IT wasn’t planned but when a young Claire Kleinschmidt had to learn how to umpire netball, she quickly realised that she was actually pretty good at it.
Kleinschmidt was 12 and starting to play representative netball when her officiating journey began.
“Everyone who was playing rep netball also had to learn to umpire,” Kleinschmidt said.
“So I did that and it turned out I was kind of good at it.
“At first I kind of just did it because my sister did it and everyone else was umpiring … but after a few years I realised that I was probably going to get a lot further down the pathway as an umpire than I ever would as a player.”
Kleinschmidt’s progression, having started so humbly as a junior player at Underwood Park in Brisbane’s south, now has her regularly officiating at elite level competitions such as the HART Sapphire Series and Suncorp Super Netball – where she is part of the league’s umpire talent and development squad.
It’s also led to a career, with Kleinschmidt working for Netball Queensland as the organisation’s Officials Development Lead.
She credits the opportunities and education gained while progressing through Netball Queensland’s elite pathway for providing her with opportunity she otherwise may not have been exposed too.
“I remember getting my national C badge which was so exciting for me. At the time I was, I think, 14 … then I got to go to State Age and what was then the Challenge Carnival umpire for my association and I thought that was really exciting,” she said.
“I just kind of got more and more opportunities. I remember umpiring at Vicki Wilson Championships and I got to do the grand final when I was about 15. That was so exciting for me and I just really enjoyed it, so I just kept going.
“Umpiring has taken me to competitions, like Nationals, that I wouldn’t have reached as a player.”
Kleinschmidt’s role within Netball Queensland has her coaching and developing the next generation of officiating talent within the state, allowing her to pass on the skills and education she was offered.
“Probably after I got my A badge, I started coaching other umpires and I’ve really enjoyed that,” Kleinschmidt said.
“I found that it helps my own umpiring watching people and being able to give them feedback and I just like really contributing to the community in that way.
“When I saw the opportunity to come and work at Netball Queensland as the Officials Development Coordinator, I just thought that it was a really great opportunity to use my skills and to keep contributing to the netball community that I love.”
Not that Kleinschmidt’s office job has curtailed her own umpiring ambitions however.
“Last year I got to reserve a few SSN games for the first time and that was so exciting,” she said.
“It was just a nice little taste of what that would be like to be umpiring at that level so reserving SSN has kind of motivated me to try and get on the court and maybe one day get my IUA (International Umpiring Award) and my AA (All-Australian badge) and be able to do international games.
“Having a pathway that’s clear is very important just because it helps you map out your goals and track where you are and where you want to be. It helps you realise what it takes to get there as well so that you can keep improving and keep chasing your goals.”
INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING IN CLAIRE’S FOOTSTEPS? TO FIND OUT HOW TO START YOUR OWN OFFICIATING JOURNEY WITH NETBALL QUEENSLAND CLICK HERE.
