'We have launched a first-of-its-kind holistic Match Officials Education and Development Plan': Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey

Hockey India on Wednesday launched a Hockey India Match Officials Education and Development Plan to empower aspiring Umpires and Technical Officials.

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By launching this plan, Hockey India aims to develop and educate the Umpires and Technical Officials currently officiating at the district and state level tournaments. The educational plan will provide these officials with an opportunity to progress and be inducted into the Hockey India officiating system will enable them to officiate in Hockey India sanctioned Sub Junior and Junior Level Zonal National Championships initially and also equip them to be included in the Hockey India potential list.

"Over the last few years, Hockey India has persistently hosted online workshops for officials to up-skill their knowledge. This has in turn helped many of our officials get an opportunity to officiate in international matches. With an aim to get more people enrolled into the Hockey India officiating system, we have launched a first-of-its-kind holistic Match Officials Education and Development Plan that will bring aspiring officials up to speed with international standards." HI President Dilip Tirkey said.

Hockey India called its Member Units to nominate their registered Umpires and Technical Officials through the Member Unit Portal. As part of the development process, the nominated candidates will be further selected by HI as per their eligibility and will be attending the Umpires & Technical Officials workshops scheduled in the month of July 2023. The course will be held in five zones namely in New Delhi, Pune, Andhra Pradesh, Jamshedpur and North East. The venue for the North East zone will be revealed later.

Hailing the initiative, Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh stated, "This educational plan is important for the development of officiating standards within the country because it is not enough to nurture and develop young talent; it is imperative that we ensure that when these young players go to play at District, Zonal, or State level tournaments, they have the best of the best experience not just in terms of the matches being conducted but also in terms officiating standards in the tournament."

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"These candidates will also have the opportunity to officiate at the Sub Junior and Junior category Hockey India sanctioned tournaments and put their knowledge to test, raising the bar for the quality of hockey being played across the country," Bhola Nath Singh added.

The Federation has asked its members to nominate a maximum of 6 Technical Officials and Umpires each out of which 3 must be female and 3 male to ensure equal representation by women. Altogether a maximum of 12 nominations are requested from the Member Units.

After enrolling for the Match Officials Education and Development Plan, the candidates will receive interactive learning and study material to keep them updated with the latest FIH rules and regulations. To implement what they have learnt in theory, they will get a chance to officiate as an Umpire/ Technical Official at the Hockey India sanctioned All India Sub Junior & Junior category Tournaments & National Championships. They will also be eligible to attend future FIH Academy, AHF & HI Umpires & Technical Officials Courses and workshops.