WIMMERA Netball Association umpires could have the chance to officiate in the association’s finals series through a Wimmera Netball Association by-laws review.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At the association’s annual meeting on Wednesday night, delegates discussed the implications of a by-law that states all finals umpires must be neutral, and cannot have had any affiliation with any Wimmera Netball Association club for the duration of that playing season.
They believed this needed to change to give association umpires an opportunity to officiate at the highest level in their league.
Many of the association’s regular umpires have a home club, meaning the association has traditionally needed to appoint umpires from other leagues for finals. The by-law also means Wimmera umpires need to travel outside the region if they want to officiate finals matches.
Incoming president Pauline Butler said all by-laws were due to be reviewed in 2018.
“As part of that we will look at the umpiring by-laws,” she said.
“We might look at changing things to give our umpires more of a chance in finals.”
Butler said the association would continue to look at ways of promoting umpiring within the region.
“We will look at a buddy system so our umpires can help each other improve,” she said.
“The more badged umpires we have at higher levels, the better off we are.
“The clubs will all have a chat about how we can work towards that.”
Butler said the association would also look at the viability of the 15 and Under B competition, which went into recess a month and half before the start of the 2017 season.
“We would love to be able to bring it out of recess because we always want to give our juniors as much of an opportunity as possible,” she said.
“However we understand the struggles the smaller communities have with numbers and we can’t ignore that aspect.” A decision is due by the end of the year.
Horsham Demons took on the association’s executive roles from Warrack Eagles at Wednesday’s meeting.
Jane Robertson is vice-president, Scoot Mentha secretary and Briana Farr treasurer.
Butler said she welcomed the opportunity to lead the association for the year ahead.