Netball Australia is proud to announce the achievement of the All Australia (AA) badge from three of its performance umpires.
Rachael Stebbings (TAS), Tayla Favell, and Tamara Welsford (NSW) have all successfully displayed consistency of the requirements for the award in testing opportunities conducted over the last month.
The AA badge is a badge of excellence for netball. Umpires who attain the standards have worked hard to develop and expand on their knowledge, experiences, competencies, personal attributes, and contributions to the netball umpiring ecosystem. Netball Australia’s Head Coach Performance Umpiring, Sharon Kelly was delighted for the recipients:
“We are thrilled for Rachael, Tayla, and Tamara in achieving this badge of excellence. We have been excited to see their growth and consolidation at this high standard.”
Whilst an obvious individual achievement, the success of the three 2022 Suncorp Super Netball umpires is also an opportunity to celebrate the restart of a key part of the development ‘engine’ in the umpiring system following the shutdowns of the pandemic.
The achievements are connected to the increased investment by Netball Australia into performance umpiring, the structural shifts in opening opportunities at the Suncorp Super Netball level, and ensuring the approaches to progressing talent in the pathway are contemporary and built for purpose.
Netball Australia would like to join the recipients in celebrating their significant achievements and acknowledge and recognise the dedication, application of learning, and commitment it takes to achieve the standard of performance that is required.
