The Bounce !!

[Baloo]

Dunno. It would be a shame to lose that sound of the ball thumping the ground to start of a match.

As for the wear and tear on umpires bodies, that's more to do with the fact the umpires are being kept in the game a lot lomger than they used to. They're older and their bodies just get older.

In earlier years the umpires would bounce the ball a lot more (every ruck stoppage, less ground umpires, 30 to 40 goals kicked per game) and they could cope. With senior umpires in the late 30s, it's only natural that their bodies start to break down.

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

Presumably, though, older umpires are more experienced and capable, and we should be trying to keep them in the game - with exceptions of course.

 

[Baloo]

Presumably, though, older umpires are more experienced and capable, and we should be trying to keep them in the game - with exceptions of course.

You'd think so, but I'm not sure anyone would say umpiring has been gotten better over the last 20 or so years

 

[bairdy380]

I’d vote for start of quarters only as a symbolic beginning... then crack on with the throw in the air

 

[Tigaman]

Bottom line is that the umpires are paid to bounce the ball as the rules permit. Now if they want to change the bounce rules , which will require them to reduce their work load , they will have to take a pay cut. Simple is it not ?.

 

[tigersnake]

Interesting watching the 1994 State of Origin classic on Fox Footy tonight.

I reckon at least 50% of the bounces would be recalled today and another 15% were touch and go.

as one contrarian to another, I get it. You reckon nostalgia is *smile*, don't agree, but I get it. On this particular matter, a) I reckon the game you saw is an outlier. Watch any old game with glen james, no fuss, bang, high up in the air straight as a die. b) who cares if it wasn't perfect? whats next? little robot ball-up buggies that socot onto the ground when we need a ball up? I guess the kids would find that entertaining. add to the game day experience I can hear gill saying.

 

[eZyT]

I'd like to see a once in a generation umpire change the game and bounce it on its end.

stride up as if hes gonna roost a drop punt and just heef it down on the point, so even NicNat has to wait a few seconds before he jumps.

 

[artball]

wasn’t this idea floated a couple of seasons back? ...because of “physical AND mental stress” ?

 

[Harry]

Keep the bounce.

 

[TOT70]

Keep the bounce.

Keep the bounce, don’t recall the skew-if ones. Let the umpire use discretion around the ground and throw it up if the bounce is not practical. Part of the game. At least, it was and should always be.

The fact that this is the only game where an official has to do something physical adds to the uniqueness of the game. Just like the goal umpire antics, the boundary throw-ins, handball, marks, set shots at goal routines and the sadly now-defunct kick-in from the goal square. These are examples of the “fabric of the game“ and should be retained. They help to characterise our game, as do many sports around the world.

Rugby is characterised by backward passing, Soccer by outlawing the use of the hands and Gridiron by the lengthy pauses while officials debate the rules and the telecaster shows ads for beer and viagra.

 

[bigwow]

Keep the bounce.

As Shedda said in the mini profile piece in the Footy Record last year I think, one of the questions was, should we keep the bounce, his response, yes, i love those trampoline centres.

 

[tigerdell]

one of the umpires can be the dedicated bouncer
that gives 2/3rd opportunity to get the best umpires

 

[AngryAnt]

Then you end up with 1/3 of decisions being made by an umpire who might be a great bouncer and a terrible adjudicator, like Trent's brother.

Great, would be a vast improvement on the current situation where we have 70% terrible bouncers and 90% terrible adjudicators

 

[Tenacious]

I agree that there is something a bit special about seeing the ball bounced in the middle - especially at the start of a game - and watching it go straight up in the air
There also used to be something special about seeing blokes deliver long beautifully executed drop kicks.
When poorly executed however - both the bounce and the drop kick - are at the very least an embarrassment
Now I’d be happy to see time called on the bounce
In a few years we’ll be so used to having the ball thrown up and every ruck duel being evenly contested - we‘ll look at replays of the “old days” and be amazed that dodgy bounces and scrubbed drop kicks were once just part of the game

 

[tigerdell]

as an old ruckman who played at a dodgy level in the ammos, the quality and consistency of the ball up was shizen.
But it was a variable to be adjusted for - thats a skill. Low throws with the ball barely over the umpires head and wild high ball ups that veer randomly play havoc with the runup and jump.

Basketball has a simple throw up, and footy doesnt.

 

[tigerdell]

Then you end up with 1/3 of decisions being made by an umpire who might be a great bouncer and a terrible adjudicator, like Trent's brother.

i would be aiming for a middle ground of a reasonable to good adjudicator.
With the increased umpiring numbers (no bouncing and great adjucating ) then the ump boss can be more selective for the bouncing ump

ps trents brother?

 

[eZyT]

What if needing that skill precludes potentially good umpires from being able to do the job?

Next you'll be calling for an end to dog whistling, hyperbole and adultery to enable honest, smart, civic minded people to become Politicians?