Ashburton College pupil Jacob Gray has emerged as a hockey umpire on the rise. A fortnight ago he was awarded the 2020 Outstanding Official, Referee, Umpire Junior gong at the Mid Canterbury Sports Awards. Photo Adam BurnsThe evolution of Jacob Gray from talented hockey player to talented hockey umpire has been a win-win for the Ashburton teen.

It has helped the 16-year-old establish a comprehensive vantage point into the game he loves, where both roles complement each other.

However, it has been as an umpire where Gray has truly flourished, and the accolades have followed.

The Ashburton College pupil clinched the Outstanding Official, Referee or Umpire Junior award at the Mid Canterbury Sports Awards a fortnight ago.

For Gray, it was gratifying that umpires were being acknowledged.

“It’s really nice that umpires were receiving recognition because it doesn’t happen often,” he said.

“It was cool.”

Gray achieved multiple breakthroughs including being handpicked to officiate national-level finals, not once but twice, in what was a momentous year in 2019 for the teen.

He was in charge at the business end of the National Under-15 Boys’ Premier Tournament in Whangarei, where he officiated a quarter-final, a semi-final and the final.

It followed an appointment for the final at the Johnson Cup final in Invercargill.

Other honours have included the National Under-18 Women’s Association tournament, the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Premier League and the Mid/South Canterbury senior men’s, senior women’s, 1st and 2nd grade men’s competitions.

“I like travelling the country, that’s pretty cool,” he said.

Mid Canterbury Hockey insiders believe the standard of his officiating performances defy his age.

And he has done it whilst juggling school and commitments as a player.

The opportunities are likely to be restricted this year for Gray, much to his disappointment.

He also expressed his desire to trial for the Canterbury under-18 team as a player which has also been put on the back-burner.

National secondary school hockey tournaments won’t feature AshColl, or Gray with the whistle, as exams now clash with tournament week following a Covid-related interruption to the school year.

“Especially my last year, it’s pretty gutting,” he said.

It could be a blessing for the dedicated youngster, with downtime not coming easily amid a packed schedule.

“After lockdown I decided to get a job because sport was still up in the air,” he said.

“That’s still working at the moment with after school stuff. And now I’ve got defensive driving as well.”

He has previously mentored up-and-coming officials, and at his busiest was umpiring up to six games a week during last season.

The Mid Canterbury senior representative believes his game has strengthened through his umpiring and vice-versa.

“I like to see the sport from a different perspective so that’s why I enjoy it,” he said.

“It helps me a lot, playing and umpiring, because I feel like once I stop playing I’ll stop learning about things to do when I am umpiring. It works both ways.”

The community game has ultimately benefited by Gray’s enthusiasm to get involved.

A shortage of umpires prompted Gray to give the job a crack.

“It’s a pretty thankless role and not many people want to do it,” he said.

“I was young enough at the time in which I did it for something to do.

“Then I just developed from there.”

Although his red-letter accomplishments in 2019 were significant, Gray pinpoints his promotion to the 2017 Hatch Cup gold medal match in Auckland as a major highlight.

“The year before I was a bit down because I was given a 15th and 16th playoff.”

“I went back the next year and I was given the final.”

Although he has been playing since primary school, Gray believes he is better suited to overseeing the game.

“I think I am a better umpire than I am a player,” he said.

“I probably wouldn’t have admitted to that a couple of years ago.

“But I understand the game.”

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 June 2020