Coaches and Umpires: let`s work together

Friday, March 9, 2012

Netball NSW High Performance Coach Sue Hawkins popped into the recent Umpires B Camp for a chat to encourage improved communication between coaches, players and umpires.

Hawkins was at the Anne Clark Centre to assist State Team coaches at the State Team Round Robin, held in conjunction with the B Camp, but surprised the umpires by popping in during their lunch break to discuss and encourage better communication between umpires and coaches.

It was a fantastic opportunity for 70 of NSW’s B badged umpires to listen to and ask questions of one of Australia’s most experienced coaches.

During her time in England as Head Coach of the national team, Hawkins met with umpires to improve the communication between the team and officials, something she is keen to continue in NSW.

“It improves their understanding of what the coaches and players are trying to do, it was a good two-way communication,” Hawkins said.

She spoke about the collective needs of umpires and coaches to work together, to foster unity for the game.

She also let the officials know what she likes most in umpires which is consistency; the same message encouraged by the camp presenters, but her main message to the umpires was that teams are open to improving the communication between the two parties.

“We are open to discuss and welcome you into our training sessions so that we can get this two-way communication going.”

DOOLEYS State League umpires and coaches will be able to discuss improving communication between teams and umpires for the 2012 DOOLEYS State League season at the State League Umpires & Coaches Meeting on 19 March – click here for more info.

(Hawkins pictured with umpires Amy Galea from Baulkham Hills and Kate Howard from Bankstown)