Getting involved as an umpire

Umpiring provides you with so much more than just the ability to officiate the rules of the game. It can make you feel connected and is a great way to make friends for life and be an integral part of the vibrant netball community. You'll experience the thrill of the game which contributes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There are many opportunities to become involved as an umpire in netball, with clear pathways and support structures available for those aspiring to officiate at the highest level.

Whether you are new to umpiring, a returning umpire, or an existing umpire, all are welcomed and needed to help our competition grow.

First steps to becoming an umpire

You'll need to complete the Netball New Zealand Learning to Umpire module which is available through Sport Tutor. 

1. Go to Sport Tutor and register. (If you have previously registered, you need to then log in.)
2. Click on Search Learning and select Netball NZ Catalogue.
3. Enter Learning to Umpire in the Search term field and click on the Search button.
4. Click on the module that displays, then on the Enrol button.
5. Complete the module and take the assessment
6. Once you have passed the assessment, download and email your certificate to umpire@hpnc.org.nz
7. Register as an umpire at Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre
8. Additional learning is available on Sport Tutor for the Understanding 6 v 6 Netball

Taking to the court as an umpire

To begin umpiring you'll need to connect with one of the clubs or schools that play at Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre. They'll connect you with the person for their club who allocates umpires to games. If you don't already have a club affiliation, reach out to umpire@hpnc.org.nz and we'll connect you with a club.

Will I get paid as an umpire?

You'll need to discuss this with the club or school you will umpire with. Most will give the umpire a payment relative to the umpire's experience and or level of the game being umpired.

Am I old enough or too old to umpire?

Student umpires must be in year 8 to umpire the 6-aside game of netball. From year 9 student umpires are able to begin umpiring the 7-aside game.

There are many adults (some in their 70s) who umpire across the various levels of the game. A number of adult umpires have been umpiring since their youth, whereas others have become involved in order to contribute to the growth of netball, family, and or friends.

You should consider your ability to keep up with play in deciding whether to become an umpire.

Can I umpire from a wheelchair?

Yes, your ability to umpire is determined by your ability to move around the court surrounding and apply the rules of netball. Our courts have outlined umpire areas that will help to facilitate this. We're here to help, so get in touch with a club and also with us at umpire@hpnc.org.nz