International Umpire – Anso Kemp (Blessed Beyond)

That “BUG” that bit me….

My journey from 2003 till now……

I think the bug bit me in 2003, when I went for my first SA grading at the (then called) Southern Tournament in Stellenbosch.

Jeanette Gersbach was my Mentor and Grader at that time. I remember Jeanette from my school days.  I had been playing u/18A netball since grade 10 and she had always umpired our Interschool matches and I remember thinking… One day I want to be an umpire just like “daardie Tannie”

I was awarded my SA C+ grading at that tournament but had to verify it at the South African u/21 Champs in Oudtshoorn that year. This was a totally new experience for me. Just having had my first born, my mum and I travelled down to Oudtshoorn to my very first SA tournament. Very young, scared but very excited!

To add to this, everyone had warned me about this very “kwaai Tannie” and advised me just to keep quiet, do my thing and not interfere…

2 days down the line I hadn’t seen or heard this “kwaai Tannie”. But then came day 3. I had just finished umpiring my game and turned to see this Tannie marching towards me, I thought she was going to walk OVER me.

“What is the rule when the ball goes over the transverse line at a centre pass?”

My answer:  Untouched centre pass

But why did you give a throw in?

Because the ball was out

NO IT WAS NOT!

But Tannie it was really out. (The ball did not touch the goal third – it went straight over the transverse line and out the side line.)

This conversation felt like it lasted a year… long story short. This was my first encounter with Dr Hannette Brewer…I won the conversation and I verified my SA C+ grading. And this was also the start of the “hard words” and coaching to help me become the best umpire I could be.

2004 – I was still playing netball, tore my RCL.  So umpiring was out for that year.

2005 – I fell pregnant with my second child – another year out.

2006 – Received my SA B-grading at the u/21 SA Senior Championships in Port Elizabeth.

2007 – A GREAT year. I received my SA B+ grading at the u/21 SA Championships in JHB. And as coach of the u/21Boland team, won the silver medal!

2008 – I was advised to go to The SA Senior Championships. What an eye opener! So many teams, as well as Men playing netball which I didn’t even know existed. I was in awe of the potential of the players in SA. I umpired a few Men’s games and had to keep catching myself from watching the netball and just concentrate on umpiring! Those Men were unbelievable! I didn’t receive a higher grading, but it was a huge learning year and inspired me to work harder!

2009 – I received by NSA A-grading at the SA Senior Championships in Port Elizabeth. I was so thankful and thought this just couldn’t get any better!  Following that, later that year I was invited to COSANA games in Durban, where I got to meet International Umpires- opening my eyes… and mouth…To all the new experiences. I was awarded my Africa A grading at these COSANA games.

2010 – This was the year I realised I could do more with my umpiring, Always aspiring to improve, I realised, I needed to find myself a Mentor –  who was still  an active Umpire. I started watching more and more netball especially when Annie Kloppers umpired and this is where my journey started with Annie. I knew this was the person I needed to become my Mentor. I got invited by NSA as umpire, to travel with the Spar Protea Netball team on tour to NZ and Samoa.  Another opportunity to meet International umpires, gaining experience in another way.  It was amazing just watching some of these umpires in action, and I knew this was what I want to become. What made 2010 even more special was the fact that I got to umpire the finals at the SA Senior Champs with none other than my Umpiring hero Annie. I also got to umpire the finals of the Netball National League. WHAT A YEAR!

2011 – I was invited to umpire a Test Series in Botswana, between the Spar Protea’s vs Botswana. What a privilege to umpire the finals of that Series.

That same year, I umpired the Men’s’ Final at The SA Seniors Championships.

2012 – This was the year of the Inaugural World University Netball Championships.  I was fortunate to be invited as one of the umpires, to experience and learn with a UAP from England and also mingle with umpires from England, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

I was also invited to umpire at the Diamond Challenge in Durban.  But this wasn’t all for 2012.  Another dream came true:  I was invited to umpire at the First Fast Five Series held in New Zealand.  I was over the moon with excitement.  And indeed this tournament was exciting and full of fun. A total contrast to the netball I was used to.  But I absolutely loved it.  I was the third umpire of the finals between Australia and New Zealand.  How lucky could one get!

2013 – World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow Scotland. I was one of the privileged ITID (International Talented Identified Umpire) umpires to be invited to umpire at the tournament.  Another learning experience.  New people.  New everything! I thought this might be my chance to become an IUA, but unfortunately not. I was sad and negative, but had to “pick” myself up.

I ended the year umpiring the finals with Annie Kloppers at the SA Senior Championships.

2014 – Umpired the Finals with Annie Kloppers at the SA Senior Championships.  This was a “quiet” year, and I started becoming agitated, because my time as  an ITID had started to run out.

2015 – Umpired at the Africa Champs in Botswana.  I was invited to umpire the Super League in England. I felt this was the chance I needed to get screened, but unfortunately it didn’t work out and I was very disappointed, as my ITID  was coming to the end, BUT I was fortunate to get it extended for another 2 years.

I must emphasise with all the amazing opportunities, there were always huge disappointments too and in order to move forward, I had to pick myself up and realise that life always “happens for a reason”. So many tears and heartbreak…

Later that year I umpired at the Diamond Challenge, and umpired the finals between the SA Spar Protea’s vs Malawi.

2016 – I was invited to Umpire SA U/21 vs Wales test series.  Things were FINALLY falling into place…so I hoped. My screening was successful at the SA u/21 vs Wales test series, and this meant I only had 6 months to be given an opportunity to get invited for a possible match to be tested on.  I then got to do the games at the World Youth Qualifier in Botswana to be tested. Having arrived there, I was told there was a possibility I wouldn’t be tested. I was devastated. It had taken me 6 years of mental and physical strain to work towards getting my IUA status and now it felt as if I was just hitting a brick wall, again! I decided I wouldn’t let it get me down; I would umpire each game to the best of my ability. The 3rd day I had a very physical game between Zambia and Uganda, after the game I waited alot longer than usual to be called for a discussion of my game, eventually I walked in and I was welcomed with the amazing news that I had been awarded my IUA!! My dreams had finally come true! I was dumbstruck and stood and sobbed. 26th July 2016 is a day I will never forget.

At the end of this amazing year, I umpired the nail biting u/21 final at the South African Champs in Durban and also the final of The Varsity Netball…. A GREAT YEAR!!

2017 – Brutal Fruit – I had some good games.

 

It’s encouraging to see that the skill level of netball players in South Africa is constantly improving. This has been another unforgettable year of learning and achieving. I feel truly blessed.

I was invited to the Africa Champs in Uganda and also other great opportunities came when I received the email from INF to say I was one of the umpires for the NWYC in Botswana.  Two weeks before I had to leave for Uganda, I was asked to also do a test series between Malawi vs Uganda.  Both amazingly strong Africa teams.  On arrival in Uganda, we were informed there will be another test series between Namibia and Zimbabwe.

This was a double test series in four days, then going straight into the Africa Champs.  Uganda was a great experience.  Very friendly people and very humid.  And getting to drive on the boda-boda was even more exciting.  This was also my first test match as an IUA!

 

Thanks Janet Edeling for sharing this experience with me. The games between all these Africa countries were tough and very physical.  Game management was the order of the day.  What a great experience.

So two days back at home, and back on the plane to Botswana. The accommodation was marvellous, and an extra positive, was that all of the 20 International umpires got their own rooms. We were four SA Umpires, Marie-Louw van der Merwe, Janet Edeling, Elizna van den Berg and I.  Maggie du Plessis was the chair of the UAP’s and my mentor Annie Kloppers was a Cadet UAP.

Matches commenced on 8th July.  We had feedback from the UAPs from New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica, England and South Africa. Once again, an amazing learning and truly humbling experience, with valuable and constructive feedback. FINALLY I had begun to feel the difference in my umpiring, everything was falling into place.

16th July 2017, I was selected to Umpire the final at the NWYC in Botswana between Australia and New Zealand.  Another dream comes true. Truly special, as this was the same venue, same court, where I had received my IUA grading the year before. The feelings one experiences are absolutely amazing and indescribable.

Double points scored in my opinion, due to the fact that myself and my mentor/idol (Annie Kloppers) were the only two South African umpires to ever umpire The Final of a Netball Youth World Championship.

Yes, umpiring is NOT for the faint hearted… it IS a lot of hard work, continually striving for improvement.  Training all the time, staying fit, paying Physio’s and Bio’s bills, time away from your family and friends, giving up your holidays and always on unpaid leave.

I couldn’t have done, or achieved, any of this without the total support of my husband Morné Kemp, two beautiful daughters Aníke and Marí, family (mother Marina), friends (especially Erin Burger) and co-umpires.  I want to mention a few mentors and co-umpires by name for their mentorship, support, interest and prayers:  Annie Kloppers, Dr Hannette Brewer, Jeanette Gersbach, Isabel du Pisanie, Maggie du Plessis, Margaret Deighan, Heather Gleadall, Bill Alexander, Janet Edeling, Marleze Jooste, Sarah Fabri, Jongi Macutwana, Evadne Pieterse, Salomé Coetzer, and Susan Forsmann.

“BLESSED   BEYOND” are merely the right words……

THE DREAM IS FREE, THE CHASE IS SOLD SEPARATELY!

4 thoughts on “International Umpire – Anso Kemp (Blessed Beyond)”

  1. Good morning Annie,

    We are looking at hosting a pre-season netball tournament here at Epworth from Friday, 23 March to Sunday, 25 March and would also like to include an umpiring course for the coaches.

    The aim of this tournament apart from it being a great opportunity for the teams to play some quality netball, it will attract a variety from schools from across Natal.

    We were looking at having an umpiring course on the Friday (23 March) evening. I am not sure how many hours you would need or days?

    Would you be able to come do an umpiring course on those dates?

    Also how much would it cost etc?

    Kind regards,
    Marlene Steenkamp

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