Effective game management is a vital skill for umpires, especially at higher levels of competition. While we aim to officiate without needing to implement game management measures, there are times when it becomes necessary. This guide outlines how and when to apply game management appropriately and professionally.
Remember: Umpires are responsible for applying game management, but not for the behaviour that necessitates it. If all reasonable preventative steps have been taken, the responsibility for escalation lies with the player.
Playing or coaching rather than umpiring? The same system is explained from the other side in Game management explained for players and coaches.
The Game Management Process
Game management follows a clear progression—often referred to as a "ladder." Once a player is on this ladder, they cannot return to a previous stage. A player may only receive one of each official game management action per match (e.g., only one proactive advice, one warning, etc.). If you find yourself needing to apply an action again, you must go up a step.
- Applied jointly: all the official game management actions, from proactive advice upwards, are applied jointly by both umpires. Proactive advice or an advance from your co-umpire counts as if you had given it, so know what your co-umpire has given. The steps before proactive advice are less clear-cut, but if your co-umpire has started changing their delivery to a player (a stronger whistle, a firmer tone), respond to that as well.
- Watch for position changes: at a tactical change or substitution, keep track of players who move position or come on, and the game management they already have. A player does not get a clean slate by changing position (see Rule 19).
Further detail on the rules and their application can be found here:
Before Proactive Advice (Not an official step)
Before initiating formal game management, there are techniques umpires can use to signal to players that they need to change their behaviour:
- Alter whistle tone/volume (e.g., sharper or louder)
- Change voice tone/volume (e.g., more deliberate delivery)
- Extend whistle duration
- Sustained eye contact
- Terminology adjustment (e.g., "Goal Defence, contact" rather than "Contact, Goal Defence")
- Tactical pause before announcing the infringement
Clarification
You can also clarify what a player is being penalised for, so they know what to adjust. For example: "It's the hip, not the arm", "It's the left arm", or "Your arms are going up before you've taken your distance".
A clarification explains the call. It is not proactive advice. There is no such thing as a "quiet word" in the 2024 rules. Telling a player what they need to change is proactive advice, the first official step.
If behaviour does not improve, this creates a clear justification for moving up the ladder. In some cases, the coach may choose to substitute the player, resolving the issue without formal escalation.
1 Proactive Advice First official step
This is the first official step on the game management ladder. It should be clear, specific, and audible to others on court and on the bench.
Structure
"Goal Defence, you need to..."
Key Points
- Does not require time to be held
- Can be issued when playing advantage
- Must be audible to bench and court
Examples:
- "Increase your distance when defending"
- "Take your distance before putting arms over"
- "Stay onside at the centre pass"
- "Stay out of the goal circle"
- "Stop holding players"
- "Adjust your timing"
2 Advance
The next step after proactive advice is to advance the penalty pass. An advance can also be given directly, without proactive advice first, for unfair play such as intentional infringing or delaying play (see Rule 19). While the rule book also allows for a free pass to be escalated to a penalty pass, this would usually involve repeated or intentional infringement—situations where a penalty pass would typically be advanced instead.
Procedure:
- If you are on the sideline, walk along it with your arm outstretched, moving with the infringing player to the new position.
- If you are on the goal line, simply indicate the position of the new penalty.
- If the new position is offside for the infringing player, they must stand as close as possible within their area and remain out-of-play
- If the penalty is advanced into your co-umpire's third, they resume control after it's set
- You may opt not to play advantage in order to advance a penalty
- If a goal is scored and the penalty cannot be applied, state clearly that this action will be considered their advance
3 Warning
A warning is issued after an advance or may be given directly for unsporting behaviour or more serious instances of unfair play. Hold time and clearly state both the reason for the warning and the consequences of any further foul play.
Warning Hand Signal
Example Wording:
For repeated infringement:
"Goal Defence, that's repeated obstruction. You've already had an advance. It's now a warning. Any further foul play and you will be suspended."
For unsporting behaviour:
"Goal Defence, that is unsporting behaviour. This is a warning. Any further foul play and you will be suspended."
4 Suspension (2 minutes)
A suspension is issued when a player continues to infringe after a warning or commits serious foul play—most commonly dangerous play. Hold time and clearly state the decision.
Suspension Hand Signal
Example Wording:
For continued infringement:
"Goal Defence, that is repeated obstruction. You have already been warned. It's now a suspension. Please go over and sit at the umpires' bench."
For dangerous play:
"Goal Defence, that is dangerous play. It's a suspension. Please go over and sit at the umpires' bench."
There's no need to inform the player of any further consequences (as with a warning), since they will not immediately return to play and are often substituted out.
Conferring with Your Co-Umpire:
Before giving a suspension or an ordering off, it is good practice to hold time and confer with your co-umpire. This applies even if the incident was in your own area and you are confident about what you saw.
Your first priority is any injured player. Check on them and bring on the primary carer if required (see injury stoppages). After a big collision there will often be an injury anyway, which gives you a natural break in the game, so use it.
Conferring helps in several ways:
- It gives you thinking time. A big collision brings an initial adrenaline spike, and the walk over to your co-umpire lets that pass before you decide.
- It lets the temperature of the game cool, particularly if the teammates of the injured player are upset.
- It gives you a second opinion, so you can be sure you are not doing anything too rash (or are doing too little).
- Your co-umpire knows what has happened and what you are going to do. If you are not bench side, they can explain the decision to the bench (and to the reserve umpire if you have one).
Walk over to where your co-umpire is positioned on the sideline and keep the discussion brief. The controlling umpire generally leads: explain briefly what you have seen and what you intend to give, then ask whether your co-umpire has anything else or disagrees. For example:
"I've seen dangerous play by the Goal Defence and I'm thinking suspension—have you got anything else?"
If you haven't had a good view of the incident, ask a more open question instead:
"I didn't get a clear view of that—what did you see?"
Your co-umpire can agree, or suggest something higher or lower on the ladder, but it remains the controlling umpire's decision. Be sure to face the court during the discussion to maintain awareness of the players.
Suspension Procedure:
During Suspension:
- Player must not participate in any way
- No verbal or non-verbal communication with teammates or the team bench
- The player sits at the umpires' bench, supervised by the reserve umpire if there is one (Rule 18.31; see the bench layout). At local levels without an umpires' bench, seat the player somewhere neutral and away from their team bench, such as near the scorers and timekeepers.
Return Process:
- After 2 minutes, timers notify the bench-side umpire (or reserve umpire if present)
- The team may either return the suspended player to the court or substitute another player. If a reserve umpire is present, it's helpful to confirm the team's intentions before the end of the two-minute period to avoid confusion.
- Re-entry at next break in play (e.g. goal scored, sanction awarded, or throw-in)
Another player must take the Centre position, and the original vacated position must remain empty for the full suspension period. When the suspended player returns, they must re-enter as Centre, and the temporary Centre must revert—unless a tactical change is made after a goal is scored.
5 Ordering Off (4 minutes)
An ordering off is the final step in the game management ladder. It may follow a suspension or be issued directly for highly reckless or intentional acts of dangerous play.
Ordering Off Hand Signal
Example Wording:
Following suspension:
"Goal Defence, that is repeated obstruction. You have already been suspended. It's now an ordering off. Please go over and sit at the umpires' bench."
Direct ordering off:
"Goal Defence, that is intentional dangerous play. This is a direct ordering off. Please go over and sit at the umpires' bench."
As with a suspension, confer with your co-umpire before giving an ordering off.
Procedure:
The procedure is similar to a suspension: the player sits at the umpires' bench for four minutes of playing time, starting when play restarts. Once the four minutes are up, the player goes to their team bench and takes no further part in the match (Rules 18.38 to 18.41).
Key Differences from Suspension:
- Duration: 4 minutes (rather than 2)
- No Return: Player cannot return to play
- Replacement: The position stays vacant for the four minutes; after that, the team may bring on a substitute at the next break in play (Rules 18.39 and 18.41)