Program Summary

Program Season: October - September
Age Group: 14-18 Years of Age
Gender: Female and Male

Current Program Status:

Nominations Open for 2025/2026

A trial will take place for Umpires who have completed the Nomination Form on: 

Sunday 26 October 2025
Michael Wenden Centre, Liverpool 

10am - 2pm
*Umpires who do not submit a nomination form may not be allowed to trial. 

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport implements high performance programs for talented young athletes from South West Sydney across a number of sports.

The Academy implements a Netball Umpire program in association with the local associations and Netball NSW, and is provided by high performance coach and mentor support staff.

This program is targeted for umpires who are participating within their respective association representative teams, state-age titles and championships, and aiming for selection within NSW Metro and Premier League officiating panels, as well as future National Championships and professional officiating opportunities. 

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/RAS Camp, and the Regional Academy Challenge Tournament.

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 RAS/HPP Camp held at Netball Central. 

• 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.  

• 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. 

• 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

2025-2026 Bingara Gorge Netball Umpires 

Coming Soon

2025-2026 Netball Umpires Coaching Staff

Mentors: Michelle McNamara, Sarah McNamara and Piper Steed
Squad Managers: Jan Cleary and Teresa Savae

Umpire Eligibility

• Umpires must be Female or Male and turning 14 to 18 years of age in 2026. 
  • ie born 2008 to 2012
• 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.
• Please note that umpires who have attained their National B or higher, irrespective if they remain age-eligible, are not able to be selected in the Netball Umpire program.
• 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.

Umpires may be invited to attend Phase 2 of the Academy Netball Trials on Sunday 2 November to assist in match-play. 

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. 

• The Academy may select an initial six (6) umpires from the 14-18yr age group.
• Subject to the depth at trials, an additional four (4) umpires may be selected as 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 fourteen (14) 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 Scholarship levy will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs including,
  • Annual Athlete Membership 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Strength and Conditioning Programming, Education and Support Services including online access to AMS program Lumin, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy Strength and Conditioning 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. 
• Additional competition uniform costs may exist, specific to sport requirements. The required items will be identified at the sport program induction and may include items listed below. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Tracksuit, Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments, including the Regional Academy Games, 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.