Transtasman umpiring differences have led some coaches to call for shared duties in the play-offs, writes Dana Johannsen
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Despite the urging of coaches, ANZ Championship officials are offering no guarantees that umpiring duties will be split down national lines for transtasman play-off matches.
it was hoped that one New Zealand and one Australian umpire would be be in control of each play-off match.
But funding restraints have meant during the round robin stages local umpires have officiated transtasman games. This has given the home side a huge advantage, with visiting teams often heavily penalised as they struggle to come to grips with the umpiring interpretations on the opposite side of the Tasman.
Several Aussie coaches have hit out at the refereeing here, with Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg expressing her concern that the difference in umpiring interpretations were having a big impact on games after her side's shock one-goal loss to the Southern Steel back in round 10. Meanwhile Queensland Firebirds coach Vicki Wilson said she was frustrated by the umpiring inconsistencies following her side's defeat to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.
While their New Zealand counterparts have largely stayed silent about their umpiring concerns, they are privately just as frustrated.
Most believe having an umpire from each country in charge of transtasman matches will rectify the problem and are hoping League officials arrange this for the play-offs.
Umpires for the finals series will be chosen from a pool of four made up of the top two umpires from each country, selected after the completion of the round robin series.
But ANZ Championship operations manager Kate Agnew said while it will be a consideration, there is no firm resolution that an umpire from both sides of the Tasman officiates semifinal matches involving New Zealand and Australian teams.
"The intention is to have the best umpires on the game. It hasn't been defined that it would have to be this way or that. And a little bit will depend on the make-up of the actual semifinals, like where they are located and which teams are in it."
Agnew acknowledged that the differences in umpiring interpretations are an area of concern, but she points out it has been quite some time since New Zealand and Australian umpires have had to officiate transtasman matches at this level. International games between the two countries have been officiated by neutral umpires since 2000.
"The differences that we're seeing is no different to what we're seeing with the playing styles, so I think that the umpires on both sides of the Tasman are applying themselves really thoroughly to this competition," Agnew said.
While most coaches agree having one umpire from each country is the fairest way for transtasman matches, Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands points out it could also be problematic, with players needing to change style with every end change.
"I think it could complicate the gameplan a little bit if you're playing towards an Australian umpire at one end and then every 15 minutes you need to adjust," said Woodlands.
However Agnew doesn't think it will be an issue.
"We believe that all the umpires ... are of a [high standard] and they will umpire whatever matches they are assigned to very well," she said.
