WWC: Television umpire makes debut in hockey too 
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| Planet Field Hockey |
November 25, 2002 
NewIndPress.com
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NEW DELHI: History was made Sunday with the introduction of an experimental television umpire at the women's hockey World Cup in Perth.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) move is a take off on the television umpires used in cricket and rugby union and rugby league, which has helped in removing the element of doubt to an extent.
But the hockey experiment is just a "dry run" and would help the two on-field umpires in only limited areas, like ascertaining whether the ball has touched a player's stick before entering the goal or whether the shot was taken from inside the striking circle.
Australian Murray Grime, a senior international umpire who is here as the Course Leader of a national umpires seminar, welcomed the experiment.
"Since decisions can cost team games, especially important games like the semi-finals and the final of the Olympics or the World Cup, umpires can learn from their mistakes (through television replays), and if they do so it is beneficial and a positive sign," Grime told IANS.
He pointed out that since in certain countries the loss of a gold medal "means a lot," the move was all the more welcome.
But Grime is aware that taking assistance from the television umpire would slow down the game and break the rhythm of the players.
"We would like to see fast, free flowing game," he said. "The only problem is that a controversial decision is going to slow the game down and it would take a team four or five minutes to get back into the rhythm again."
Grime also has an apprehension that "certain teams" could take unfair advantage of the rule.
"I can see that every time there is a close call in the 'circle,' they can ask the umpire to go to the third umpire," he said, and added that guidelines for television umpires would, therefore, become a necessity.
But is there any other way out, like increasing the number of on-field umpires, by which the video umpire can be kept away to maintain the flow of the game?
Grime said the idea was not feasible, as there were already two officials on the field who always consult the other if he was not sure of himself.
The costs involved in television technology are another aspect the FIH would have to look into if it decides to continue with the video umpire.
At the Perth World Cup, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ACB) will be using eight cameras, which are expected to help the television umpire judge close decisions when asked for.
Back in India, Grime was happy with the progress Indian umpires have made.
"From what I have seen here, there is a vast improvement in the standard of Indian umpires," he said, referring to some local matches that he saw in New Delhi.
Grime was pleased that the youngsters who were taking up umpiring were coming up fine.
Bangalore-based Raghu Prasad, 24, and 26-year-old Javed Sheikh of Mumbai were two of the youngest umpires who attended the seminar.
Raghu, an aircraft maintenance technician, took to umpiring two years ago "for the love of the game" and has decided to stick to it.
"From this course, I have learned how to read and control the game and players," he said. "I have also learned how to interpret the rules in a better way."
Sheikh, a former national-level player, admitted that he used to argue with the umpires during his playing days, thinking that he was always right.
"But when I attended a class of umpire Satinder Walia in 1998 and earned maximum marks, he forced me to take up umpiring," he disclosed. "Here, I have learned why it is essential for an umpire to maintain a good rapport with the players."
The course, held on behalf of the FIH, was intended to reinforce the basics of umpiring and the officials' positioning during a game, according to Grime.
"What we want to develop is increased consistency, confidence and improve the performance of each umpire and get them to help each other on the field," said Grime, outlining the targets of the seminar.
Former captain Pargat Singh and current striker Dhanraj Pillay also spoke at the seminar.
Olympian Gurbux Singh, chairman of the Indian Hockey Federations's (IHF) umpires committee, and Kukoo Walia, IHF's umpires' manager, supervised the seminar that ended Sunday.
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