In 2025, two new umpiring awards were introduced to recognise outstanding talent and achievement in netball officiating. The inaugural winners, Matt Solomon and Isla Prentice, have both had extensive umpiring journeys and quickly made their mark at the highest levels of competition.
Matt Solomon was named Umpire of the Tournament at the 2025 State Titles, highlighting his exceptional skill, composure, and leadership on court. Isla Prentice earned the Rising Star Award, recognising her rapid development and potential as a future high-performance umpire. As the 2026 season gets underway, both Matt and Isla continue to build on their success.
Isla Prentice – Rising Star Award
Isla began umpiring in 2022 at the Essendon District Netball Association before progressing to Parkville, where she earned her C Badge. After being talent identified in 2023 at the Association Championships, she joined the 2024 Talent Academy Umpire program and continued to build her skills.
In 2025, she was selected for the Elmer Region State Titles campaign, and after months of weekly training and preparation, she was officiated at the 2025 Netball Victoria State Titles and achieved her B Badge accreditation along with receiving the inaugural Rising Star Award.
Following this she progressed to umpiring VNL Reserves matches between March and May in 2025, before making her debut as a VNL umpire in early May. Most recently, she was selected to participate in the 2025–2026 Elevate Program, which has allowed her to continue to grow and prepare for the upcoming 2026 VNL season.
Supported by strong mentors throughout her journey, Isla has embraced feedback and taken a proactive approach to learning, regularly reviewing rules and engaging with coaches and co-umpires to refine her craft.
Isla hopes to continue progressing to higher levels and encourages aspiring umpires to stay open-minded and resilient. Her story highlights both the opportunities within the umpiring pathway and the skill, composure, and dedication required to officiate a fast-paced game.
Matt Solomon – Umpire of the Tournament
Growing up in a small country town, Matt’s opportunities to play netball were limited, so at just 14 he chose to pick up a whistle instead. Like many young umpires, his first game came with nerves, but it quickly taught him resilience and confidence. That experience shaped his belief that mistakes don’t define an umpire, but growth and response do. His journey highlights how officiating builds leadership, accountability, and self-belief from a young age.
Starting at his local association in Seymour and progressing through the Kyabram Football Netball League, his pathway has included returning to the sport in 2022, earning his C Badge in 2023 and B Badge in 2024, and being named Umpire of the Tournament at the 2025 State Titles.
Officiating the 2025 State Titles Open Grand Final is a highlight for Matt as it was one of the highest-pressure matches. The combination of live streaming, the intensity of the atmosphere, and the strong desire from both players and officials to perform at their best created an environment that was both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
The 2025 State Titles was a challenging but overall rewarding experience for Matt. Competing through intense 33-degree conditions, adjusting to varied game styles, and controlling open matches played in two 15-minute halves, he delivered a standout performance that earned him Umpire of the Tournament. That success led to his selection in the high-performance umpire squad, where he officiated in the VNL Reserves competition and secured a finals appointment.
With the 2026 season now underway, Matt is proud to continue his role within the VNL squad and plans to continue to develop his skills and progress within the VNL squad.
