HockeyHKWS 26-27 Circular No. 15 - WL 2026/27 Female Umpire Issue (Note 2)

First of all, thank you everyone for sharing your concerns with us. After collecting all the information and discussion within the WS committee, we have come up with the following conclusion for 26/27 season umpiring requirements:

1. Premier Division to Division 2 teams umpire duties must be fulfilled by a minimum 60% of female umpires

2. Division 3 to Division 4 teams umpire duties can be filled by any gender

3. Each team must have at least 1 registered umpire or 1 TP (Theory passed)

*If any team cannot fulfil the above requirements by the end of the season, 1 league point will be deducted for the team.

We noticed that some clubs do not have any registered umpires or TPs. WS will work with the Umpires’ Section to have another female umpire beginner course and the course details will be announced soon. This course will be opened to all women's league teams, but for the teams without a registered umpire or TP are required to send at least 4 players to attend the course and it is mandatory to have at least 1 player achieving TP status or become a registered umpire by the end of this season.  

Regardless of single team or multi team clubs, we encourage you to expand or at least maintain your pool of registered umpires as more registered umpires in your club/team can share the duties easier.

Since WS wants to improve umpiring standards and increase the number of female umpires, we will launch a female umpire mentor programme this season to assist all female umpires throughout the season in case they have questions on rules or anything about umpiring. If any female umpire needs to umpire a game and would like to get some feedback from our mentor team, please feel free to contact us by email at least 2 weeks in advance for us to arrange a mentor.

The numbers of registered umpires and TPs for each club have been attached for your reference.

Lastly, we know some clubs are looking for a contact list of the female registered umpires; however, due to privacy concerns, the list will not be disclosed unless permissions were granted from the umpires. Please contact the office a week in advance if you have any difficulties on umpire arrangements and we will try to assist. 

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Kitty Yau

WS Committee Member

Hockey Hong Kong, China