Interested in Umpiring?
Then please read the following account.
Bernie Young: ‘A’ Award Umpire
I have played netball for what seems like forever…I played at school (Sir Gilbert Claughton Dudley) and never stopped when I left. I continued to play for Dudley Leisure Centre, now Dudley Netball Club, when they initially played at the Leisure Centre in Wellington Road, Dudley. A definite home advantage ground if ever there was one, as we played on the top car park that had an incredible slope. So much so that we thought if we played too much we would all end up with legs like a mountain goat!! We eventually ended up playing at Thorns school, Brierley Hill in the Dudley League. I also continued to play when I became a Police Officer in the West Midlands Force. It was while we played at the Thorns that my umpiring journey began.
I distinctly remember a certain Miss Brenda Hayter umpiring a game I was playing in and lord forbid I questioned her decisions (Brenda was an International umpire) and she firmly put me in my place by telling me “if you can do better I suggest you get a whistle and go on a course!!”. I took Bren at her word and did just that; a few months later I proudly became a Dudley League approved umpire. However, playing always took precedence over umpiring at this early stage, even though I did enjoy umpiring. Brenda encouraged me to move forward in my umpiring and in 1991 I successfully gained my C Award.
It was then my umpiring really began to take off. I umpired county games and tournaments, Inter-counties and Alex Barlass tournaments which would take me travelling all around the country. I met some wonderful people and made life long friends. I experienced different styles of umpiring, watched Internationals at their best, learnt new techniques - not only umpiring techniques but playing, coaching and training. We used these tournaments to talk and discuss our experiences and get to know each other; it was fabulous rubbing shoulders with umpires that had been there and done it. Sadly, these tournaments and opportunities were lost with the re-structuring of the county competition structure. I know I am not alone when I say it was very disappointing. As it was at these games I began to get identified as an umpire that could move on.
I began to get a real taste for the competitive and more challenging games; I worked hard to gain my B Award in 1997. It was then that I was invited to umpire at England training camps where I met International players from all countries, it was superb. I realised just how fit you need to be to keep up with the modern game that was moving forward very quickly in more ways than one.
It didn’t take me long to decide that I didn’t want my journey to stop here, so, I made a very conscious decision that I was going to try to gain my A Award.
I studied the rules until my eyes were boggled and in 1998 I passed my written exam towards A Award. I then had to show that I was umpiring consistently at a high level. I would travel miles to get good high competition games. Any game locally I would put myself forward for but I needed to get out of the region and experience all types of games. To be honest I owe lots of praise to teams who would always call me to umpire for them if they were travelling. I completed what we call the blue card, which is a record of your games and the standard…I completed it in record time I was so eager to put in for my A Award practical test. On 5-11-2000 I travelled to Chester with poor long suffering netball widow husband Rob, and took my practical. I passed – HURRAH! I can’t remember when I had last been soooo nervous, so much so when I was told I had passed I started to cry with relief, jumped off my chair and kissed all three testers!!!
I was exceptionally lucky; I was selected to do loads of England Training games. I’ve umpired at the top level in Premier League which included International and Super League players. One of my highlights was umpiring the training games at Fastnet, in Liverpool at the Echo Arena where I experienced Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, England and Wales, it was exhilarating a fantastic experience.
I do also test at C and B Award level and am currently moving towards A testing. I am also an IFNA accredited table official and often officiate at the test series, Internationals and Super League.
Unfortunately due to age old (not old age!!!) injuries in 2011 I made the heartbreaking decision to retire from Premier League as I felt that my fitness would effect my performance and I didn’t want that to effect my reputation. I still feel I have something to offer on court and umpire at Regional level and will do so as long as my fitness allows. I do seriously believe that we, as umpires have an obligation to ourselves and the game to self assess and be true to yourself, if you can’t keep up be honest, don’t do yourself an injustice.
Always umpire with a smile on your face and in your voice, it can diffuse no manner of things, enjoy it. Umpire with integrity and objectivity.
My aim for the future is to give something back to a game that has been a huge part of my life and that has helped me through some rough times. I can turn up to netball feeling really down and can go away feeling exhilarated and fulfilled.
My hope is that I can encourage other umpires by way of mentoring and passing on my knowledge, skills and experience, to enjoy what they do and experience the joys as I have done. My umpiring journey has been and still is a learning one.
If you are an existing umpire and wish to go forward in your umpiring, or, if any of you out there are interested in becoming an umpire, speak to Bernie Young who will guide you in the right direction or follow the "Accreditation and Pathways" link on the England Netball website.... Click Here to follow link.
I have played netball for what seems like forever…I played at school (Sir Gilbert Claughton Dudley) and never stopped when I left. I continued to play for Dudley Leisure Centre, now Dudley Netball Club, when they initially played at the Leisure Centre in Wellington Road, Dudley. A definite home advantage ground if ever there was one, as we played on the top car park that had an incredible slope. So much so that we thought if we played too much we would all end up with legs like a mountain goat!! We eventually ended up playing at Thorns school, Brierley Hill in the Dudley League. I also continued to play when I became a Police Officer in the West Midlands Force. It was while we played at the Thorns that my umpiring journey began.
I distinctly remember a certain Miss Brenda Hayter umpiring a game I was playing in and lord forbid I questioned her decisions (Brenda was an International umpire) and she firmly put me in my place by telling me “if you can do better I suggest you get a whistle and go on a course!!”. I took Bren at her word and did just that; a few months later I proudly became a Dudley League approved umpire. However, playing always took precedence over umpiring at this early stage, even though I did enjoy umpiring. Brenda encouraged me to move forward in my umpiring and in 1991 I successfully gained my C Award.
It was then my umpiring really began to take off. I umpired county games and tournaments, Inter-counties and Alex Barlass tournaments which would take me travelling all around the country. I met some wonderful people and made life long friends. I experienced different styles of umpiring, watched Internationals at their best, learnt new techniques - not only umpiring techniques but playing, coaching and training. We used these tournaments to talk and discuss our experiences and get to know each other; it was fabulous rubbing shoulders with umpires that had been there and done it. Sadly, these tournaments and opportunities were lost with the re-structuring of the county competition structure. I know I am not alone when I say it was very disappointing. As it was at these games I began to get identified as an umpire that could move on.
I began to get a real taste for the competitive and more challenging games; I worked hard to gain my B Award in 1997. It was then that I was invited to umpire at England training camps where I met International players from all countries, it was superb. I realised just how fit you need to be to keep up with the modern game that was moving forward very quickly in more ways than one.
It didn’t take me long to decide that I didn’t want my journey to stop here, so, I made a very conscious decision that I was going to try to gain my A Award.
I studied the rules until my eyes were boggled and in 1998 I passed my written exam towards A Award. I then had to show that I was umpiring consistently at a high level. I would travel miles to get good high competition games. Any game locally I would put myself forward for but I needed to get out of the region and experience all types of games. To be honest I owe lots of praise to teams who would always call me to umpire for them if they were travelling. I completed what we call the blue card, which is a record of your games and the standard…I completed it in record time I was so eager to put in for my A Award practical test. On 5-11-2000 I travelled to Chester with poor long suffering netball widow husband Rob, and took my practical. I passed – HURRAH! I can’t remember when I had last been soooo nervous, so much so when I was told I had passed I started to cry with relief, jumped off my chair and kissed all three testers!!!
I was exceptionally lucky; I was selected to do loads of England Training games. I’ve umpired at the top level in Premier League which included International and Super League players. One of my highlights was umpiring the training games at Fastnet, in Liverpool at the Echo Arena where I experienced Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, England and Wales, it was exhilarating a fantastic experience.
I do also test at C and B Award level and am currently moving towards A testing. I am also an IFNA accredited table official and often officiate at the test series, Internationals and Super League.
Unfortunately due to age old (not old age!!!) injuries in 2011 I made the heartbreaking decision to retire from Premier League as I felt that my fitness would effect my performance and I didn’t want that to effect my reputation. I still feel I have something to offer on court and umpire at Regional level and will do so as long as my fitness allows. I do seriously believe that we, as umpires have an obligation to ourselves and the game to self assess and be true to yourself, if you can’t keep up be honest, don’t do yourself an injustice.
Always umpire with a smile on your face and in your voice, it can diffuse no manner of things, enjoy it. Umpire with integrity and objectivity.
My aim for the future is to give something back to a game that has been a huge part of my life and that has helped me through some rough times. I can turn up to netball feeling really down and can go away feeling exhilarated and fulfilled.
My hope is that I can encourage other umpires by way of mentoring and passing on my knowledge, skills and experience, to enjoy what they do and experience the joys as I have done. My umpiring journey has been and still is a learning one.
If you are an existing umpire and wish to go forward in your umpiring, or, if any of you out there are interested in becoming an umpire, speak to Bernie Young who will guide you in the right direction or follow the "Accreditation and Pathways" link on the England Netball website.... Click Here to follow link.
