Most young athletes dream of making it to the top as a player. 

For St Clare’s Catholic College, Taree student Jacob Clark, there are two paths to the highest level of hockey and he is determined to keep both alive. 

The talented teenager is a member of the Hockey Australia Futures Squad for 2026 and already plays at a high level. But it is his achievements with a whistle in hand that are setting him apart. 

Jacob was selected to umpire at the School Sport Australia Hockey Championships in Melbourne in July, another significant step towards his long-term goal of officiating on the world stage. 

“From a very young age, I think the age of eight, I wanted to just get a better understanding of the game, and I just fell in love with umpiring,” he said. 

While many people see officiating as a way to stay involved in sport, Jacob sees it as a career with just as much potential as playing. 

“One day I would also like to play at a very high level, but I feel like umpiring could also take me to places like the Olympics and the International Hockey Federation Pro League.” 

His ambitions are backed by plenty of hard work. Jacob umpires everyone from junior players to Premier League men, learning how to stay calm under pressure and make confident decisions, even when players disagree. 

“I’m very confident. I have a good understanding of the rules and I’m fit, so that actually helps out a lot. And just staying confident helps the players trust you.” 

That confidence has already been tested. 

“There are moments where it’s been tough. For instance, one of the first Premier League men’s games I umpired, it got to a very heated section of play but I had to stick with my decision. I had a player come up to me and I just had to tell him, ‘Please go away; I’ve seen what I’ve seen and play on.'” 

His understanding of the game has also made him a better player. 

“Umpiring has changed how I play a lot. It’s giving me a much better understanding of the rules and those fine little details.” 

One of his proudest moments came last year when he was appointed to umpire the bronze medal match at the national championships. 

“That was a very intense game with the boys and a very fun game to umpire as a 14-year-old.” 

Jacob says none of it would have been possible without the encouragement of his school, which has helped support his travel to national championships. 

Kerrie Reece is St Clare’s Leader of Learning English. She has watched Jacob develop over many years and believes his temperament is perfectly suited to officiating. 

“Jake’s a wonderful kid. He’s a really great umpire because he’s just so calm and collected and confident,” she said. 

“His personality makes him really fit for that role. And he’s done really well. We’re very proud.” 

Mrs Reece said St Clare’s was committed to supporting students to pursue whatever they were passionate about, whether that was in the classroom, on the sporting field or beyond. 

“We want to support them as a Catholic community to be the best person they can be regardless of what that is.” 

She believes Jacob is helping challenge perceptions of what success in sport can look like. 

“I think he’s an inspiration for any other student who wants to pursue a pathway that is maybe not the traditional sporting pathway, but the umpiring or sporting official pathway.” 

Luke Rowe is St Clare’s Leader of Learning Sport, and he said Jacob’s enthusiasm was infectious. 

“He lives and breathes it. He’s there most afternoons and the weekends, certainly during hockey season.” 

Mr Rowe said the school would continue supporting Jacob as opportunities arose. 

“I know this is the second year that he’s followed this pathway for hockey umpiring and hockey playing as well. He’s progressing as the years go on and we look forward to continuing to support him in those pathways and further options that he seeks.” 

Jacob said the journey is about much more than making decisions on the field. It is about the friendships and the opportunities that come with seeing the game from a different perspective. 

When asked what would surprise people about umpiring, he said, “How far you can actually go with it. And the environment … the people that I have met I’m still friends with now.” 

Jacob hopes more young players will see officiating as another way to stay involved in the game they love. 

“Do it! You can go as far as you can umpiring as you can playing.”