With a focus on collaboration and strengthening our base of Centre Umpire Coaches and Assessors, we kicked off an exciting Centre Umpire Coaching & Assessing Initiative with an Introduction to Umpire Coaching and Assessing workshop held at the Ngatea Rugby Clubrooms. 

The session, hosted by the team at Hauraki Plains Netball Centre, took place on Sunday, 16 February... and no, that’s not a misprint(!) it's a sign of our eagerness to get underway early in the season.

Amongst the group we had 5 different Centres present which proved valuable when sharing different Centre experiences and challenges. 

A big thank you to Marilyn Hodder and Jane Robinson for their fantastic work in organizing the first event.

With other neigboring Centres unable to attend this day, we visited Mercury Bay Netball Centre and delivered an Umpiring Techniques workshop with junior umpires, and worked alongside new Umpire Coach Olivia Statton to develop umpire coaching capability at the Centre.

We also popped in to Te Aroha Netball Centre to offer sideline support for umpire mentors (Year 12 and 13 students) who are working with new junior umpires.

Fast forward to Sunday, 18 May — we reconvened at the Cobras Rugby Clubrooms (yes, there’s a bit of a rugby theme emerging!) for our second workshop. We revisited the key takeaways from our February session before heading courtside at Te Aroha Netball Centre. 

There, our Umpire Coaches had the opportunity to work alongside a talented group of Centre Umpires representing Te Aroha, Morrinsville, and Mercury Bay Netball Centres. This tournament offered our coaches the chance to apply their classroom knowledge courtside and challenged our coaches to understand the difference of coaching and assessing. 

It was a fantastic day of netball, complete with all four seasons of weather — truly a test of resilience and adaptability!We’re proud to share that the day concluded with the accreditation of:

• 6 new Centre Coach/Assessors, and
• 4 new Centre Badge umpires.

A huge thank you to the Te Aroha Netball Centre team for being such welcoming and organized hosts.

Article by: Aimee Te Whata, WBOP Zone Umpire Development Officer
Article added: Monday 26 May 2025