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By admin, February 6, 2011 10:08 pm

CWG 2010 netball final between New Zealand & Australia

Recently I got the chance to ask international umpire Gary Burgess some questions about life as a top umpire  and his experience at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

You gained your IUA at the World Youth Cup in the Cook Islands in 2009 and I read recently that the 2010 CWG final between NZ and Australia was your first senior international final so, in just over a year you’ve got a lot of experience under your belt. What did it feel like to umpire THAT final and any nerve-wracking moments you can remember?

Well what can I say; umpiring ‘that’ match will be a memory that’ll be hard to beat. It really was a career defining moment where a lifetime of experience unfolded in front of me during 138 minutes of Netball. Directly after the game I felt elated but during the match with probably 5 minutes to go the pressure was on. All that was cycling through my mind was ‘don’t mess this up, don’t mess this up’ again and again and again. Little did I know that that thought would cycle through my mind for the next 40+ minutes!!! Nerve-Wracking… During the Extra Time period the pressure was affecting me. While the decisions were coming out of my mouth correctly my arms didn’t want to do as they were told!!! There was an incident where I indicated an offside with the wrong hand which had everybody panicking for a moment but it was sorted quite quickly!!! The only other thing that happened was with an injury time for Australia. It must be the most asked question I’ve had since I got back. There was a collision between Sharelle McMahon and a Kiwi player – no contact occurred but a different Australian player asked for time. Australia had the ball and I held time. During the injury, apparently the BBC commentary team said that I had changed/reversed a decision for dissent. This wasn’t the case and Australia restarted with the ball in the position where the game was stopped. Commentators can be a pain sometime!!!

How did you get selected to go to Delhi?

Umpires at all levels are subject to assessment and grading. Throughout the season I had been tested on Super League and International matches and it was these grades that secured mine and of course Judith’s places at the Games. There were 13 umpires selected from around the World using the same criteria so it shows that England is back up there as one of the strongest umpiring nations.

Gary Burgess at the CWG Delhi 2010

What did you think of Delhi and the facilities provided for the Games?

The facilities were World Class but unfortunately the Games fell foul of the media making everything seem ten times worse than it was. We stayed in a 5* Hotel which was great. Having said this when I first got to my room I found the Indian idea of a twin room was a double bed with two double duvets!!! The food was lovely and I didn’t even succumb to the dreaded ‘Delhi Belly’!!! We were taken to the venue everyday on a bus and the Police rode ahead of us closing the roads as we went!!! The only issue we did have was that due to the media speculation the spectator numbers were really low for most of the sports. Having said this, the Netball Final was only a few people short of being sold out which is a massive boost for Netball globally.

How do you maintain your fitness for umpiring and how did you prepare for this type of competition when you have so many matches to umpire and was the heat a problem?

During the tournament the main priority for me is warming up, warming down and recovering correctly. It is so important to stretch enough because you are faced with umpiring possibly 8 games in 9 days. I did about 30 minutes of stretching and warm up shuttles before the game just to get everything loosened up and pumping. I normally have a carbohydrate gel at half time to keep the energy levels up. Rather strangely during the Commonwealth Games final, for no real reason. I decided to have an energy gel during each quarter and half time which proved to be crucial with the events that unfolded. Directly after games I did 10 minutes of stretching and then it was straight to the ice bath!!! Without this I would have been in bits after the first couple of games. It doesn’t matter how fit you are the mechanics of umpiring Netball definitely take their toll. The heat wasn’t a problem either as the stadium was air conditioned. To be honest it was too cold most of the time!!!

What were your highlights from the Games and why?

Buying the Inbetweeners box set at Heathrow before I left!!! Seriously, the environment at a tournament of this type can be really intense so having this to unwind to was a god sent!!! That aside its obviously umpiring the final, as I mentioned before, this was absolutely amazing. Had I have already been to a World Netball Championships I may of contemplated retiring but as 2011 brings the Worlds in Singapore I’ve got to keep going!!!

I understand that you don’t play netball, so who or what inspired you to get into netball umpiring and when did you start?

While I was at university I was urged to bolster my PE Teaching CV by going on umpiring courses in other sports. Everyone expects a male PE teacher to be competent in Football and Rugby etc but if you go into interviews with experience in female sports it could give you the edge. I have said this before but I owe a lot to Glenys Gibson my PE teacher at school and Gloria Keech (CEO of UK Superleague team Hertfordshire Mavericks) who mentored me in the early years.

What do your friends and family think about you umpiring a women’s sport rather than say, rugby or football? Have you encountered any negative comments or reactions from people in general?

That’s the beauty with friends and family, they always see the best in every situation. I think for my Mum it became a reality when I told her I was going to the Commonwealth Games, she was really chuffed and was telling everyone. Of course, my male friends think is awesome!!! I wonder why???!!!

A spot of sightseeing during the CWG Delhi 2010

How difficult is it to combine a job, a social life and all your umpiring commitments and where have you travelled to thanks to umpiring?

I have a really fantastic Principal that lets me go when he can and I have to make time for my social life as sometimes it’s easy for this to be forgotten about. Honestly though, its hard work and I would warn anybody thinking about doing it you’ve got to put the miles in. For weekday matches I often leave school in Norfolk at 15.00 drive to Manchester or Bath, Sheffield etc, umpire the match and drive home straight after often arriving home at 02.00 or 03.00 in the morning. I’ll then be back in school the next day at 07.30. Last year in Super League I drove over 10,000 miles and flew to Glasgow three times. Internationally, I went to Scotland for the Australia vs Scotland test series in February and then back there in June for the World Championships Qualifiers. I also spent 3 weeks in Australia and New Zealand in the summer umpiring the Jamaica vs Australia and New Zealand Test Series’. In previous years I have travelled to South Africa, the Cooks Islands, Australia and New Zealand and I also squeezed in a holiday to Los Angeles and Hawaii on the way to the World Youth Championships. Seeing the world has to be one of biggest highlights for me, even if this does means hours and hours on planes which isn’t!!

How do you handle the pressures of umpiring Superleague & International matches?

Meticulous planning!!!! For me the secret of dealing with pressure is being in control of everything you possibly can. If you make sure you have everything you’re going to need ready the night before, get to the venue with at least an hour and a half before the start time then the only pressures you have left are game related. Once the game starts it’s just a case of going back to routine and protocol. When you get to Super League level knowledge of the rules shouldn’t be an issue so you just have to have a set of procedures at the ready to deal with any challenges present themselves.

A rules review is underway and IFNA are seeking proposals for any rule changes. What changes, if any, would you make to the current rules?

I think with the recent change to allow coaching at injury time the rules of Netball are pretty sound. There are a few fussy things that I’d change like introducing a hand signal for umpire’s time and associated with that a tidying up of the Blood Stoppage rule. With the introduction of Fast Net I think the more imaginative rules adaptations could be trialled there first.

Netball umpires aren’t usually subjected to the kind of abuse that football umpires encounter but how do you deal with difficult players?

Everyone gets a boo from time to time, but you just have to take it in your stride!!! The rules of Netball provide a clear escalation process with discipline and the closer you stick to this the less the margin for problems to occur. I speak to players a lot off the ball and try and give them enough notice of the things I’m not happy with. If the issue continues the next step would be an advance penalty. If the individual still doesn’t take the hint then I’d be forced to warn them. At this point I’d make it perfectly clear that the individual has had enough chances to modify what they are doing and if it occurs again then I would have no other option than to suspend them. In the 12 years I’ve been umpiring I’ve only ever sent 3 players off and this only occurred in the last 4 years while umpiring in the top flight. Consistency is the key. Players get to know your style and how much they can get away with. They tend to stay the right side of the line nowadays!!!

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about umpiring at the top level and what’s your ultimate goal?

Goal setting throughout my career has been the thing I concentrate on. Both Bill Alexander and Sheelagh Redpath have encouraged me to aim high but were always on hand to make sure I didn’t run before I could walk. They are both still very much involved in ensuring my feet are kept firmly on the ground. In 2005 I looked at which umpires were being appointed to the World Youth Championships in Florida and I thought that in four years time I would be hopefully in the same position. I planned as far ahead 2012 in the ‘what if’ blue sky world. I thought that if I worked hard enough I’d be in with a chance to go to the World Youth Championships in the Cook Islands and hopefully while there I would get screened for or get my International Award. If this all went to plan I would hopefully go to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2011 World Netball Championships and then the 2012 Olympics Games (at the time the ‘Back the Bid’ campaign was in full swing). As you can see I’ve ticked off three of my goals but even after my performance in Delhi I still don’t rest on my laurels or assume I’ll go to the World Championships. I just have to keep on putting in consistently good performances and those sorts of things will take care of themselves. Goals still left???… Umpiring a World Championship Final is up there (not necessarily 2011) and being the best umpire I can be. I think the one thing that keeps me going is I still get the same buzz when I’m umpiring a local league, Super League or International match.

What advice would you give to young aspiring umpires?

Anything is possible. Where players are often said to be ‘born’ with a talent, umpiring is something you can train for and master from scratch. Get yourself a good mentor that you trust and listen to them. Get out and do as many level specific matches as possible because every game you do is an opportunity to improve. Try and keep a low profile and be as understated as possible. Nobody wants a ‘young upstart’ barking rules at them so be the umpire that applies the rules fairly and consistently. The greatest compliment you could receive is ‘we didn’t really notice you today’!!! The higher you progress up the umpiring pyramid the harder you have to work to gain the opportunities on offer. Aim high but always keep things in perspective.

…and finally, what does the England Netball team need to do to beat the Diamonds & the Ferns and win the World Netball Championship?

The gap between the top 4 teams has never been closer and the only thing really separating these teams is self belief and confidence. The team that will win the World Championships, Commonwealth Games or even the Super League is the one that truly believes they can do it and is convinced they are better than their opposition, whether it’s true or not.

Netball Match: Thank you Gary for taking the time to do this interview. If you’d like to ask Gary a question, please post a comment below.

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By admin, December 3, 2010 9:06 pm

World Netball Series: Power Play button

The 2nd annual World Netball Series took place in Liverpool this year from 19-21st November. Again, it was the top 6 netball nations battling it out at the Fast Net version of the game, previously dubbed netball’s answer to Twenty20 cricket. This year South Africa broke into the higher echelons of the game, easing out Samoa.

Following their epic battle in the recent Commonwealth Games final, both Australia and New Zealand gave their top players a rest and instead sent development squads with a few capped players thrown in for good measure. Jamaica and England fielded much of their normal squad. Before the tournament started, the pressure was on England to win the event and not just do well in it.

To recap, the main rule changes were:

• shorter quarters – 6 minutes instead of the usual 15 minutes
• double points for goals scored from outside the circle
• Power Play quarter – any points scored are doubled during this quarter so a goal scored from outside the circle counts as 4 points
• rolling substitutions – no need to wait for a quarter time break to swap players on/off

With such short quarters, teams really have to be firing on all cylinders from the first whistle which I think helps to give the lower ranked teams more of a chance. During the group rounds, Jamaica were unbeaten but didn’t quite get a clean sweep as they were held to a 27-27 draw by New Zealand’s Fast Net Ferns. England, New Zealand and Australia’s Fast Net Diamonds all had mixed results with England edging past the other Antipodeans to finish 2nd in the group, followed by Australia in 3rd place and New Zealand in 4th place. Malawi put in some spirited performances and gave some of their higher ranked opponents a run for their money. They had a convincing win over South Africa, drew with Australia and were only narrowly beaten in the other 3 games. South Africa had a tough time in their first experience of Fast Net netball and were well beaten during each of their games.

The semi-finals pitched New Zealand against Jamaica and Australia against England. Slight feeling of deja vu, anyone? However, for once the southern hemisphere teams didn’t all come out on top. It was heartbreak again for Jamaica as they lost 29-28 to New Zealand. Only one goal separated the teams in the other semi too but this time England won with a final score of 26-25. There was some consolation for Jamaica as they went on to beat Australia 30-29 for the 3rd place play-off. Australia will be disappointed not to have been in the final but as ever coach Norma Plummer put a great spin on the result, reminding everyone that she came with a young, inexperienced side who were just there to enjoy it. Smart move, of course, by the Ferns and the Diamonds to test young players against most of England & Jamaica’s best players.

So, on to the final. The hosts were clearly the favourites but New Zealand were improving with every game. England led early in the first quarter but New Zealand turned the tables and led 7-5 at the first break. Although England fought back the Ferns held on to their slender lead and went into the half time break 11-10 up. They edged ahead a little more in the next 6 minutes of play and took a 18-16 lead going into the final quarter. Both teams saved the last quarter to hit the Power Play buttons. For English fans the final 6 minutes were sheer agony as their team failed to turn things around. In the dying minute(s) there was a contact on England WA Tamsin Greenway. England now had possession and spurred on by the screaming crowd they frantically propelled the ball down court to try and score which would have levelled the game and kept their title hopes alive. But, the umpire ruled that the penalty wasn’t set correctly and England lost possession amid plenty of confusion and protest from the home crowd. Suddenly, it was all over. New Zealand had retained their Fast Net title with a 28-26 victory over their hosts. A great effort from the young Ferns led by captain Maree Bowden but once again England captain Karen Atkinson and her side were left to ponder what might have been.

Did you make the trip to Liverpool for Fast Net or watch it on Sky? If so, what did you think?

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By admin, November 19, 2010 6:34 pm

England's Tamsin Greenway at Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010

This week I’m pleased to be able to feature an interview with international netball player and Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist, Tamsin Greenway. As well as playing for England, Tamsin plays for UK Superleague team Surrey Storm. Although she was busy training hard for the Fastnet tournament in Liverpool this weekend (and that medal must need polishing every now and then!), Tamsin kindly agreed to answer a few questions for Netball Match.

When did you start playing netball and with which team?

I was 11 and I started at school, back in Leicestershire. I then got selected in to the U14 Leicester County squad at 13 and began playing for a local ladies club called Snowys!

When did you decide you could become an elite netballer and did you have to make a choice between netball and any other sport?

From age 11 I had decided that I wanted to play for the England Squad, but it wasn’t until I was about 17 that I started really training properly as I was in the England talent system. I was lucky enough to get picked in the England U19 squad and that made my decision to go to Bath Uni where I could train full time and study. I’d always been sporty: I played football, tennis, table tennis, badminton and hockey to fairly high levels. But netball was always my passion and I ended up gradually giving them all up.

How were the facilities in Delhi for the CWG and what was your hardest game?

The facilities were actually world class. It was such a shame that it got so much negative press as for us the experience, people and venues were incredible. They just do things very differently out there! In terms of matches, OZ and NZ are always the toughest. Prob the Semi against Oz topped it though as that is the stepping stone to the final so there was added pressure. We were so close to both of them and I was pretty gutted we didnt get that win.

How does the coach mentally pysch the team up before the game to get the best out of everyone?

We have an amazing pysch that works with us and as a team we have worked together to find out what works well for us as a group and as individuals. We all genuinely get on in our team and we have alot of fun and it is important we are allowed to express that. We work far better when we are relaxed, and the coach trusts us enough now to let us keep that ‘fun’ environment still knowing that we are completetly committed and focused. So we tend to do our own things in groups or on our own and Sue brings us together for the final couple of minutes to make sure we are all on the same page.

How do you as a player overcome times where you feel that you are not performing your best?

It’s a vicious circle really as when you’re not playing well you become de-motivated and so then you dont want to train and you don’t put 100% in. I have learnt to back myself over the years and be completely honest with my performance. Not everyone will like how you play or what you do so as long as you can look at yourself know your strengths and weaknesses and are able to face them you can get back on track. You don’t just lose your talent over night, you just need to re focus yourself.

How does the ANZ Championship compare to the UK Superleague and would you play in the ANZ Champs again?

The ANZ personally was the best thing that happened to me as a player. I was able to grow and learn without alot of scrutiny and I got to play in every game against the best players in the world. The pressure you are under because the games are so close and because of the media is amazing and can only help you improve. It was incredible and there is a big difference between it and the SL. It is a semi pro league, so everything from the training, the matches, the intensity, the media, the crowds , the venue and the event are a step above. However, it is a great model for us to follow and something to aspire to as I feel SL has the potential to move in the same direction. The one thing I haven’t done in netball is play for an NZ team so that would be great but I doubt it will happen now, just never say never!

Who is the toughest person you’ve played against?

That’s hard as it has changed from season to season and comp to comp. My first game in the SL aged 19 was against Amanda Newton and she ate me alive, I stll remember I shot 26% against her!  But as you gain more experience, you don’t fear players you just have a neutral respect for them. Probably the best man on man marker I have played against and was lucky enough to play with in the world team was Aussie player Peta Scholz.

Why do England seem to run out of steam in the last quarter (more often than not) when they play Australia?

Great question! Look to be honest I think we can say now that across the board the player match ups against the ozzie/kiwis/English are pretty even. We are as skilled as them and we are as fit if not fitter. However, we have to look at ourselves and say are we making the right decisions at KEY points. There are opps throughout all games where you get the chance to take the game away or really pressure the opposition. We have not yet learnt to do that and it has been costly. Teams of that quality will always fight back, so no lead is ever great enough, but are we mentally tough enough to turn the ball over in the last dying seconds or all throw one less ball away in the game when it really doesn’t matter, or sink that shot that takes you 3 up with your CP? It again comes down to honesty, understanding crucial points in the game and then executing them. It will come…just in time for World Champs!!

Netball Match: Thank you Tamsin for taking the time to do this interview. Good luck to you and your England teammates in the Fastnet competition. If you’d like to ask Tamsin a question, please post a comment below.

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By admin, November 8, 2010 10:45 pm

Photo courtesy of Graham Hills via Flickr.com

Did you see the CWG netball final between the Ferns and the Diamonds? Surely, the best game of netball ever seen. I’d watched the bronze medal match between England and Jamaica which I thought was really entertaining but the final was in a different league entirely. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the second half. Both teams had their chances to win the match during normal time and all credit to the Diamonds for overturning a 7-goal deficit to level the scores. Would love to know what was going through the minds of all the players and what Plummer and Aitken said to their troops to spur them on.

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By admin, August 20, 2010 7:34 pm

Photo courtesy of Rance Costa on Flickr.com

This week’s post is going to be fairly short and sweet. I just wanted to share a couple of resources that I have come across recently. They’re both podcasts that I’ve subscribed to and can be found on the Quick & Dirty Tips website and via their Facebook pages. The 1st one is Get Fit Guy and the 2nd is called Nutrition Diva. They have lots of useful tips on working out at home, what to eat before and after a workout, how to build muscle and nutrition for sporty kids to name but a few. You can get the same info via the Quick & Dirty Tips website or from their Facebook pages but it’s better to download the podcasts to an iPod or other MP3 player and then you can listen to them when it suits you best, e.g. on your commute to work or when doing something boring like housework. They have both definitely inspired me to change some of my bad habits.

So, please check them out and let me know what you think.  Are there any resources for netballers you’d like to recommend?

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By admin, July 13, 2010 12:15 pm

Photo courtesy of Lochnagarth via www.flickr.com

A few days ago Netball Australia’s CEO, Kate Palmer, argued that female athletes need to stop blaming the media for lack of coverage of female sports and look to their sport’s governing body to redress the problem. Her comments follow an article by Melissa Barbieri, captain of the Australian Women’s soccer team (aka the Matildas), complaining about hypocrisy in the media. I agree that each sport is responsible for building its own brand and making itself newsworthy. But what happens when you do that, as I believe netball has done, and your sport is still ignored by the media? As I’ve argued before netball seems invisible to mainstream media. Continue reading 'How can netball and other female sports get more media attention?'»

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By admin, May 14, 2010 7:15 pm

As the Co-operative Superleague in the UK heads towards its finale on 15^th May, at the other end of the world the ANZ Championship has reached the halfway stage. So far the Australian teams definitely have the upper hand and some NZ teams have taken a battering, most notably the Haier Pulse. The hapless Pulse team have yet to record a win and look set to pick up the competition’s wooden spoon again.

The ANZ Championship is tough and the points system is pretty unforgiving; just 2 points are awarded for a win and that’s it, unlike in some leagues where losing teams can pick up a bonus point for being within touching distance of their opponents. Also, a match cannot end in a draw; you either win or lose in this competition. In the event of a draw after full time, games go to extra time and if necessary extended extra time to decide the winner. In extended extra time, play continues uninterrupted until one team has a two-goal advantage – a bit like a fifth set tie-break in tennis. Continue reading 'ANZ Championship: Still the hottest game in town'»

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By admin, April 22, 2010 8:41 am

The Co-operative Netball Superleague season is not quite over but the play off spots were decided a few weeks ago. Not surprisingly, three of the top four places have been filled by reigning champions TeamBath, last year’s beaten finalists Hertfordshire Mavericks and the star-laden Surrey Storm. The fourth spot was taken by Northern Thunder with local rivals Leeds Carnegie a long way behind.

The winter weather disrupted the fixtures at the start of the year and thanks to an Icelandic volcano with an unpronounceable name some of the fixtures at the tail end of the season have been affected too. But, how has each team fared so far? Continue reading 'The Co-operative Netball Superleague: The Play Offs'»