Tyler Klenk

Residence: Vancouver, BC

How did you first get into umpiring?

I began umpiring Youth League in Saskatchewan, as an opportunity to give back to the sport. It was also a good opportunity to make some money as a young high schooler. Once I moved to Victoria, BC to attend the University of Victoria, I was able to pursue umpiring at a higher level. After my Jr. National Team playing career was over, I began pursuing umpiring full time.

Other field hockey background:

I played at various U16, U18 and Senior Men’s National Championships for Alberta and Saskatchewan. I played on the varsity team at the University of Victoria competing in the men’s premier division in Vancouver. As well, I was a member of the Men’s Jr. National Team for 4 years.

Favourite umpiring memory:

My favourite umpiring memory would be my first match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. The match was between Australia and South Africa in front of a sold out home-crowd. The atmosphere was incredible and will always stick with me.

My second favourite memory would be doing my first Senior Men’s international match between Russia and Trinidad and Tobago at World League Round 2 in Trinidad and Tobago. The feeling of doing my first international match will always be one of my best memories .

Advice for aspiring umpires?

The best advice I can give any young umpire is to continue to seek advice and ask questions. As umpires, you can never stop improving, regardless of how much experience you have. Young umpires will make plenty of mistakes, but how you respond and learn from these mistakes is very important. Continue to seek advice from more experienced umpires, and umpire managers. Stay humble and work hard.

Notable umpiring appointments:

2016 Jr. Pan American Championships (Toronto, Canada)

2017 World League Round 2 (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago)

2017 Pan American Cup (Lancaster, USA)

2017 Asia Cup (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

2018 5 Nations Invitational (Malaga, Spain)

2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast, Australia)