Dear Social Netballer,
After 10 years of umpiring competition netball, I decided that it would be nice this year to help out with social netball, bring some more experience to the umpiring in the social league, and have some fun at the same time. And, for the most part it has been tonnes of fun. However, I am saddened to hear that a number of our junior umpires are having a hard time at our social netball competition.
I know that it can be frustrating when an incorrect call is made, or we miss something that is “obvious”, but please remember we are all still learning. We don't expect you to be perfect players, so I think it is reasonable that you also give us a bit of flexibility too. Without fail there is at least one player on court who has never played before, and we do our best to accommodate that player into the rules of the game – perhaps next time you’re on the verge of an eye-roll or an insult, you could take a moment to do the same for us.
There is opportunity in half-time to come and talk with us and discuss the rules of the game. I know that I appreciate constructive comments about what I might be doing “wrong” so that I can use this information to work on improving my umpiring game. I actually encourage you to talk with your umpire if you are unsure of some of their calls, but beg that you do so in a respectful, non-confrontational manner. And yes, this goes for us too – but, if you talk to us in a reasonable manner first, you are more likely to get a reasonable response back from us.
Yes, we do get a small amount of compensation for our job as umpires at social netball, but believe me when I say that after tax, we’re pretty much doing it to pay for the petrol to get to the Edgar centre and cover the cost of having a single decent sports bra to umpire in. Our junior umpires are often using these sessions to get “game time” and grow in confidence that comes with that experience, so they can work towards their next qualification in umpiring. A number of our junior umpires are still at high school and only 14, 15 years old. Some of you have children this age, so you will know what I mean when I say, think about the impact that volatile comments may have on these kids at this impressionable age. It also only takes one eye roll, backchat or underhanded comment to throw us off our game and upset our confidence in doing our roles to the best of our ability.
We would like you all to do your part in supporting them and helping them work towards their goals for umpiring. If we don't keep nurturing them, as a community, they won’t come back, and there will be no future in our social netball league.
And, if you’re still not happy with the level of umpiring that you’re receiving, then please get in touch about how you could get involved yourselves.
We would welcome you with open arms.
Kind regards,
Umpire.
