With the 2023 Association Championships right around the corner, we spoke to umpires Cara Dooley, Chayna Stanfield and umpire coach Cindy Wardius about their netball journeys and the importance of the Association Championships.
When did you first begin your umpiring journeys?
Cara: I started umpiring in 2012, attaining my C badge in 2014 and prioritising schooling and playing representative netball before starting training for my B in 2021 then attaining it in 2022.
Chayna: I started umpiring in 2010, attaining my C badge in 2012. I was originally working towards my B badge pre-COVID but due to injury was unable to attain it until 2022.
Cindy: I first got involved with umpiring at our local Football Netball Club – grassroots netball – in the early 1990s. It was not until around 2006 that I pursued umpiring as my ‘sport’ and commenced the accreditation process.
When were you talent identified at the Association Championships?
Cara and Chayna: We both were asked by our association to umpire at the Central East Association Champs, where we were both originally talent identified when we umpired the U17s grand final together. From there we were asked to do the Association Championships Finals Day by Netball Victoria, and both of us were given opportunities to umpire finals.
How important is Association Championships as part of the netball pathway?
Cara and Chayna: Association Championships are the perfect opportunity for umpires to have consistent access to high-quality players and umpire coaches to grow and succeed. From there, we were able develop relationships with the umpire coaches which led to more opportunities to grow and develop as umpires – these included Netball Victoria Development Days (camps) and even led to State Titles, which led to umpiring state trials and then finally being offered the opportunity to be a part of the High Performance Umpire Squad. Without these opportunities, we wouldn’t have gotten into that squad.
In both the Central East and Association Championship Finals Day we were able to access some wonderful umpire coaches who advised us on what we needed to do to get where we wanted to be. It was great to have some consistent feedback, so we were able to improve over each of the days.
Cindy: The Association Championships are a key part of umpire development in the Netball Victoria pathway. Across the tournaments in all regions, umpire coaches will be assessing and providing coaching of C and B Grade umpires, which gives the umpires an opportunity to develop their skill set.
Umpires with potential for further development will be offered the opportunity to be a part of the Talent Academy Umpire program the following year. The same as with the athlete program, Association Championships is the best opportunity for talented umpires to be identified for further development and training.
Why is the Talent Academy Umpiring program so important?
Cindy: It provides a professional program delivered by experienced umpires within the participant’s local region, giving new and developing umpires greater access to opportunities to develop without having to travel too far from home. It also assists the participants to better understand the accreditation process and the pathways that are available to them.
The program enables the coaches to deliver a comprehensive and consistent program for all participants and is the same across all regions. It has been developed by high performance umpires and addresses all areas of umpiring which include personal development and practical experience.
What’s the importance and benefit of running the program alongside the players’ program?
Cindy: It allows the athlete and umpires coaches to work together to deliver a cohesive program for all participants. We can coach umpires on practical match play, which can assist us in identifying areas of development, addressing those with the umpire, and observe it being put into practice. It also allows equal opportunity for training, development and progression of both athletes and umpires which is vital for the success of our sport.
I believe there are areas that cross over between the athletes and the umpires – like fitness, game prep, understanding the rules. Participating in these sessions enables the participants to both better understand what is required of each other, and how to be the best athlete or umpire that they can be.
Now that you’re in the High Performance Umpire squad, what are you most looking forward to?
Cara and Chayna: We have been really lucky to be able to access amazing resources so far, from personal development to strength and conditioning programs; it has been an exciting journey. We’re looking forward to being able to be selected to umpire a VNL game.
We would like to continue to be a part of the high performance squad, hopefully regularly umpire at the VNL level, and continue to grow as umpires under Cathy Gallop, Netball Victoria Senior Technical Officials Coordinator and the umpire coaches.
The Association Championships are an important step in the pathway for umpires as well as players. Interested in becoming an umpire? Find out how to start your umpiring journey
