VMMNA are excited to launch the High Performance Umpire Academy, in partnership with Inspire Netball. The Umpire Academy leverages Inspire’s existing program to establish high performing behaviours with a view of developing umpires to become high achievers.

VMMNA and Inspire already have a strong partnership having worked on the Boys Emerging Talent Academy and the High Performance Umpire Academy will enable us to provide a pathway program that promotes high performance learnings for all VMMNA Umpires wishing to nominate for the AMMNA Championships. The Academy’s aim will be to improve the standard of umpires and in turn have a higher percentage of umpires selected to attend the Championships.

The program will commence in line with the Victorian State Team trials (These are currently to be confirmed given current restrictions) and will run up until March 2021 in preparation for umpire selections to the Australian Mens and Mixed Netball Championships.

It will also be led by current Suncorp Super Netball Umpires James Matthews and Tim Marshall – who both hold an AA Badge accreditation. 

The cost is $20 per umpire, per session, of which VMMNA subsidises 50%. So $10 is paid by VMMNA, $10 is paid by the umpire. The sessions run for 2 hours. This subsidy is contingent on umpires officiating in the VMMNA program (ie. MLeague /Junior MLeague, etc).

President of VMMNA, Matthew Blomeley, said of the Academy: “Being able to provide a High Performance environment for our umpires is something we are thrilled to be launching. Working with some of Australia’s leading umpires as coaches is a rare opportunity and one we are excited to be extending our partnership with Inspire Netball to be able to offer.”

While Greg Heinrich, Director of Inspire and former Australian and Victorian Men’s player, is excited about what this Academy can achieve: “We are extremely thrilled to extend our partnership with VMMNA with the introduction of the High Performance Umpire Academy. We believe the program will provide a fantastic pathway for the umpires within VMMNA as well as extend to the greater netball community for umpires striving to better themselves in a High Performance environment”, says Greg.

If you would like to find out more or register to become part of the Academy, click here.