About Me

Hi! I'm Sam, and I've been umpiring netball in Scotland since moving here in 2021. I've been part of the Umpire Performance Pathway (UPP) group since the 2023/24 season and am currently working towards my A Award.

Before netball, I spent seven years refereeing football, starting at age 14 and officiating over 200 matches. That experience gave me a unique perspective on sports officiating—especially when it comes to managing players and communicating effectively (and yes, netball players are much friendlier!).

I created thenetballumpire.com to provide practical, easy-to-access resources for netball umpires. The content here is built on the input, support, and shared wisdom of many umpires, mentors, and assessors who have helped me along the way.

If you find something useful here—or if you have suggestions—I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me at help@thenetballumpire.com. And if you're in Scotland, there's a good chance you'll spot me courtside!