There will be plenty of that over the next week as she picks up the whistle for her debut world tournament at the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar.
The Queenstown umpire joins Zak Middleton, Cory Nicholls, Myron Elkington and Tania Fink as the Kiwi contingent officiating the tournament, which gets under way tomorrow.
McLeod is no stranger to the pressure-cooker environment of high performance sport, having umpired in the ANZ Premiership since 2018 and other international events, including the Pacific Series.
But being able to officiate the under-21 level and different flavours of the game — 20 teams are involved, including Malawi, Tonga, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia — added to the excitement.
"From one game to the next, you’re going to come across new styles of play, so that’s really exciting for me," McLeod said.
"That real melting pot of all the different types of games that you can get in netball.
"And the under-21s, they’re still quite young. There’s the unpredictability of their play as well . . . every game you don’t know what you’re going to get."
McLeod picked up the whistle later in life and about 15 years ago was helping umpire a local game when a chance encounter changed her trajectory.
Former Australian international umpire Paula Ferguson, who spent a year in Queenstown, was trawling the sidelines when she spotted McLeod and told the newcomer she had a knack for officiating.
Ferguson contacted former New Zealand international umpire Colleen Bond, who has been a long-serving umpire coach and mentor, to tell her about McLeod’s potential.
"The rest is history. She saw me and took me under her wing. I just kind of progressed through the ranks and here I am," McLeod said.
Bond’s support and wisdom had been "invaluable" guiding McLeod as she forged her own path.
"She just believed in me and that made me believe in myself," McLeod said.
"She kept saying... ‘you’re good enough to go wherever you want to go with this’. That really did encourage me.
"I certainly would not be here today if it were not for her."
McLeod moved through the ranks and began umpiring the ANZ Premiership eight years ago. While controlling a game was not always easy, she said it was a privilege to be involved in high performance sport.
"I certainly have never taken it for granted.
"It’s got its challenges... but I have found that I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of that along the way.
‘As umpires we always strive to grow, and be better, and to get that elusive perfect game, which I don’t know is ever out there.
"But making sure that I do the best that I can so I can help showcase the players and to put out a performance that is enjoyed by the spectators."
Umpiring provided her more than just being involved in the sport. It was the relationships and want to be better that kept her involved.
"I’ve made some life-long friends. There’s some incredible people who I’ve umpired with here in New Zealand, but also have made friends from around that world.
"That’s definitely what keeps you going is the people, but also that personal drive to keep on growing and to be better definitely keeps me in there."
McLeod is still committed to her centre in Queenstown, umpiring local games and imparting her knowledge, helping coach the junior umpires.
Making sure others knew they could chase their sporting dreams no matter where they came from was important for McLeod.
Coming from Queenstown had its challenges, including having to seek high-level games further afield, but it was all worth it.
"Geographically, it really doesn’t matter where you come from.
"If you have the drive and determination you can make it happen.
"It’s no barrier to actually getting to where you want to go if you want it enough."
University-Albion shooter Ella Southby will represent New Zealand at the Youth World Cup, while club-mate Alice Cocker will play for Tonga.
Southern Steel players Serina Daunakamakama and Khayne-Lii’ Munro-Nonoa, who has been named as vice-captain, will also represent New Zealand alongside former Southern Blast players Losa Fifita and Laura Balmer.
