Mentoring
Supporting and Developing Fellow Umpires
Mentoring plays a vital role in developing umpires. Even if you're not formally appointed as a mentor, offering advice or support during a game still counts as mentoring. As an experienced umpire, be mindful that less experienced colleagues often take your feedback seriously—so try to avoid offhand comments. This guide outlines key principles for supporting umpires effectively.
Remember: You don't need to be at the highest level to be a valuable mentor. Newly qualified umpires can still support trainees—sometimes just offering encouragement or helping them build confidence can make a big difference.
Giving Effective Feedback
Providing clear, constructive feedback is at the heart of good mentoring. Consider the following principles:
Be Specific
Instead of: "You're slow to the goal line."
Try: "After quick turnovers, you're slow to react and don't reach the goal line in time."
Make It Actionable
Focus on clear, practical steps the umpire can take to improve. Where possible, share techniques that work for you and suggest specific strategies they might try.
Emphasise Positives
Especially with newer or less confident umpires, focus on what they're doing well to build confidence, then gently highlight one or two key areas for development.
Avoid Overwhelming
Focus on a few key points rather than listing every error. Quality over quantity when it comes to feedback.
📝 Note-Taking
Encourage umpires to take notes during feedback, especially if you're not providing written notes.
Written feedback is helpful but time-consuming—don't feel you must provide it every time. If you do, ensure you have the umpire's contact information (or a parent/guardian's for U18s).
Giving In-Game Feedback
Offering feedback at quarter and half-time breaks helps umpires make real-time adjustments. Check any league policies first, and follow these general guidelines:
Quarter-Time
Use for quick technical corrections
Half-Time
Save subjective feedback for half time
(e.g. on contact calls) so both teams are affected equally
Keep It Concise
One or two clear, focused points is ideal. Avoid overloading the umpire during the match.
🎧 Quarter Time Discussions
Listen in during quarter time discussions if players seek clarification. Stay nearby but don't engage—unless necessary to de-escalate a situation.
Positioning During the Match
Mentors have more freedom in positioning than assessors. Be sure to observe from both sidelines as well as behind each goal line to gain a full picture of the umpire's positioning, movement, and decision-making.
Multiple Angles
Viewing from multiple angles helps provide more informed and balanced feedback. Move around to see different perspectives of their performance.
Multiple Umpires
If mentoring both umpires in a match, aim for equal observation time.
When working with another mentor, agree beforehand how you'll rotate (e.g. switching ends halfway through each quarter).
Avoid Unsolicited Advice
While it's natural to want to offer feedback when you spot areas for improvement, unsolicited advice is best avoided—particularly from more experienced umpires, whose comments may carry significant weight. Without knowing how feedback will be received, even well-intentioned suggestions can unintentionally affect an umpire's confidence or focus.
✅ Appropriate Co-Umpire Discussion
You should still discuss things with your co-umpire at quarter time. If you've seen something from a different angle—such as off-ball holding or positioning on your side—feel free to share.
However, steer clear of more subjective feedback, such as movement timing or positioning, unless your co-umpire has asked for input.
Key Principle: Respect for boundaries and timing makes feedback more effective and better received.
Learning from Other Mentors
If you're new to mentoring, shadowing a more experienced mentor can be incredibly helpful. Pay attention to what they notice during the match and how they communicate feedback.
What to Observe
- What they notice during the match
- How they communicate feedback
- Their timing and approach
🤝 Give Feedback Together
When possible, ask to deliver feedback alongside them—this allows you to observe their approach in real time and develop your own mentoring style.
Training & Accreditation
Your national association—or a larger body such as Netball Europe—may offer mentor training courses. These provide useful techniques and frameworks, and often include formal accreditation that may be required for mentoring roles within certain competitions or leagues.
Course Benefits
- Useful techniques and frameworks
- Structured approach to mentoring
- Best practice guidelines
- Communication strategies
Formal Accreditation
Courses often include a formal accreditation that may be required for mentoring roles within certain competitions or leagues. Check your local requirements.
The Value of Mentoring
By mentoring others, you not only support the development of fellow umpires—you continue learning and growing yourself.
Mentoring creates a positive cycle of development that strengthens the entire umpiring community. Every piece of guidance you offer and every moment of support you provide helps build a stronger, more skilled, and more confident group of umpires.