Umpires
HDNA Umpiring Program
The purpose of HDNA’s umpiring programs is to nurture, develop and educate all umpires and umpire coaches in accordance with Netball Australia’s National  Umpire Development Framework.
HDNA offers a structured competition pathway together with development programs and coaching initiatives, to ensure all umpires are afforded the same opportunities to advance from grass roots to high performance.
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In addition to Netball Australia’s General Code of Behaviour, umpires must meet the following requirements with regard to their conduct during any activity held by or under the auspices of Netball Australia, Member Organisations or Affiliates in their role as an umpire.
- Umpire in accordance with the Official Rules of the Game
- Treat all players, coaches, match officials and other umpires with respect
- Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else
- Ensure the courts and its surrounds are compliant with the rules
- Take appropriate action to manage dangerous play
- Maintain a high standard of personal behaviour at all times
- Be a positive role model through behaviour and personal appearance projecting a favourable image of netball and umpiring at all times
- Be courteous, respectful and open to discussion and interaction
- Maintain or improve your current performance and seek continual improvement
Important pre-requisites:
- Turning 12 years of age by 31st December of the year of umpiring
- Hold a current Netball Queensland non-playing (umpire) membership
- Complete the Beginner Umpire Course at HDNA (or equivalent)
- Complete the Rules of Netball online exam every 4 years (pass 70%+)
- Complete the online Foundation Umpire Course
- Attend the umpire’s induction session at the beginning of each season
Duties & Responsibilities:
- All umpires must be registered with their club/school and HDNA as an umpire
- Dress in all white including white bummers (preferred), however you can now wear black skirts or shorts. Bummers should not be worn on their own.Â
- For the 2025 winter season, umpires are permitted to wear their umpire shirt over their netball dress during the junior competition
- Sign-on at least 10 minutes prior to their game in the umpires’ lounge area
- All learner and intermediate umpires must wear the appropriate colour bib whilst umpiring games
- No mobile phones allowed on court whilst umpiring, but may be used on the sideline for checking the rules during a break
- No umpire can swap games with another umpire
- No umpire can give their allocated game/s to another umpire
- Umpires must not sit on the side of the court during intervals but remain with their co-umpire on court
- Always conduct themselves professionally on and off the court
- Umpire in accordance with the official Rules of Netball without bias
- Sign the score sheet at the conclusion of the game and check all players have signed on
- Attend training and development courses to improve your skills and knowledge of umpiring
- Complete each level of the HDNA Umpire Training & Development Program before advancing to Monday Night Open Senior Competition
- Umpires must carry the latest Rules of Netball book or app for rule clarification whilst umpiring
- Umpires must always take appropriate action to control the game and manage dangerous play
- Umpires must ask for an umpire supervisor during the game if at any time they feel uncomfortable
- Umpires to report any issues or incidents during a game to your club umpire convenor first
- Umpires must take responsibility for their own learning and development. It is 100% up to the individual umpire and the effort they put in with their umpire coach each week, which will determine their success
- HDNA provide regular educational workshops and courses for umpire development and umpires are encouraged to attend to improve their skills
| Jo-anne Dawes | HDNA Umpires Convenor | umpiresconvenor@hdna.net.au |
| Ashley Booth | Saturday Junior Umpire Coordinator | juniorumpirescoordinator@hdna.net.au |
| Katherine Greaves | Monday Night Umpire Coordinator | seniorumpirescoordinator@hdna.net.au |
| National A Badge | $30.00 per game |
| National B Badge | $25.00 per game |
| National C Badge | $20.00 per game |
| Junior/Senior Association Badge | $15.00 per game |
| No Bib | $12.00 per game |
| Orange Bib | $ 9.00 per game |
| White Bib | $ 9.00 per game |
| Carnival Days | $80 non-badged per day $100 badged per day |
Payment schedule current as at 01/01/2025
HDNA’s Umpire Training & Development Program has been developed to assist new and existing umpires gain the necessary basic skills, rules knowledge and practical experience required to be a competent umpire. All non-badged Saturday umpires are required to participate in the program.
The program has been designed to allow an umpire to develop their umpiring skills over one netball season (4 levels – Learner, Trainee, Intermediate, and Junior Association). An umpire can move through each training level in a shorter period of time once the umpire can consistently demonstrate they have the skill and ability to do so.Â
The HDNA Junior Association badge will be awarded to those umpires who have successfully completed all 4 levels of the program and can umpire with confidence. Beginner umpires should aim to achieve a JA badge by the end of their first season of umpiring.
HDNA Educational Workshops and Learning Opportunities
HDNA is committed to assisting umpires through coaching and development opportunities within our association and through Netball Queensland. Workshops and courses are offered by HDNA throughout the season to help you reach your full potential as competent umpires, umpire coaches, whilst maintaining our high standards.
To umpire at HDNA on Saturdays, you must meet several criteria:
1. You must be turning at least 12 years of age in the current calendar year.Â
2. You must attend the compulsory HDNA Beginner Umpire Course we run at the beginning of each Saturday season. Extra beginner umpire courses will also be run before the start of the twilight competition. Check our Facebook page or hdna.net.au/courses for dates and how to register.Â
3. Prior to attending, you must complete these two online courses at www.learning.netball.com.au:
– Rules of Netball Exam (and obtain a score of 70% or more)
– Foundation Umpire Education Course
4. You must contact your club’s umpire convenor and let them know you are interested in umpiring.Â
The official World Netball Rules of Netball are available online. You can also purchase them in book form from the HDNA office, or download them as an app from the App Store or Google Play.Â
*Please note that this version is strictly for non-commercial use and not for re-print or sale. The copyright and intellectual property rights for the Rules of Netball are owned by World Netball.
Umpiring Saturday NetSetGO (7-10 years) and Saturday Junior Competitions (11-17 year olds):Â
All umpires will umpire their own club or school team.
Purpose:
To minimise complaints about umpires and make clubs accountable for supporting and protecting their umpires as they learn the skill of umpiring.
Benefit:
Clubs select their own umpire for each team based on the umpire’s experience and the standard of game being played.
Conditions:
- All umpires must be a registered umpire with HDNA
- No coach or parent is allowed to umpire their own club/school team (coaches are permitted to umpire a 7 or 8 years team)
- Umpires must be familiar with HDNA’s modified NetSetGO rules
- All non-badged umpires must participate in the HDNA Umpire Training & Development Program
- Clubs and schools are to work collaboratively with the HDNA Umpiring Committee to ensure continual   improvement of umpiring across the Association.
Badging:
The HDNA Junior Association badge will be awarded to those umpires who have successfully completed the HDNA Umpire Training & Development Program (4 levels) on Saturday. Umpires will then have the opportunity to be assessed for their National C badge either on a Saturday top tier game or Monday night (to be determined by the Umpires Convenor). All qualified junior umpires are encourage to move across to Monday night to further develop their umpiring skills on higher level games.
Please contact Katherine Greaves, Monday Night Umpire Coordinator – seniorumpirescoordinator@hdna.net.au or Jo-anne Dawes, HDNA Umpires Convenor – umpiresconvenor@hdna.net.au if you are interested in developing your skills further and umpiring higher level games. Â
Games times on Monday night are 6.30pm, 7.25pm and 8.20pm. The Monday night umpires draw is posted on the HDNA Umpires Facebook page each week and you will be allocated games based on your availability.
HDNA offer umpire coaching by National A and B badged umpires during the Monday Night Open Competitions.
HDNA aims to provide a family friendly environment for all players and their families taking part in HDNA competitions. Swearing, abusive language and unsportsmanlike behaviour on or off court by anyone will not be tolerated. Umpires must ensure the safety of all players on court first and any unsportsmanlike behaviour dealt with in accordance to our by-laws. HDNA provide umpire supervisors who are easily identified in purple vests and are there to support you.
1. Presentation
- Presentation is everything. Umpires should aim to look professional and neat at all times
- Wear a white umpire shirt, visor, white or black skirt or shorts
- Be friendly but not familiar with players on court
2. Position
- Level with or slightly ahead of play
- Arrive on the goal line when the ball enters the goal circle
- Position back off the goal line so you can see all the players in the goal circle and on the goal circle line
- Blow your whistle as soon as the sanction has occurred
- Re-position to ensure a clear view of players at all times
3. Vision
- As you gain confidence, you will learn to read the play by scanning off the player with the ball and down the court often
4. Timing
- Show good coverage (fitness) of the court the entire game
- Keep shoulders and head square to the court, except when running
- Move in relation to the movement of the ball
- Keep with the play – when a player with the ball stops you stop
5. Control – Communication – Hand signals
- Umpires are responsible for controlling the game to avoid injury
- Clear, loud whistle, short and sharp
- Firm, confident, friendly manner when giving decisions
- Use correct terminology at all times (don’t tell a story)
- Strong hand signal once a goal is scored followed by direction of next centre pass
- Set sanctions clearly, quickly and indicate position on court for the penalty
- Show good understanding of stoppage procedures
6. Decisions
- Rule knowledge is important at any level
- Penalise all minor/major sanctions
- Re-enact all penalties with appropriate hand signals
- Awareness of ‘throw ins’ being taken in the correct place and position to the line
- Demonstrate an awareness of the advantage rule and its application and apply this on all occasions where advantage goal is scored.
7. Self-Evaluation
- How would you rate your overall performance?
- If you had to umpire this game again, is there anything you would do differently?
- Think about key focus areas for next game
