On the Road: Connecting and Growing at Gisborne Netball Centre

Our recent centre visit to Gisborne Netball Centre provided a fantastic opportunity to connect face-to-face with local officials, deliver targeted development modules, and see the local pathway in action.

The weekend got underway on Friday night with a dedicated group of umpires taking part in our Technique 2 module. This session focused heavily on court mechanics, specifically delving into how an umpire's physical positioning directly dictates their field of vision. We explored the ripple effect of this positioning, analyzing how a clear line of sight fundamentally improves an umpire's timing and accuracy when making calls.

Following the technique session, we moved into the Introduction to Umpire Coaching module. It was highly encouraging to see the level of enthusiasm in the room from individuals keen to step into coaching roles. Developing confident coaches is essential for sustainable growth, and this group showed a real passion for supporting and mentoring their peers.

On Saturday morning, we returned to the courts to observe the Gisborne development program in action. This was a true highlight of the visit, as we got to see the newly trained umpire coaches immediately implement what they had learned the night before. Watching them actively apply their coaching tools on the sideline and confidently support their umpires on Saturday morning proved just how valuable these face-to-face sessions are for building local capability.

A huge thank you to the Gisborne Netball Centre team for their warm hospitality, and to all the umpires and coaches who invested their time over the weekend to strengthen the game in their region.

Article added: Sunday 05 July 2026