grace ThompsonLevel 1 unassessedW GK 3/4activeyes
Euan WebberLevel 1 unassessedM 2/3 player-umpiresemi-activeyes
Roy JonesLevel 1 unassessedactiveyes
Ryan BakerTBCM 1/2 player-umpireTBCyes
table 35

The following non-playing umpires have been granted Honorary Membership of the Club: Rob Cann, Charlie Pritchard, Rob Stamp, Aidan Wilday, David Ackland, Jon Mutter, Gus McVey, Mike Dutton, Peter Rider, Guy Rudolph, Terry Walden, Alan Gadian, Roy Jones

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