Program Objectives
Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through their sports officiating high Performance Pathway.
Develop umpires to be confident and skilled officials, with a fundamentally sound technical and tactical rule knowledge and performance base.
Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for umpires during representative off-season, and in-season maintenance programs, as a part of the Netball NSW High Performance Pathway program.
Compliment umpires local club and representative commitments and encourage umpires to be leaders within their associations.
Prepare umpires for NSW High Performance officiating pathways, such as the Netball NSW Metro and/or Premier League.
Athlete Benefits
The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within an officiating squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.
A large range of umpire appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.
The South West Sydney Academy of Sport Netball Umpire program is closely aligned to the Netball NSW high performance curriculum, and operates in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport Netball and Netball Umpire programs, and as such is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathway. And include training in officiating the NSW Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development.
Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of umpires, and may include events scheduled in conjunction with other NSW Regional Academies of Sport and/or camp-like training environments, such as the Regional Academy Games, Netball NSW HPP/RASi Camp, and the Regional Academy Challenge Tournament.
Athlete Eligibility
- Umpires must be Female or Male and between 14 and 18 years of age as of 31 December 2025.
- Umpires must be a registered member of Netball NSW
- Umpires must meet the Academy eligibility criteria.
- Regional Academies accept, and therefore apply the Netball NSW determination that eligibility for a Regional Academy Netball Umpire program to solely be that of the LGA (residence) of the umpire. This is due to neighbouring LGA's falling within serviced RASi or NNSW provided pathway programs.
- Umpires shall therefore nominate and trial with the Academy that services their LGA. Which for the South West Sydney Academy of Sport is the Council boundaries of Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Wollondilly.
In addition;
- Umpires shall have obtained, or be progressing towards gaining their National C Badge.
- Umpires shall be actively officiating within their own Association on a regular basis, and are made aware that their decision to participate in the Academy Netball Umpire Program is an indication of their priority as an Umpire over that of an Athlete / player.
Selection Process
What to Expect:
The Netball Umpire squad is selected based on the umpires performance at an open trial.
The trial will feature a number of skill and drill components, followed by a series of short-sided or modified trial games to assess the umpire's rule knowledge, skill and potential, and may include athletes trialling for the Academy Netball program.
Elements of sport science testing and/or fitness assessment may be conducted as a part of the trial, however there is no required "pass mark" for these elements to be achieved.
Only One Trial will be conducted.
Selection Process:
- Umpires must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date.
- Umpires must attend the trial date. If an umpire is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption.
- Prospective umpire Parents must attend an Academy Information session, which will take place at the same time as the trial. This will be identified on the Nomination Page and communicated to parents by the email provided in the nomination form when confirming the trials information.
- The Academy may select up to 12 umpires from the 14-18yr age group.
- The Academy will select a squad of umpires across a Performance, and a Development Squad.
- Final selections, number of umpires and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process.
- Successful umpires will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial.
- Umpires selected within the program may also be referred to as "Academy Athletes" when referencing levies and other program requirements.
Athlete (Umpire) Scholarship Levy
- An Athlete (Umpire) Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful umpires.
- This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
- Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission;
- Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
- Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.
Additional Fees / Levies
Uniform Costs
- All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store.
- New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90.
- New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy.
- Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction.
- Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear.
- New Umpires will be provided with an Academy Umpire Technical Polo as a part of their Athlete Scholarship Levy.
Camps, Tours and Tournaments
- Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
- Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour.
- Three (3) Performance Squad Umpires will be selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Tamworth in April 2025, and will be required to pay a Games levy of between $350 and $400 (subject to sport requirements), which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Scholarship Levy.
- Three (3) Performance Squad Umpires will be selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Challenge held in Wollongong in September 2025, and will be required to pay a Games levy of between $250 and $300 (subject to sport requirements), which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Scholarship Levy.
- Tournaments and Camps held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.
All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.
Training and Performance Opportunities
- The Academy will conduct regular on-court training and education sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training in two program blocks, between October and April, and July to September, with sessions held alongside and in conjunction with athletes from the Academy Netball Program.
- A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program and in the lead up to the Regional Academy Games and Regional Academy Challenge.
- Additional Academy education sessions and off-field development may take place during the "program break (April - July)" or following the conclusion of the "program year". Athletes will attend the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner in the year of their program (ie prior to the conclusion of their program).
- Regular training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible.
- Umpires will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, including access to a supervised gym program throughout the period.
- All Umpires will be required to attend a Netball NSW RASi/HPP Camp held at Netball Central in March 2025.
Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy will send three (3) Umpires to officiate in the ClubsNSW 'Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games Netball competition to be held in Tamworth in April 2025.
Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy will send three (3) Umpires to officiate in the Regional Academy Challenge Netball tournament to be held in Wollongong in September 2025.
- Training sessions will take place at indoor training venues and Netball facilities throughout the South West Sydney Region. A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool.
Squad and Support Staff
2024-2025 Bingara Gorge Netball Umpires Squad and Coaching Staff will be announced after the selection date.
2023-2024 Netball Umpires Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Michelle McNamara
Assistant Coach: Sarah McNamara
Assistant Coach: Piper Steed
Manager: Teresa Savae
2023-2024 Netball Umpires Squad
| Sienna | Barrett |
| Adelaide | Bell |
| Hazel | Kruger |
| Aaliyah | Ngatai Tepania |
| Tanisha | Saba |
| Talina | Seisun |
| Chelsea | Sirec |
| Lexi | Vardy |
| Karlia | Warwick |
| Ayva | Worlledge |
