Netball Northern Zone

All the best to the 27 Netball Northern umpires from eight different netball centres who are sitting their NNZ NZ Theory exam tonight!

We're backing you all the way. You've got this!

What does the umpiring pathway actually look like? 🏐

For Charley, it was a Learn to Umpire course with her mates → club games → the centre draw → the U14 & U16 Nationals in Taranaki, where she umpired the U16A top eight.

For Elle, it was putting her hand up when no one else would, and three seasons with the same Pukekohe rep team.

Both are still climbing. Charley's chasing her NZ C badge, Elle's working towards Zone Practical and umpire coaching.

During the NNZ U18 Tournament, we were part of Courtside Kōrero - an initiative bringing coaches, captains and umpires into the same huddle to share what they were each working on straight after a game.

Coaches opened up about refining their language and making sure every player got meaningful court time. Umpires shared their own process goals, giving everyone a new appreciation for what officiating really involves.

Some coaches loved it so much they took the idea straight back to their teams, with every player setting a personal process goal before their next game.

Every team at the NNZ U18 Championships had their warm up filmed.

Not to catch anyone out 👀but to see whether the NetballSmart Dynamic Warm Up holds up under real tournament pressure. Every team receives a report on how theirs stacked up.

Plenty ran it with real intent, exactly as designed. What we learn shapes the resources and support heading back to coaches, Centres and players.

Is your team running it? 👇

What happens when you put Silver Fern legend Leigh Gibbs CNZM in a car and hit the road? 🚗🏐

Netball Northern Coach Lead Tania Heap found out... three days, four stops, and a whole lot of netball kōrero.

From observing coaches at Waiuku Netball Centre, to 'The End Game in Mind' workshops at Carmel College and Huanui College, a Game Analysis session at Whangārei Netball Centre, and finishing in Pukekohe to present Jody McCort with her NNZ Performance Coach Qualification.

Leigh gave her time, wisdom and wicked sense of humour to coaches and players right across our region.

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) | Four Winds Community Foundation

From filling in time at the courts for pocket money to umpiring the men's final at the National U18 Championships 🏐

Natasha Mouat travelled to Christchurch with the Northern umpire group for her fifth national tournament, and came home with her biggest appointment yet, fresh feedback from the umpire coaches, and a new metal whistle on the shopping list.

Next stop ➡ Upper North Island Secondary Schools in Hamilton.

Her advice for young umpires: "Just keep going and be patient, as you never know where umpiring will take you."

Full story in the comments 👇

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) | Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre | Auckland Netball