2020 – New Rules
Netball Play with Rules has helped:
to better understand the Rules of Netball.
Available from today is the new UPDATED version (extensive chapter on Game Management) plus a handy Umpires Bag big enough for the manual; rule book; whistle; direction bands; tossing coin; cards etc.
Please order by completing the attached order form and email the order form to
Stay safe!
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!
Jongikhaya Witness Macutwana
WORKPLACE: MOD Centre General Sport Coach, DCAS and Sport Programme.
INVOLVEMENT WITH CTNF UMPIRES:
Jongi is involved with CTNF as an Umpire: To Grade umpires,Trainer Coach, Mentor and oversee the Development of Elite young upcoming umpires in ranking level of WPUA.
POSITION HELD.
• He was the National Schools Basketball Coach (SAL-4) U/18 Boys Championships in Gauteng and won Gold in 1998- Retired.
• He served as part of CTNF Umpires Association in the Graders Committee since 1999- currently.
• He has also served on the Netball South Africa Grading Panel and also in South African Schools Netball as Grader. National Subcommittee member since 2006- currently.
• He acts as the Cape Town Netball Federation Umpires Academy Training mentor.
• He serves as the Cape Town Primary Schools Netball Umpires Co-ordinator since 2005- currently.
• He was the Cape Town Primary Schools Netball Boys co-ordinator and SAL1 Coach, coach the U/19 Boys Western Cape Netball National Boys Team and he received Gold for the first time for Western Cape Netball in Kimberly 2005.
UMPIRES WORKSHOPS HELD.
• He is the CTNF and CTPSN Co-ordinator and conducts umpires Workshops and Accreditation Courses since 2003- currently.
UMPIRES ACHIEVEMENTS HELD.
• He was invited to umpire at Senior Cosana National Africa Games in Durban at the University of KZN in 2004.
• He was also appointed as an umpire for the U/13 National Shoprite Checkers Challenge which was hosted at Mew-way hall Cape Town in Khayelitsha in 2004.
• He was the part of the group that drafted the SASN Umpires Policy for National Schools in 2003.
• He was again elected by Netball South Africa (NUA) to umpire in the Cosana Africa National Games in Windhoek, Namibia were he first received his Africa Cosana ‘A’ Badge from the International Netball Umpire Tutors (ITP):
Ms. Margaret Deighan: England Netball Umpire ‘A’ Badge.
Mr. David Palaamo: New- Zealand Netball Umpire ‘A’ Badge.
• He was nominated the WESSO Technical Official Umpire Awards Winner and also nominee as WEPCASSO Technical Official Umpire Awards achiever in 2011.
• He received the Best Umpire Trophy of the year in CTNF in 2010/2012.
• The CTNF hosted the NSA Spar Senior Championships in Cape Town at the Velodrome hall and he received his NSA SA ‘A’ Badge which is the highest grading that an umpire can receive in Netball South Africa Federation (NUA).
• In 2012 he got the opportunity to umpire at the FISU World University Netball Championships, he umpired the International Match played against two countries NSA U/21 Team vs England at Good Hope Centre Hall in Cape Town.
• He was part of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League for both years 2016/17 as an umpire and he also had an opportunity in 2017 to Officiate at the National Netball Varsity Cup.
For Jongi it is a privilege to be involved in Netball both at NSA and SASN level as a Technical Official Umpire (Coach).
He also excel to remain calm and humble in his performance of duties to improve the Standard of Netball Umpires within the Cape Town Netball Federation and Cape Town Schools Sport Organisation.
Jongi: with co-umpires: Annie, Anso and Vivian
Umpiring- “A privilege that gave me a second chance in life”
by Andria de Lange
There is a saying that goes, “You never truly appreciate something until you no longer have it.” Most people hear it, but few really listen. The true beauty of life lies in the essence of it being a gift. A gift all is given, but few truly embrace and cherish. I learned this the hard way, day, but I am grateful for the chance to still have this gift, embracing it on the court and through the grace of my Heavenly Father.
My dad used to say that I was running before I even had the chance to crawl. I participated in athletics, biathlon, swimming, tennis, and, of course, netball from a very early age. Sport has always been in my blood and I trained extremely hard, pushed myself to the maximum limit and got the results that I longed for. I was so focused on perfecting every aspect of my training, but an illness brought my entire world to pieces. I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and suddenly I was no longer the girl on court or sliding over hurdles- I was strength less, lifeless and hopeless. For two years, I was a living skeleton with no ray of sunshine glimpsing through the dark clouds.
God, however, still had a journey planned for me. My determination to be back on court and being able to give my absolute best, a characteristic given to me by my Father, guided me on my path of healing. It was a long and painful journey, but He gave me a second chance to embrace this beautiful gift we call life.
Through this, I started to umpire and today, I am a South African C+ graded umpire. I am working extremely hard to achieve my B grading and I have the ideal to, one day, with wonderful mentoring from people like Annie Kloppers, Anso Kemp and Freda Kemp, achieve my International grading. Umpiring, however, is not about achievements for me. This is my passion and I love every second of it. It gives me the opportunity to be a living testimony each day and to inspire others to also embrace the gift they have been given. I see it as an absolute privilege and I am truly humbled by every experience on court. In His unfailing love, God stands with me each day on court, granting me the gift of life through umpiring- and I am truly thankful.
Extracts from the book – Netball Play with Rules
The discipline of playing and umpiring often do not last forever. However some umpires also make the next step of mentoring umpires.Coaching and mentoring umpires are the efforts that ensure quality umpiring. Quality umpiring ensures the progress of netball. As it is my passion, it is the passion of mentors to help umpires to be the best they can be and to aspire to become mentors too.
This book is a stepping stone to understand the Rules of Netball, especially the scenarios on court.
It is valuable to all umpires/coaches/players/spectators and especially to those umpires who don’t have umpire’s coaches in their regions.
May this enhance the wonderful game of netball!!
Email annie@netballrules.co.za to make an order.
I started umpiring in 2000, almost by accident, after sustaining an injury as a player and not being ready to walk away from my love of netball. I was awarded my first SA grading (C) in 2003; with an A award in 2008 at the SA senior championships in Pretoria. ITID status (‘’ internationally talent identified’’) was awarded in January 2013, in the form of an e-mail – what an unexpected and delightful surprise!
Apart from local tournaments (Wildeklawer, Brutal Fruit, Varsity Cup and SA championships), I officiated at the following as an ITID invite:
In June 2016 I was invited to umpire the u/21 test series, SA vs Wales, in Durban. During this series, a “test” match was scheduled and I was awarded an IUA badge on 19 June 2016, culminating in a lifelong dream being realised on home soil.
Extract of interview between Annie Kloppers and Janet Edeling:
AK: When did you finally realise that you are a talented umpire and that you could ultimately reach the top level in netball umpiring?
JE: For me, everything started with the dawning of self-belief, the realisation that I actually have it in me to succeed – unless that moment arrives, one would probably never really achieve one’s dream. Many people, including co-umpires, have played a huge role in nurturing that talent and awakening the quiet confidence that needs to propel the moving towards the dream – they know who they are and I am eternally grateful to them. Getting an A badge was the very first step towards an entirely new chapter in my life, but being internationally talent-identified caused a tremendous shift in focus. Finally, at Netball Europe this year, I realised that the talent, motivation from mentors and hard work could actually come together to ensure that my dream became a reality.
AK: What are the steps that an umpire has to go through to finally attain that much eluded IUA badge?
JE: One needs to begin with getting your SA A grading, and then steadily work towards achieving consistent levels of umpiring and supreme fitness as an elite athlete. This will get you to tournaments where you might get noticed and nominated as an ITID. Having ITID status is probably one of the toughest levels of umpiring to endure – the scrutiny during this time is never-ending, the criticism unrelenting and the levels of fitness required can be exhausting. Somewhere during this period, one needs to successfully pass a ‘’screening’’. The final leap to attaining the IUA award comes down to a ‘’test’’ match – but ultimately, on the day, it is about giving your best performance.
AK: please explain in more detail what ‘’screening’’ and ‘’testing’’ entails?
JE: ITID status is awarded by INF (International Netball Federation) usually for a period of 4 years. During this time, at least 2 ITP (International Testing Panel) graders need to see you umpire at international tournaments, submitting reports to INF. Should they feel that you have reached a sufficient level of competency, you will pass ‘screening’ which means that they deem you ready to officiate a ‘test’ match.
A ‘test’ match is arranged by INF – this match needs to be of a sufficient level of play to allow the tested umpire to perform at a high level. 2 individual ITP graders assess you for the full duration of an hour game, grading the performance via a point system, based on 8 criteria – communication, position and timing, vision, minor infringements, contact, obstruction, advantage and game management.
Feedback of your performance and the result of the testing must be given verbally to the candidate, directly following the game.
AK: could you highlight some highs and lows of your journey?
JE: One of the lowest points in my umpiring career was going to the UK in 2015, to umpire in the UK Super league, and not getting more games after my first one. It was one of the most challenging times in my career as an umpire, but was then transformed into one the richest learning curves of my life – I picked myself up, embraced the opportunity to learn more and quickly set into practice what I gained.
Truthfully, every single match is a high point – in the words of Forrest Gump: umpiring “…is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.”
Some of the remarkable high points of my umpiring career are the first live screening of a match at Varsity Cup in 2013, umpiring Malawi vs South Africa at the Diamond Challenge in 2015, my test match this year when I was awarded IUA status and finally, the day when my IUA kit arrived for the very first time. It felt like Christmas!!
AK: Please explain to us what your profession is, and how do you combine your professional career with that of being a top umpire?
JE: I am an Ophthalmologist – a specialised eye surgeon in a demanding private practice.
Balancing the growing demands on one’s time and the fierce desire to be at the netball court, whilst still maintaining competency and presence in my practice, is one of the more challenging aspects of my umpiring career – but because this is my passion, I make it work. Sometimes it involves making difficult choices between work and netball. All I can say is: without the love of netball, good planning, a very effective receptionist, 2 understanding partners and a very supportive husband, this would not be possible. Thank you to my team at home!
“I cannot seem to get away from netball! It keeps following me around!”
This is the response you get when you ask seasoned sports journalist Annchen Nel why she is still reporting on all things netball after almost 20 years.
“I love sport, but netball is what I know best. It’s my passion. And because it’s South Africa’s largest women’s sport, I help to make sure we give it good coverage.”
Annchen joined Die Burger’s sports team in 1997 as a sub editor and layout artist. Reporting was far from her mind. However, she says it soon became clear that the newspaper was in need of more coverage of netball, especially local netball.
Annchen got her first taste of netball reporting when her sports editor sent her to a Western Province press conference.
“I can’t recall if it was in 2000 just before the national championships in Bellville, or before that.
“Anyway, it was then that I became a netball reporter.
“I got to know the netball community, the players, coaches, administrators and umpires. Some became friends, and others good acquaintances.”
Annchen has been working for Die Burger since May 1996, but netball supporters also read her reports in Beeld, Volksblad and Rapport.
Annchen says netball took her to many training sessions and tournaments, big and small. From Netball Boland’s annual Southern Tournament to Western Province club games to the SA championships to test series around the country.
“In 2004 I was privileged to be invited to England with the SA team.
“It wasn’t always easy to ride on a bus with the team when they weren’t performing well. You still need to be objective and critical.”
She says the highlight was a trip to the World Championships in 2007 in Auckland.
“Netball is just so huge in New Zealand and Australia. To see how such a tournament is organised and the attention they give to the media was special.”
She says she never misses a test match on TV between those rivals. “It’s just as special as a rugby test between the Springboks and the All Blacks.”
In August 2008 she handed the netball beat to a colleague, because “I needed a change of scenery’’.
Annchen joined Die Burger’s night newsroom – the engine room of the newspaper where the next day’s paper is laid out like a puzzle.
However, her interest in netball never faded, and after the stint as “a lady of the night” and a sabbatical, she returned to the sport’s office in July 2015.
“I returned to what I know and love, and that is sports reporting and sports content editing.”
Annchen has since been the assistant sports editor and is currently the acting sports editor.
“Nowadays, I can’t get out of the office as much as I like, but I try to attend local matches. And I do my best to find time to do interviews with players, coaches and referees.
“Ruan (Bruwer, of Volksblad) and I have a good working relationship. He’s done most of the netball reporting this year, and I make sure his reports and pictures get a deserving place on the sports pages of the Afrikaans dailies.
“Nowadays we also write for Netwerk24, our digital partner.’’
Annchen says she is looking forward to seeing the Proteas take on England, Australia and New Zealand on their home turf in January and February 2017.
Attached two interviews by Annchen (Afrikaans):
THERESA PRINCE, 47 years of age and live in a little town just outside Port Elizabeth called Despatch. she is the face of Despatch High School doing all the marketing as well as netball and umpire coaching. Sport is in her family’s blood and she is married to Deon Prince, a rugby referee and have two stunning Prince boys, Taine (Son of God) – 16 years and Ryan (Little King) – 13 years.
She obtained her SA “A” badge in 2006 at Port Elizabeth. During August 2009 she was screened in the Cook Islands and four months later she was blessed to receive her IUA (International Umpires Award) during January 2010 in the UK. Receiving her IUA badge was made even more special as it was one of the coldest winters in the UK, she arrived in -9 decrees, and all transport was cancelled due to heavy snow. All her pre-matches was snowed out and on testing day the snow kept falling. She was ready to return to South Africa without getting the opportunity that every umpire dreams off. Mid-day a call came through and it was game time. She knew she had only had that one chance and she had to give her all on my her live broadcast netball match.
Her hobbies and past-times are Crossfit gym, swimming, scrapbooking, movies & netball life skills for youngsters.
When asked what do you really find special when travelling overseas as an umpire?
The most special moments are when I attend practice sessions and rub shoulders with the best players and coaches around the world!
