TNL Umpire Information

Netball Tasmania use an online allocation software system called assignr for all 1st Energy matches. Netball Tasmania will only use the email function in this system (not SMS). It is a requirement for all umpires to log in and maintain their availability for the season. Umpires can indicate their availability for the day or for a certain part of the day. At this stage there is no function for selection which region you are available.

Green ticks in system indicate you are available, and red crosses show where you have marked you unavailability. A half filled semi-circle shows you are available for part of the day only, as per your selected time frames.  

DEADLINES:
Friday	        Umpires to input availability in assignr by 5pm	
Monday		Umpire Development Facilitator and Umpire Coaches to have allocations to 
                        Netball Tas by 12noon
Monday		Netball Tas to publish allocations in assignr by 5pm
Wednesdays	Umpires to accept all allocations in assignr by 5pm	

Allocations for all matches will be made by the Umpire Development Facilitator and the Umpire Coaches with consideration given to geographic location, however, there will be times when umpires are asked to umpire out of their home region. Allocations will be based on weekly performance and development outcomes and not by the Badge that the umpire holds and will be provided to umpires two (2) weeks in advance. Umpires are required to be available for at least ten (10) of the fourteen (14) rounds and there will be no minimum number of matches an umpire will be allocated during the season; performance will determine future allocations.

Please note: We understand that you are committed to the 1st Energy Umpire Program, however if you are unsure of your availability due to a possible event please indicate unavailable in assignr rather than removing yourself once allocated.

All umpires participating in the 1st Energy Umpire Program must be a registered Netball Tasmania member for 2023, therefore covered under the National Risk Protection Program.

If an umpire is injured or ill leading into an allocated match please use the below process:
Prior to matchday
	Decline match in assignr with reason in comments
Day of match
	Rachael Stebbings - 0419 592 452, or Kirstin Palfrey – 0422 077 831

If an umpire is returning from a significant injury, the umpire must forward a Doctor or Physio’s clearance stating they are fit to return to umpire the 1st Energy League.

If an umpire is for some reason running late (post 30-minute pre match required arrival time) you must contact the ‘Day of match’ contact above to advise.

Umpires will be allowed to umpire a maximum of one association match prior to their 1stenergy match allocation which occurs on the same day. A maximum of 6 State League quarters are to be umpired consecutively. 

Umpires are expected to maintain or increase their own fitness levels to an acceptable standard throughout the season. There are minimum fitness requirements to be considered for higher duties, such as the National Netball Championships or the Australian Netball Championships.

Official 1st Energy League match entry passes will be digitally issued to all umpires at the commencement of each season for access to all venues. In 2023 please provide headshots to Kirstin Palfrey via email) to generate digital cards. 

Match payments are processed periodically during the 1st Energy League season and are paid via electronic funds transfer into the umpire’s nominated bank account. It is the umpire’s responsibility to ensure Netball Tasmania are notified of any change in bank details immediately to avoid a delay in payment. Note: all payments are inclusive of GST. 

DIVISION	      ROLE 	       MATCH PAYMENT
19U	              Umpire      $25
                      Reserve     $5
Open	      Umpire      $37.50
                      Reserve     $5

It is the umpire’s responsibility to submit travel claim forms for a fuel related reimbursement for their travel to and from 1st Energy matches to Netball Tasmania within 21 days of the date of travel. Travel claim forms are processed each Monday during the 1st Energy season and are paid via electronic transfer into the umpire’s nominated bank account. It is the umpire’s responsibility to ensure Netball Tasmania are notified of any change in bank details immediately to avoid a delay in payment. 

It is the umpire’s responsibility to contact Netball Tasmania two (2) weeks prior to their match allocation if they require accommodation on a gala weekend. It will be at Netball Tasmania’s discretion to approve the request. Approved accommodation will be booked and funded by Netball Tasmania.

The main form of communication between umpires, umpire coaches and Netball Tasmania staff is email. Given the frequency of information/instruction, especially during the season, we ask that all umpires are vigilant when reading and responding to email communication. Please advise Netball Tasmania immediately if your email address changes at any stage during the season.

All umpires will receive one on one coaching and verbal feedback from Umpire Coaches throughout the season. The coaching team will use various means to assess umpire performance such as LiveStream, match footage, self-assessments and verbal match day coaching. Netball Tasmania will keep record of when and where umpires are coached, to ensure maximum benefit of umpire coaching is received.

1st Energy League Umpires are required to dress appropriately and conduct themselves professionally when attending matches. The issued 1stenergy white umpire polo and black skirt/shorts (provided by umpire) are to be worn when umpiring matches and an appropriate WHITE jacket or jumper can be worn over the top when at the venue pre and post-match. Shirts should be tucked in. Additional polo tops, white jacket and black trackpants are available for umpires to purchase through Netball Tasmania. Please note: no club branded clothing is to be worn when umpiring 1stenergy matches.

As a member of the 1stenergy Umpire Program, umpires are strongly encouraged to attend the following events:
•	Online Umpire Development Session – March date/time TBD
•	1st Energy TNL Grand Final – Saturday 22nd July (Venue TBD) 
•	Netball Tasmania Awards Night – (TBD)
As a member of the 1st Energy Umpire Program, umpires will be expected to participate in but not limited to the following:
•	State Selection Trials/Carnivals
•	High Performance Program Match Practice
•	1st Energy Clubs Match Practice

The fixture of TNL matches may be found below and on PlayHQ. 

MVP voting TBC

At the Netball Tasmania Awards Night, two (2) 1st Energy League Umpires will be recognized by receiving the following awards;
Umpire of the Year
        An umpire must have officiated for a minimum of ten (10) full Open division matches to 
        be eligible for this award, and;
        After being advised by Netball Tasmania of those umpires eligible, the Umpire Coaches will 
        determine the award recipient. 
Emerging Umpire of the Year
        An umpire must have officiated for a minimum of ten (10) full games to be eligible for 
        this award, and;
        After being advised by Netball Tasmania of those umpires eligible, the Umpire Coaches will 
        determine the award recipient.

If at any point during the season an umpire feels they are being mistreated by a member of the netball community, they may submit an Incident Report to the 1st Energy League Competition Manager. The Incident Report must be lodged within 24 hours of the incident occurring by lodging the form found at the below button, unless in the opinion of the Netball Tasmania CEO there exists exceptional circumstances which warrant an extension of time to lodge an Incident Report. Please be aware that Incident Reports are taken seriously and where suitable, Netball Tasmania suggest taking appropriate action to resolve the Incident when it occurs.

•	You should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of play
•	Meet your co-umpire
•	Most venues will have a designated umpire’s changeroom for you to use. If you are unsure, 
        please ask a bench official to point you in the right direction
•	Ensure you warmup effectively for the match
•	Have your water bottles, sweat towel, spare whistles placed next to or just behind the 
        umpires’ bench
•	Check the court for any dangerous hazards. One umpire will be required to sign the 
        ‘match day checklist’ which will be provided by one of the bench officials
•	Check that the balls are sufficient and select the match ball
•	With your co-umpire, check the players for nails, accessories and other adornments
•	After the captains have notified the umpires of the toss result, the umpires toss for goal 
        end. The umpire winning the toss controls the bench side and the goal end to the right 
        when facing the court. Each umpire controls the same half of the court for the duration of 
        the match
•	Umpire alerts will be with the bench officials and it is the responsibility of the umpires to 
        get these ready for the match. Following the match, they should be returned to the bench. 
        Please remember to wipe off any sweat. Umpires will need to have their own sweat bands 
        to use the umpire alerts with.

Starting Play
•	At the commencement of the match, stand beside the bench while the players are 
        announced onto the court, the umpire going to the far side will hold the ball. Once the 
        announcements are finished, confirm with the bench officials that they are ready to start
•	In subsequent intervals, the timekeeper will notify you that 30 seconds remain, using the 
        umpire alert. You should now blow the whistle (medium whistle roll) to alert the teams, 
        who should be moving onto the court. The umpires should move to the side of the court, 
        as at the start of the match
•	The timekeeper will then notify you that 10 seconds remain. Blow your whistle (long 
        whistle roll) unless both teams are on the court and ready in their positions
•	The far side umpire will now move across the court and hand the ball to the centre, or 
        place the ball in the centre circle
•	With both umpires and teams now in place, the controlling umpire blows the whistle (long 
         whistle roll) with a signal to the timekeeper to start the game

End of Quarter
•	When you are notified of the end of the quarter immediately blow a loud, long whistle roll. 
        If a penalty pass has been awarded in a goal circle to the attacking team prior to the 
        notification, advise the players that time is being extended for the penalty pass to be taken
•	There is no hand signal for the end of a quarter – simply the whistle
•	Meet your co-umpire on the court and walk to the bench together
•	Notify the bench officials which team has the centre pass at the start of the next quarter
•	Stay at the umpire’s bench for the length of the break, as this is time where team captains 
        may approach you for clarification. If you need anything, ask your reserve umpire to get it 
        for you

Stoppage for Injury or Illness
•	If a player requests time and there is no injury apparent, inquire as to why they need time
•	If the answer related to illness, injury or blood, blow the whistle (medium whistle roll) and 
        call ‘time’ looking towards the bench officials, and using the appropriate hand signal (a 
        ‘T’). Verbally indicate the player – e.g. ‘Arrows GA’
•	Note where the ball was and the situation that play stopped in – centre pass, sanction, 
        throw in or in the possession of a player
•	The far side umpire should remain on their sideline, unless it is necessary to extend the 
        stoppage past 30 seconds to safely remove the player
•	Ensure the injured, ill or bleeding player leaves the court before play restarts
•	To restart play, signal to the timekeeper and blow the whistle (long whistle roll)

•	Congratulate your fellow umpire and thank the bench officials
•	Return the umpire alert to the bench official
•	With your co-umpire Best & Fairest 3, 2, 1 vote need to be agreed upon. Bench officials will 
        have the relevant paperwork to fill in
•	Ensure you cooldown effectively after the match
•	Be available for at least ten (10) minutes after the game to take questions or queries from 
        coaches and captains regarding situations that may have occurred during the game. This 
        should be done with both the co-umpire and umpire coach in attendance, or the match 
        delegate if an umpire coach is not present. An athlete may attend with the coach or 
        captain

•	The reserve umpire should arrive to meet the match umpires named on the game at least 
        fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start of play 
•	Whilst play is underway, the reserve umpire will be seated next to the score bench
•	The reserve umpire must be in full uniform for the duration of the match. The reason 
        being that if a match umpire signals that they cannot continue, the reserve umpire must be 
        ready to take their place as quickly and smoothly as possible. When seated the reserve 
        umpire 
        may have a blanket across their legs and jacket over their shoulders
•	The reserve umpire should always be aware of the court and its surroundings. It is their 
        responsibility to remove any obstructions in the umpire run off during the match
•	Likewise, the reserve umpire should always be aware of the two match umpires, and 
        respond to either or both as required
•	The reserve umpire should keep the centre pass. Do this by indicating the direction of 
        each centre pass, using a small arm signal in the direction the centre pass is going
•	During intervals, the reserve umpire should be prepared with both match umpire’s drink 
        bottle and sweat towel to hand to them
•	The reserve umpire should supervise a player who has been suspended – who should be 
        sitting next to the reserve umpire. Assist them when to enter the court at the legal time.