Not just an opportunity for athletes, the State Titles are also a chance for umpires to extend their skills, receive advice from other umpires, and be talent identified. Ahead of the 2024 competition, we had a chat to umpire Tiffany O’Connell about her netball journey as she takes to the court in front of a home crowd.
Tell us about your umpiring journey so far – how did you get started, and how have you gotten to where you are in the talent pathway?
I first started playing netball when I was nine. Whilst playing senior netball at Huntly Football Netball Club, in the Heathcote District Football Netball Leage (HDFNL), I combined playing and umpiring, and soon after I was awarded my C-Grade badge.
I have been umpiring for approximately 18 years and took some breaks whilst having my children (three boys). Since retiring from playing netball in 2020, I moved solely to umpiring.
Part way through the 2022 season I met the HDFNL umpiring mentor Jackie Elkins-Pole, who gave me feedback on my game and helped me get re-accredited with my C-Grade badge which had expired. With Jackie’s mentoring and support, from that point I was really focused on improving my skills and took on all the feedback that was provided to me along the way to help make me a better umpire.
At the start of 2023, I was looking at other opportunities where I could further develop my skills, and this led me to participating in the Netball Victoria Northern Zone Umpire Talent Academy. Every session focused on different areas of umpiring. There would be a discussion component and then you could go out and put what you learnt into action on the court.
In 2023 I also committed to tournaments including the Northern Association Championships, Netball Victoria Association Championships and was selected as the North Central Region umpire for the State Titles. At each of these tournaments I was fortunate to have been selected to umpire finals. By participating in all the tournaments, I received invaluable guidance from other umpires.
What do you love about umpiring and what more do you hope to achieve with it?
I absolutely love umpiring, and I hope that shows each time I get on the court.
I enjoy the fast, competitive games – and staying focused on my job to allow the players to show their skills within the rules of the game. After each game I like to reflect on things I did well and the learnings I can take into my next game.
I am also committed to staying fit and healthy, and that forms part of my everyday routine. Fitness is a major element to being an umpire and you need to be accountable for your own fitness to keep up with the players. I am always trying to improve my fitness to give me the best opportunity to further advance my umpiring.
My current goal is to keep working towards a B-Grade badge and then to hopefully one day umpire in the Victorian Netball League (VNL).
How will State Titles assist with your development as part of the talent identification process?
By participating in State Titles, you are umpiring the best players from around the state. It also allows you to be part of a team of umpires where we discuss the game, rules and different scenarios.
It is an opportunity to meet with Netball Victoria umpire coaches who are there to support and provide feedback, which you can then straight away put into practice. It is an excellent pathway to further advance your umpiring.
What does it mean to umpire at State Titles in your hometown of Bendigo, and why do you think these events are so important to regional communities?
This will be my second State Titles and it is so exciting for my hometown of Bendigo to be hosting this year. It gives more opportunities for umpires in our region to be seen and experience State Titles, and all it has to offer to further your development.
The new Bendigo Strikers VNL team has also provided another pathway for our region’s umpires to experience the elite level.
What’s next for you as an umpire in the Victorian pathway?
You are always learning as an umpire and striving to be the best you can be for the benefit of the game. I will continue doing what I am doing, having fun and enjoying umpiring every game I take part in. Hopefully, with hard work, this will help me advance in the Victorian umpiring pathway.
Interested in becoming an umpire? Find out how to start your umpiring journey
