Messenger 18/09/07: Is it time to bounce this tradition?

[Ian]

Is it time to bounce this tradition?


18Sep07

THERE'S something majestic about the first bounce of the first final, and of a Grand Final.

But will we ever see the last bounce? My money says yes, and soon.
Bouncing the ball to start play and at stoppages is not compulsory for SANFL umpires, but younger umps with AFL aspirations still do, as required by the AFL.
An obvious reason to dislike the bounce is it can unnecessarily give one team an advantage, but then again, it adds a lot of character to this Australian game.
But there's plenty of other reasons why the bounce should be on its last legs, including the short and long term toll it takes on umpires' bodies.
Bouncing the ball requires an explosive exertion of force through an umpire's body, not unlike doing some hard labour with a sledge hammer.
Doing this every few minutes in a game is a great physical strain, and SANFL umpiring director Shane Harris is an advocate for getting rid of the bounce.
``It's not a natural action,'' Harris says.
``We started throwing the ball up in 2005 and the feedback from our senior umpires was their recovery with their hamstrings and backs was a lot better and quicker.
``Personally I'd love to see the bounce go, all it does is put pressure on the umpires.''
Tim Pfeiffer, who umpired the weekend's North v Eagles game, has benefited from being allowed to throw the ball up.
With 365 SANFL and 44 AFL games behind him, 39-year-old Pfeiffer says removing the bounce could be credited with keeping some of the league's older umpires going.
``It's hard to know, but it might have added one or two years,'' Pfeiffer says.
``(Bouncing) puts a lot of extra pressure through your stomach and back to get the ball to a certain height.''
Pfeiffer says bouncing the ball has a mental impact too.
``I was reasonably consistent, but inevitably there'd be a bounce that goes off and you'd be worried about it next time, it affects your concentration.''
But he is skeptical on whether change is on the way.
``It's a unique part of our game, there's no other game that does it.
``But then again should we hang onto it just because it's unique?''
So where to? Even keeping the bounce in some token role like the start of a game, or for Grand Final day would require umpires to be in training for it. So as unique as it is, it seems time to throw the bounce out.
DALE CLARKE

[zipzap]

The bouncing skill seemed at an all time low this season - how many times a game did I see the ump recall a shocker bounce?

Still in favour of it though or at least the option of bouncing.

[heater31]

The bouncing skill seemed at an all time low this season - how many times a game did I see the ump recall a shocker bounce?

Still in favour of it though or at least the option of bouncing.

at least in the SANFL they had the guts to recall it and throw it up unlike the other clowns

[Aerie]

I think it's recalled more now because they are told to recall it if the ball goes outside the circle after a bounce. In the AFL they never recall, no matter how bad a bounce is.

I reckon just get rid of it. Adds nothing to the game IMO. I thought the goal umpires getting rid of their traditional uniform was a bigger deal as far as tradition goes than getting rid of the bounce.

[CENTURION]

bouncing is crap,
1. umpire takes his/her eye off the play,
2. unfair advantage when not bounced correctly,
Simple, really.

[Grahaml]

I'm not so attached to the bounce. I never really even notice the ball has actually been bounced unless it's a bad one. And I don't wait for the umpire to bounce the ball at the start of the game I just wait for the game to start!

I like the way the SANFL do it. It's not something the umpire is going to get right every time and at least the SANFL recognise that unlike the AFL. I hate seeing an important moment in the game ruined by a bounce that favours one team.

Anyway, I don't think it's needed anymore. Just throw it up.

[CENTURION]

Or maybe do it like they do in a game of Quidditch!

[G]

Nobody except maybe a few family and friends go to watch these clowns perform so to help them out and try to make them even more insignificant, THROW THE BALL UP.

[locky801]

Keep it as it is, there is getting to much change in the game these days, from the games I have seen this year I have thought the bounces have been pretty well alright

[Hondo]

Get rid of the bounce IMO

No-one would really miss it after a year or 2

[Wedgie]

Must admit even though I only rucked in a C grade side in the Southern Footy League I absolutely hated it when the occasional umpire decided to bounce it.
Its so much fun sitting under a bad bounce when the other ruckman is coming steaming at you after a huge run up. Not.

[eaglehaslanded]

I must say I tend to favour getting rid of the bounce. Throwing the ball up will create a fair 50-50 contest every time which is what we need.