Umpiring plays a vital role in netball and provides valuable opportunities for growth and progression within the sport.
Chatswood Rangers places strong emphasis on supporting and developing umpires across all levels, including Junior, Senior, and volunteer umpires involved in our Net Set Go program. As part of competition requirements, the Club must supply an umpire for every Junior and Senior match, as well as a parent volunteer umpire for Net Set Go games on alternate weeks.
To support this commitment, Chatswood Rangers offers the following training and preparation within each division:
Net Set Go
Each team is asked to nominate between 1 to 3 volunteers to umpire. Typically, our club will need to provide an umpire on alternate weeks for half of the games played during the season. Umpires for Net Set Go must be 16 years of age or older.
- Volunteer umpires will need to pass the Netball Australia’s online Rules of Netball Theory Examination (a minimum score of 70% is required). The exam costs $13 to complete. This cost will be reimbursed by Chatswood Rangers.
- Attendance at the NSNA “Red Robin” training course, held at the start of each season is strongly encouraged.
For further information or assistance with Umpiring for Net Set Go, please contact Janine Jones via Email: juniornetball@chatswoodrangers.com.au
Junior & Senior Umpiring
Chatswood Rangers is committed to educating and supporting new umpires, offering clear pathways for development. Players may begin as a junior umpire in the year they turn 12 years old. Senior Umpires must be 16 years old or hold a National C Badge.
All new umpires are required to:
- Attend the NSNA Junior Red Robin Umpires Course at the start of each season.
- Complete the online Netball Australia Rules of Netball Theory Examination (70% pass mark required).
A limited number of umpires can be supported in the umpire development program each season. Expressions of interest to commence umpiring should be emailed to: umpires@chatswoodrangers.com.au
Umpire Convenors
Chatswood Rangers has dedicated Junior & Senior Umpiring Convenors who hold national umpire accreditation.
- Alice McDermid – Junior Umpiring Convenor
- Claudia Coffey – Senior Umpiring Coordinator
Our Umpire Convenors manage the umpire development program to support skill development, confidence, and progression through umpiring levels. All new and developing umpires are supported through a structured mentoring program includes mentoring during matches to build confidence, skill progression, and ensure match control. Mentors are experienced umpires with recognised umpiring qualifications.
All communication and enquiries about junior and senior umpiring can be directed to Alice and Claudia via Email: umpires@chatswoodrangers.com.au
Umpire Expectations
- Umpire rosters will be issued via email during the Winter Competition. Umpires are required to confirm availability.
- New Junior Umpires will be rostered onto U10 and U11 games so need to be available on Friday afternoons/evenings.
- All umpires must arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled match to sign on at the NSNA umpiring desk.
- Umpires must supply their own whistle and should ensure they have this with them on game day. Whistles can be purchased from the NSNA at the courts if needed.
- Beginner Umpires (unqualified) may wear their Chatswood Rangers netball uniform to umpire.
- Umpires who progress through the pathway must wear a white shirt and either white or black bottoms (skirt, shorts, pants).
- Payments are determined by umpiring qualifications.
Umpiring Pathways and Qualifications
- For junior umpires, progression through Junior Levels (JL) typically follows: JL3, JL2, JL1, National C Badge.
- Senior umpires progress through Senior Levels (SL): SL2, SL1, National C, National B, and National A Badge levels.
Further details on umpiring levels and accreditation can be found on the NSNA website.
Rangers provides umpires for all junior and senior matches. All umpires who receive payment must complete the Payment to Supplier with no ABN form.
NetSetGo teams must provide their own over 16 years old umpire. It is recommended that two parents from each team volunteer to share this very rewarding role. NSG umpires must attend the Mature Red Robin Clinic held pre season at the NSNA courts. No previous experience is necessary!
Junior Umpires : Friday evening matches and Saturday mornings. Umpires must be turning 12 in 2022 and have passed the online exam. Junior umpires are paid on a sliding scale depending on their level. The first 3 games are free, as service to the club. Umpire money is paid at the end of season presentation event.
Junior Convenor: Corinne James mailto:umpires@chatswoodrangers.com.au
Senior Umpires : Saturday afternoon matches 12:45pm to 4:15pm. Senior umpires must be 16 years + or hold the National C Badge.
Convenor: Lyn Wells mailto:umpires@chatswoodrangers.com.au
What is involved?
All umpires attain a 70% pass mark and keep the Netball Australia Rules of Netball online exam current. Please send the junior or senior umpire convenor copy of the certificate. We suggest having the rule book open on another tab to refer to. The exam is timed but you can attempt it as many times as you need to. The Rules of Netball Certificate is valid for 4 years and must be re-sat when expired.
It is strongly recommended to attend the NSNA Junior Red Robin Umpire Session when it is scheduled. The course is free but you must register on the NSNA website under the umpire tab.
New junior umpires will be rostered on one eligible game per week over 3 consecutive weeks, usually from term 2. They umpire various U10 or U11 teams on Friday nights, under the support of an experienced umpire mentor. After 3 weeks there may be an opportunity to be assessed by the NSNA umpire committee for the first ‘level’ which is Junior Level 3 (JL3). This level is only attained on a Friday night. Mentors must stay on the side line and they provide feedback in the quarter time intervals.
*Note, limited numbers of U12 age group umpires can be accepted in 2022
On Game Day:
- Arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the game
- Print your name clearly on the umpire sign on sheet before the match
- Check side lines for obstacles, you should not have to go onto the court to avoid drink bottles/bags/spectators
- Introduce yourself to the other umpire – you guys are a team!
- Check nails, jewellery, no elastic bands or bracelets etc – note piercings must be removed and cannot be covered by tape.
- Captains must do the toss and advise you of the outcome
- At the end of each quarter, meet the other umpire in the middle of the court or talk with your mentor – also on the court.
Umpire Development
The key things for a new umpire are loud and clear voice, loud and clear whistle, decisive calls, (it doesn’t matter if they are not quite the right calls), keeping up with the game (running down the sideline and round the base line).
Umpire development forms a big part of being an umpire and the girls really enjoy the challenge to see if they can get levelled at least once in the season. Umpiring is a fabulous way for a player to develop an understanding of the rules and as such be better players themselves. There are umpire coaching opportunities throughout the season, we are lucky to have the support of very experienced National C badge umpires to guide our girls.
Assessment Grades
If we don’t have one of the required grades ourselves we need to borrow matches from other clubs who are also trying to level their umpires. Please be patient as it is not always possible to borrow other club’s matches. Sometimes borrowed matches for levelling are unpaid as different clubs have different payment structures and some don’t pay at all. Junior levels are attained by players U15 and below. Senior levels by players 16 and over playing in senior grades.
JL2 will need to have experience and be assessed on 13C/14D/15D and above grade matches. It is not necessary to wear whites for this level. This level is attained on Saturday morning matches only.
JL1 must wear whites and umpire 12A/13A/14C/15C.
National C Badge
Juniors need to umpire 14A or 15A. Sunday umpiring of a Rep Carnival or several is required to gain the required high level match experience, as well as completing the online Foundation Umpire Course. Foundation is a paid course on MyNetball and contains five modules to complete. Senior umpires who want to attain National C badge must also attend a rep carnival and are assessed on A3/A4/B1/B2 level.
It is possible to attain more than one level in one season if we get the required matches and opportunities and depending on the availability of the umpire and mentors. We are also asked to help other clubs from time to time. Any court time is valuable experience and the all the club umpire convenors at NSNA work very closely together supporting each other to have matches covered. Remember umpires are UNBIASED so are expected umpire any team to the same standard as they would their own club.
No umpire = match forfeit!
Please contact one of the convenors if you have any questions or would like to join the roster.