Zones
My coach developer journey began as early as nine or ten years old, when I first discovered my love for sport and competition. I was naturally athletic for a young kid — tall for my age, with big hands and feet that seemed built for sport. I could run fast, jump high, and catch just about any ball thrown my way.
PIC Insurance Brokers, longstanding sponsors of Netball Northern Zone, have recommitted for a further 12 months.
Netball New Zealand’s National Development Camp (NDC) returned to Auckland in mid January, the first weekend of a three-weekend regionalised development camp. The weekend saw our Zone’s top emerging secondary school athletes, coaches, umpires, and umpire coaches invited into an environment designed to challenge them, grow their skills, and build a shared understanding of the performance environment. 26 of Northern Zone athletes, 12 coaches, 12 umpires/umpire coaches and Netball Northern staff were involved across the camp.
Experienced coach Janine Southby will be at the helm of the Southern Blast team to contest the 2026 National Netball League.
A pool of knowledgeable, competent Umpire Coaches and Umpire Assessors is required to enable umpires to develop and achieve high standards of umpiring and accreditation.
Umpire Coach – coaches the umpire to develop and improve
Umpire Assessor – assesses umpires to achieve practical awards
The role of the Umpire Coaches and Umpire Assessors is to empower umpires by using effective coaching methods that promote Umpire Centred Learning (UCL) to:
- Assist umpires in developing self-analysis
- Analyse an umpire’s performance and pinpoint strengths and areas to develop
- Communicate in an honest and constructive manner
- Make decisions that are detached and impartial
- Exercise duties in a professional manner and maintain confidentiality.
Key Functions
- Coach umpires to improve umpires’ performance and encourage progression along the accreditation pathway
- Assess umpires according to the assessment requirements set out by NNZ
Becoming a Umpire Coach
For more information on how to become a Umpire Coach and the dates of upcoming workshops, please contact your local netball centre. You can find the contacts for each centre here.
Alternatively, you can contact our Mainland Zone Umpire Lead by sending a message through our Contact Us page
Umpires must have high physical fitness to perform their duties. Umpires who hold a New Zealand Umpire Award have earned the right to wear the Netball New Zealand logo and are representing Netball New Zealand. Representing a national organisation comes with a responsibility to uphold the high standards of the award. As such, Netball New Zealand have minimum fitness standards for the various levels of netball.
Netball New Zealand, along with each Zone have put together the Community Umpiring Fitness Testing Guidelines. These guidelines are to be followed by all testers conducting the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test for umpires. Please find this resource, along with the summary template to be completed after testing and returned to the Umpire Lead, below:
2020 Community Umpiring Testing Guidelines
Fitness Testing Results Summary Template
Testing must be completed within two weeks of these dates and submitted to the Zone before these dates:
- 15th March
- 1st June
- 1st August (for umpires wishing to attend NZ Open Champs)
- 1st September
These are the levels that umpires need to meet as a minimum standard:
| Umpire Level | Yo-yo Test Level | Fitness Test Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Umpires selected by the NNZ Umpire Selectors for the NNZ Open Champs | 15.1 | 1 August each year |
| Umpires selected by the NNZ Umpire Selectors for the NNZ Secondary Schools Champs | 14.5 | 1 September each year |
| All umpires applying for NNZ U18 Champs | 14.5 | 1 June each year |
| Umpires prior to screening for NZ B or NZ C, including endorsement | 14.3 | Within two weeks of the most recent fitness testing deadline |
| All other Umpires (recommended) | 13.2 | N/A |
All umpires wishing to be appointed to NNZ events must provide current Yo-Yo Test results as per the table above. Current means within two weeks of the fitness testing deadline.
2026 Mainland Umpire Squad
Congratulations to the selected umpires & coaches. Your dedication and commitment to umpiring continue to strengthen our game across the zone and beyond.
This squad is designed to provide development opportunities and support for identified umpires from the Mainland Zone to:
- Be appointed to NNZ National Events and Competitions
- Successfully progress within the NNZ Umpire Pathway
Program Details:
January – October 2026
First opportunity: NNZ National Development Camp
Day 2 & 3: 17–18 January, Ashburton
The program includes a range of activities such as events, workshops, personal development, and match play opportunities, delivered both online and in person.
A huge thank you to all the Mainland Centres for your ongoing support!
For more information about the Mainland Umpire Squad including selection and commitments please see our policy here: Policy - Mainland Umpire Squad Updated 2025 Final.pdf