Harte: train refs through umpiring

TYRONE boss Mickey Harte has called on GAA chiefs to train young referees by using them as umpires in championship games.

Harte believes this practice would help emerging whistle-blowers gain experience and improve officiating standards. He argues that current umpires are “too static” and there needs to be greater communication between them and the men in the middle.

“I believe this is a missed opportunity for budding young referees. If they were afforded this opportunity to officiate they would gain invaluable experience of the big match atmosphere without the pressure.

“They would also have the opportunity to engage with top officials like Pat McEnaney and ask questions before and after their match performances.

“This could only be of benefit to the novice officials and would go a long way towards ensuring continuity of good practice in refereeing.

“Indeed, having served as an active umpire and linesman would help the next generation of referees to establish a more meaningful rapport with their support officials.

“It’s arguable that the current custodians are often too static. It has become abundantly clear, even in the early stages of this year’s championship, that the days of casually standing by the post and lifting the appropriate flag or outstretching the arms no longer satisfies the needs of this often controversial role.

“With live television and multiple camera angles, much more is demanded of these officials than was previously the case. In the modern game, there is much more reason for contact between the umpires and the referee.”

Harte, who made his comments in a column in The Irish News, has also declared that umpires attire drastically needs to be altered and has described it as “an antiquated spectacle”.

“We have invested a lot in pursuit of improved presentation with one notable exception — the men in the long white coats. We would also put in place the final piece of the presentation jigsaw, which seems to have been ignored while most other aspects have 21st century imagery.

“This is one area of our game that needs urgent attention. It’s about the only aspect stuck in a time warp while all other areas have embraced innovation. Surely the sportswear manufacturers, who have to be complemented on their modernisation of all other things gaelic, would be prepared to relieve us of this antiquated spectacle?”

Meanwhile in light of the controversy that raged over the amount of injury-time played in last weekend’s key clashes in Croke Park and Killarney, Harte believes it is time for the GAA to take the responsibility of time-keeping away from referees and appoint another match official to control it.

“There are numerous examples of added time causing consternation amongst supporters. Last Sunday’s match between Meath and Dublin illustrates the deficiencies in the system.

“I have no recollection of attending a game where there was no added time. The normal minimum declared is at least one minute. On Sunday, if we were to take that minute and add it to the time the game was stopped for the dreadful injury to Dublin’s Mark Daveran alone (52.11 to 55.12) then there should have been at least four minutes of added time. Ironically, the opposite seems the case in Killarney where too much time was added.

“Though the Championship season is still in the early stages, there have been many points of debate relating to the performance of the match officials. Hence the need to seriously consider a suggestion mooted regularly in recent times — that time-keeping is an unnecessary burden for the whistler and should now be in the hands of another official. It’s a case of time for change.”