UP and coming umpires from Westlakes District Netball Association have enjoyed a training session with veteran national A-grade badged umpire Lauren Hill.
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Lauren has more than 20 years’ experience umpiring netball and is an umpiring coach at Central Coast Academy of Sport and an active member of Netball NSW NetEd programs.
She gave aspiring umpires the behind-the-scenes gems of wisdom that come with being dedicated and passionate.
Her session with the Westlakes umpires included discussions about goal setting, timing, vision and positioning. It provided the umpiring team with not only practical tools to take to the sideline but also a role model to aspire to.
Umpiring netball is a role which requires expert knowledge, fast decision making and a clear head, with the average umpire needing to make up to 46,000 decisions per game.
There are passes every three seconds and the responsibility of checking up to seven possible infringements on the player with the ball alone, without even considering the other 13 players on the court.
For this reason, it’s vital that new and training umpires are supported by mentors, players, coaches and supporters.
After all, without umpires, the game of netball would not exist.
Westlakes’ umpires convenor Toni Shearman organised the training session.
When asked what she loves best about umpiring, Toni said: “I love umpiring, kids and teaching so, for me, coaching young umpires is a match made in heaven”.