Ann Burt-Williams – A Award
I would describe myself as an experienced senior umpire, who living on the border of England and Wales (just into Wales), means that I am fortunate enough to have experience of umpiring in both nations countries. I regularly umpire local leagues, regional Champs and Prem, and in previous years have umpired Super League warm up games and at the Mike Greenwood Trophy in the North West of England.
As a Welsh High Performance Umpire I have had the opportunity to umpire at Netball Europe championships in Belfast, at many NPL events and for the Senior Wales and development squads in preparation for their European and world campaigns. I also got a fabulous opportunity to umpire in Israel at the Maccabia games which was a highlight of my umpiring career.
As well as still umpiring at high performance level my main focus now is leaning towards being a tutor, assessor and mentor for both Wales and England Netball.
I am currently an active A award umpire and I have held this qualification for approx. 7 years. My dream is to be a UAP (Umpire performance Panel) at Netball Europe events.
What got you into Umpiring in the first instance?
I aways wanted to play Netball at school but had a PE teacher who just liked to play hockey so I went to play for my brothers friends team. They had no umpires and I quite fancied it whereas no one else did I took my C award before having my two boys and the rest is history so they say!
Why do you enjoy your role within netball umpiring?
I love my umpiring role because I like rules and protocols and working as a team with my co-umpire. The teacher in me likes to see progress to it seemed natural to incorporate tutoring, mentoring and assessment into my netball portfolio. I like to see the journey through from tutoring the course to a candidate completing and being successful at assessment, I also love spotting talent ID umpires and seeing them progress through the pathway.
What would your one piece of advice to someone who was thinking about starting umpiring?
Watch someone at league to get an idea of what is involved, be diligent in your knowledge of the rules and read your rules book to make you more confident in your rules application. Find a mentor who you trust and keep asking questions; a good mentor won’t mind answering them. Always be prepared to have a discussion about your interpretation of the rules and be prepared to reflect on your practice to improve. Good luck with your umpiring journey!
As a Welsh High Performance Umpire I have had the opportunity to umpire at Netball Europe championships in Belfast, at many NPL events and for the Senior Wales and development squads in preparation for their European and world campaigns. I also got a fabulous opportunity to umpire in Israel at the Maccabia games which was a highlight of my umpiring career.
As well as still umpiring at high performance level my main focus now is leaning towards being a tutor, assessor and mentor for both Wales and England Netball.
I am currently an active A award umpire and I have held this qualification for approx. 7 years. My dream is to be a UAP (Umpire performance Panel) at Netball Europe events.
What got you into Umpiring in the first instance?
I aways wanted to play Netball at school but had a PE teacher who just liked to play hockey so I went to play for my brothers friends team. They had no umpires and I quite fancied it whereas no one else did I took my C award before having my two boys and the rest is history so they say!
Why do you enjoy your role within netball umpiring?
I love my umpiring role because I like rules and protocols and working as a team with my co-umpire. The teacher in me likes to see progress to it seemed natural to incorporate tutoring, mentoring and assessment into my netball portfolio. I like to see the journey through from tutoring the course to a candidate completing and being successful at assessment, I also love spotting talent ID umpires and seeing them progress through the pathway.
What would your one piece of advice to someone who was thinking about starting umpiring?
Watch someone at league to get an idea of what is involved, be diligent in your knowledge of the rules and read your rules book to make you more confident in your rules application. Find a mentor who you trust and keep asking questions; a good mentor won’t mind answering them. Always be prepared to have a discussion about your interpretation of the rules and be prepared to reflect on your practice to improve. Good luck with your umpiring journey!
