The Final Whistle: The Story of Team White

As the excitement builds for Grand Final day, the spotlight is firmly on the players and coaches. But what about Team White? The umpires' journey to the pinnacle of the season is just as demanding, a testament to their dedication and love for the game. I caught up with Orange Netball's Umpires' Coordinator, Tammy Irwin, to get an exclusive insight into how the officials prepare for the biggest day on the calendar.

Preparation

Grand Final day is the ultimate test for an umpire, both mentally and physically. Tammy makes it a priority to ensure her officials are fresh and ready for the challenge, which is why she limits them to just one or two games on the day, in stark contrast to the grueling semi-finals.

"I certainly try to help by not giving them too big a workload leading up to a Div1 Grand Final," she said. Tammy notes that every umpire has their own unique way of getting in the zone. While some, like Nikea, don headphones to get into their space, others, like ‘man of steel’, Michael, take a more relaxed approach. For Tammy herself, mental preparation is about clearing the mind. It’s about not focusing on who's playing, but simply locking in on the court, the two teams, and getting into the right position to make the right calls.

Rising to the Occasion

When it comes to the noise and pressure from the crowd, Tammy said umpires have to learn to shut it out. "You have to, to a certain extent," she explained, "otherwise, if you hear something in the crowd, it can throw you off. "She also acknowledged that sometimes you can "feed off" the crowd's energy, giving you a boost. Ultimately, Grand Final day is about rising to the occasion, when top-level umpires are expected to step up and deliver their best performance. The players’ hunger is also a factor. Tammy understands that in a high-stakes game, there will be questions and challenges, but she believes that’s simply a part of the passion for the game. She highlights the positive step of opening a line of communication with the Division 1 teams this season, allowing umpires and players to be on the same wavelength.

How Team White Measures Success

For umpires, success isn't about getting every single call absolutely perfect. After all, they’re also human. As Tammy put it, a successful day is when "the umpire hasn't affected the game at all." It's a personal feeling of knowing you did your best, stayed in control, and that your decisions didn't sway the result. Tammy admits that no one is perfect, but the Orange umpires work tirelessly on their fitness and knowledge of the rules. "We get out there, we learn the rules, we prepare... and we give it our all just as much as they [the players] do. "After the game, the debrief is as important for the umpires as it is for the players. Tammy encourages her officials to talk to each other and get feedback, especially from more experienced heads. But after Grand Final day, with the job done and the champions crowned, Tammy jests that the most important part of the debrief is to “go to the pub"