Canadian umpires Lelia Sacré and Tyler Klenk took off this week for their second appearance at a Commonwealth Games. Both call British Columbia home and both are proving themselves to be not just among but part of the world’s best umpires. As of July 2022, Klenk has been promoted to the Pro League Panel, while Sacré has earned her spot on the International Elite Panel. Former world panel umpire Wendy Stewart will join them in Birmingham as an umpire manager.
“I’m beyond excited to be participating in my second Commonwealth Games,” said Sacré, who calls Surrey, B.C. her home. “It’s a wonderful tournament and I’m extremely lucky to be headed to it again, especially in England. Being part of a multi-sport event is an extraordinary opportunity. (It) is considered the friendly games and this is fully embraced by everyone. A multi-sport event is completely different to other just hockey tournaments. Yes, we have our venue and some normalcy of a hockey-only event but getting to interact with other participants is such a wonderful experience.”
Both were a part of the XXI Commonwealth Games, hosted in April 2018 on the Gold Coast in Australia, a memorable event where Sacré was selected to umpire both a semifinal and the bronze medal game between England and India.
This time, for the 2022 Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, they bring a more seasoned game to the field.
“I am feeling really good heading into my second Commonwealth Games,” said Klenk, who is originally from Regina, Sask. but has now spent more of his time in Victoria and Vancouver. “Heading into my first, I was a very young and inexperienced umpire. Since then, I have really developed my umpiring through some high-quality appointments. Although the last few years have been challenging with COVID-19 and limited umpiring opportunities, the last 12 months have given me some great opportunities to improve and prepare for a very a top-level tournament. The panel of men’s umpires is very strong, and this event will give me a chance to really test my abilities and see how I stack up.”
Klenk was appointed to the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile, the latter of which Klenk was called upon for final between Argentina and Chile that ultimately saw Chile win in a shootout. From there, Klenk never seemed to stop, umpiring in the 2021-22 season of the FIH Pro league and the 2021 men’s Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India.
While Sacré has continued to be busy on the pitch, she also welcomed her son in January 2021. Ahead of this Sacré had moved to England to teach and umpire in top-level leagues and games in the England Hockey League. As a mother, Sacré was probably dealt the hardest (future) player to officiate but was swept up in the rewards, too. While the pandemic and becoming a mother put a brief pause in her international opportunities, Sacré was back on the scene in less than 12 months, umpiring at the Asian Champions Trophy in December and then returning home to support local umpiring efforts and contribute on the field for the men’s and women’s premier league and the recently-formed Metro Vancouver Pro League.
While it seems as though not much time has passed since they stepped foot on the pitch for the 2018 Games, the game is still rapidly evolving.
“Hockey hasn’t had any huge rule changes since the Gold Coast games, but the level of athleticism across the sport is always increasing,” describes Klenk. “The players are faster and stronger than ever before and it requires umpires to be fitter than in the past. The speed of the game is increasing and athletes are always looking to push the boundaries of the game. With the increasing streaming and broadcasting of games, it really highlights umpiring errors. Games being broadcasted more frequently, and improved broadcast technology requires umpires to be sharp and precise as all errors are instantly pointed out.”
Part of the evolution of the game has been putting a microscope on video umpire decisions. At the highest level, multiple camera angles, speeds and extremely high quality are required for teams to be able to use video referral for specific questions on specific scenarios pertaining to scoring or fouls in and near the circle.
“The wonderful about hockey is it is ever evolving,” Sacre agreed. “We are constantly looking at how to improve our game for excitement especially when we look at the aerials.”
Both the men’s and women’s games are quickly becoming dominated with skills where the ball comes off the pitch. Aerials are now being used effortlessly as passes both forward and across the pitch. Opponent encroachment on a reception of an aerial is now really based on danger, making an umpire’s subjectivity and objectivity ever prevalent.
“As an umpire, Lelia is a great communicator, an accurate decision maker and an empathetic manager of players,” highlighted Dr. Margaret Hunnaball, FIH Pro League Panel Umpire Manager, who worked with Sacré during the England Hockey League. “Top level international events such as the Commonwealth Games involve teams from the very top of our sport, like the Australia women, bronze medallists in this month’s World Cup, to some smaller hockey nations, like Ghana. This means that umpires need to be adept at not only recognizing fouls but judging intent.”
Although it seems as though each umpire is individually responsible on the field, there is a team of officials per game and a larger group that work together throughout the entire tournament. The strength of the group is often underestimated as most only criticize what they see in the individual performance on the field.
“The group of umpires at international events are a team in themselves,” describes Klenk. “The only difference is the umpires all come from different countries. Specifically to this event, I have crossed paths with almost all of the umpires at previous events and we develop a bond that often remains for years. We get to see each other around the world as we get appointed to various events. The friendships I have developed are one of the best parts of being an international umpire.”
That friendship carries on to the pitch as the umpires work together, communicating constantly on radio and working with their video or reserve umpire.
“You go through the trenches together but celebrate the highs together as well,” concurs Sacré. “We are all there to perform and support each other. Having the chance to be with colleagues, for some it’s been nearly seven years, is not only fantastic, but a great way to learn. Being surrounded by such a knowledgeable and passionate group of people allows me to further push my understanding of the game.”
It was only in 2017 that Klenk and Sacré were featured as being ‘on the rise’ and since then they have come so far and seem to only be climbing.
Joining Klenk and Sacré at the 2022 Commonwealth Games is umpire manager Wendy Stewart (Calgary, Alta.), who earned her Golden Whistle of 100 internationals in 2014 and umpired at the 2012 London Olympics. Since retiring from blowing the whistle herself on the international stage, Stewart has been helping shape the next wave of elite officials.
Stewart has been an umpire manager since 2014 and has been appointed to events include the 2015 Pan American Games, 2016 Junior Pan-Am Championship, 2016 Junior World Cup, 2017 World League Semi-Final, 2017 Indoor Pan American Cups, 2018 Indoor Hockey World Cup, FIH Pro League, 2019 Pan American Games, 2022 Pan Am Cup.
This will be Stewart’s first Commonwealth Games as an umpire manager, however, it will be her second overall as she closed out her career umpiring at the XX Commonwealth Games hosted in 2014 in her home country of origin in Glasgow, Scotland.
While most eyes will be on Canada’s men’s and women’s national team performance, to not miss the opportunity to see three of Canada’s third team also performing on the world stage.
