Becoming a netball umpire: Find your ‘why’
So, we’ve talked about when the best time to become an umpire is. Next, we’ll answer a question we get from anyone who isn't an umpire: ‘Why on earth would anyone want to be an umpire?’
Before you decide to jump into umpiring, it’s a good idea to explore why you want to umpire netball.
Understanding your “why” is crucial for staying motivated and coming back for more.
You love all things netball
Having a genuine love of netball and wanting to soak up every possible angle from it is a great reason to start umpiring.
Umpiring helps people see the game from a different point of view. That point of view is always that it’s impossible to see every infringement.
I wouldn’t be able to tell you how many people begin umpiring and say to me “I used to roll my eyes at umpires and now I wouldn’t dare”. It’s challenging!
Learning to umpire means you’re going to learn many more rules and how to apply them. This is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to be a coach or play at a representative level for their association. It’ll definitely get rid of your ‘incorrect throw in’ coach killers!
Personal development
Want to get fitter but don’t enjoy exercising at the gym? Gym membership too expensive? Maybe you, like me, don’t enjoy looking at your watch after 30 minutes of an outdoor jog, but it’s actually only been 3 minutes. With interval sprinting up and down the sideline, you’re guaranteed to increase your fitness.
Maybe you’re getting to the age where your friends are getting jobs, you might be about to leave school at work full time, or maybe you already do. Umpiring can prepare you for work with life skills such as:
clear communication
quick decision making
working under pressure
conflict management.
Your club’s umpire convenor may even be willing to be a referee on your resume!
Another “why” you might find is because we spend most of our time at school or work. It’s exhausting. It’s stressful. We need a healthy hobby and outlet to look forward to. There are loads of benefits, but my favourite are that:
it’s good for your mental and physical health
we can load up on those endorphins and de-stress
learning a new skill is challenging and extremely rewarding.
Why does the “why” matter?
Simply put, umpiring can be hard. With all the benefits, you'll also face criticism at some point. That’s tough at the start.
But then you find, it’s worth it.
If your motivation is just to earn money, you might struggle to persevere. If you're passionate about netball and genuinely enjoy a challenge, you're more likely to stick with it and reap the rewards.
