A product of Netball Queensland’s umpiring pathways, Kleinschmidt has been added to the 2025 cohort after being a member of the Talent and Development Squad in 2024.
Kleinschmidt’s selection means she’ll be appointed to Suncorp Super Netball and Team Girls Cup matches throughout 2025.
“I am so excited to have been named in the HP group for 2025,” Kleinschmidt said.
“It's something I've been working towards for quite some time and I am so grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to step up into that environment.
“I've really enjoyed working with Marc Henning in the Hart Premier League for the past two seasons. Having someone of Marc's knowledge and experience believe in me has been a huge confidence boost and has inspired me to work harder than ever before to improve my skills.
“There hasn't been a Queensland pathway umpire selected into this program for quite some time but at the moment we have a lot of talent coming through and we're all pushing each other to be better.
“I'm so excited to represent our pathway on the national stage.”
Former international umpire Marc Henning has mentored Kleinschimdt and says her selection is a deserved reward.
"Over the past 12 months Claire has shown great dedication to improving all aspects of her umpiring, both on and off the court. It is therefore incredibly pleasing that this effort has been recognised and rewarded by Netball Australia with selection to the High Performance Umpire Squad in 2025," Henning said.
"Netball Queensland is committed to achieving success on the national umpire pathway and I look forward to supporting Claire and watching her take further steps towards achieving her umpiring goals."
The cohort for Netball Australia’s umpiring squads are selected off the back of consistent performance and will continue their development over the course of the next 12 months.
In addition to Kleinschmidt’s High Performance selection, Queenslander Nicola Stevens has been named in next year’s Talent and Development Squad with Stevens, Abbey Bassingthwaighte and Elisa Dennis earning selection in the National Netball Championships cohort.
HIGH PERFORMANCE SQUAD UMPIRES
Bronwen Adams, Justin Barnes, Tahlia Bennett, Taylah Bennett, Nicole Bullen, Tamara Buriani-Gennai, Jemma Cook, Tayla Favell, Jordan Kiss, Claire Kleinschmidt, Tim Marshall, Jessica McKemmish, Sarah McNamara, Rachael Stebbings, Georgina Sulley-Beales, Shauna Winchester.
TALENT AND DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
(Members of this squad will be drawn on for Super Netball Reserves allocation and additional development opportunities, including targeted sessions and SSN match day involvement with high performance umpire coaches.)
Alexandra Brown, Eloise Fox, Emily Green, Chloe Grosser, Carly Hewett, Adele Kozak, Nicole Robson, Michael Rudd, Charlotte Seidel, Tayana Sithole, Nicola Stevens, Zoe Turner
NATIONAL NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
(National Netball Championships umpires will work within their Member Organisation in preparation for the tournament and have access to high performance umpire coaches, feedback and assessment during the event.)
Jake Shepherd (ACT), Alexandra Brown (NSW), Megan Garlick (NSW), Kasey Scoble (NSW), Tayana Sithole (SA), Charlotte Seidel (SA), Sarah Johns (SA), Sarah Arrowsmith (VIC), Adam Hoogwerf (VIC), Seryse Lewis (VIC), Nicola Stevens (QLD), Abbey Bassingthwaighte (QLD), Elisa Dennis (QLD), Amy Rodda (NT), Estelle Round (TAS), Bethan Duffill (WA)*, Stephanie Smith (WA)*, Alyssa DeJong (WA)*, Madison Rogers (WA)*
*Long list
