Umpiring all about the players
MARK Greenfield thinks he has done a good job when he is not noticed.
When players come off the field and there is no discussion about him.
Greenfield (40) should know what he is talking about.
The King’s High School acting assistant principal and digital technology teacher will umpire his 300th game of premier club hockey in Dunedin today.
Throw in other games he has officiated at in lower grades and Greenfield is probably well above 1000 games of umpiring.
Not that he is a stickler for numbers.
‘‘I’ve not been counting. I started back in 1996 and I remember my first game was between Kings United and Albany. It was the old sand turf,’’ he said.
‘‘When I first started, you still had offside. But once that disap peared things changed quickly. It became a much better game. You knew what you had to do as a player to get results.
‘‘It was a bit of a niche sport back when I started out. But now it is more popular. It is better as a spectacle and more exciting to play.’’
He said the game had become more simplified and made for the players.
‘‘Now players can come out and play their game . . . so rather than me becoming a rules policeman, it has become more about man management.
‘‘Players have got better, there is no doubt about that. Have improved their standards and have a better understanding of the game.’’
Greenfield said earning the players’ respect was important as an umpire but that could only be done over time and performing well.
Being a teacher helped in that role.
‘‘In some games I have played, I have come off and thought that maybe I haven’t even blown the whistle. That is what it is about. It’s still a lot of fun for me. You can have a good time and really enjoy doing it.’’
He still plays for a Kings United masters team. His sons Adam (14) and Scott (11) also play, and wife Cheryl also played before hanging up her stick a season or two ago.
He said no games stood out for him, as it was more about the players.
‘‘Just the guys who have gone on to national honours. The guys like Nick Ross, Blair Tarrant, who have gone on to bigger things.’’
Greenfield has never umpired at national league level, which he admits was a bit disappointing, but it was a case of ‘‘being in the right place and the right time’’ and unfortunately he wasn’t.
He has no plans to stop umpiring.
His 300th game today, which is between two of the University club’s men’s premier sides at 1.30pm at the McMillan Centre, will be marked by a presentation to Greenfield by the Otago Hockey Association.
Martin Glossop brought up 300 games as an umpire last year.
❛ When I first started, you still had offside.
But once that disappeared things changed quickly. It became a much better game ❜