USA Field Hockey Introduces New Umpire Assessment System
Share:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey’s Umpiring Department is pleased to announce an updated umpire assessment and rating system. This new system was created to provide consistency in assessments across all levels, and will help facilitate the identification, growth and retention of umpires throughout the country at all levels of the game. This system will be utilized starting April 2025 at all USA Field Hockey events, and the tools to use this new assessment system will be made available for any umpire manager to use.
This new umpire assessment system was created in 2024 and was trialed from June 2024 to March 2025 at USA Field Hockey, United States Field Hockey League, Junior Premier Hockey, and NCAA events. The new system intends to disrupt the status quo in a data-driven fashion, and to replace the current outdated rating system.
USA Field Hockey Umpire Panels
The existing Level I, II and III umpire ratings will be replaced with five Umpire Panels.[1] The new umpire panels are as follows, with all panels requiring umpires to be registered USA Field Hockey Umpire Members in good standing:
- Starter Umpire Panel
- Local Umpire Panel
- Regional Umpire Panel
- National Umpire Panel
- International Umpire Panel
More information about each panel can be found in the USA Field Hockey Guidelines for the Assessment of Umpires.
Umpire Performance Reports
Umpires may be assessed at any level of the game in the United States. Umpires and umpire managers must be USA Field Hockey Members in order for their assessment to be submitted for consideration. In order for an umpire to move between panels they will need to be assessed at an appropriate level of play and by an appropriately experienced umpire manager, while taking various additional factors into account. Assessments must be considered in context.
Umpire Performance Reports (UPR) set out the name and current panel of the umpire, along with details of the umpire manager(s), event and level of play.
More information on the UPR can be found in the USA Field Hockey Guidelines for the Assessment of Umpires.
In addition to this assessment system being utilized for USA Field Hockey Umpire ratings, umpire managers/mentors/teachers of any level and/or organization can download the UPR template.
Download the USA Field Hockey Umpire Performance Report template.
Download the USA Field Hockey Guidelines for the Assessment of Umpires.
[1] Umpires will initially retain their historical Level ratings. Umpires who have been sufficiently active at appropriate levels and events in the period immediately leading up to the implementation of the new panel system may be assigned to relevant panels at the outset.
