NAM sets to train umpires in Southern and Northern regions

Key stakeholders in Malawian netball are emphasizing the need for more trained umpires to support the sport’s growth.

The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) is addressing this by hosting umpiring training sessions where the first session is set to take place from Sunday to next Thursday in Blantyre.

While the second session is scheduled for May 4-7 next month in Mzuzu at Katoto Secondary School, both sessions will specifically focus on basic umpiring and bench management.

NAM President Vitumbiko Gubuduza highlighted the importance of such training, saying it is one of the best ways of building capacity for match officials.

Netball analyst Neffie Kammata praises NAM’s initiative and encourages participants to remain engaged beyond the training sessions.

Kammata said, “Those who will attend the course must also put in much effort in that course. They should pass well, but not getting those certificates to stay at home, no. We need a lot of umpires in the sport.”

As Malawians are now experiencing a full embrace of the netball sport, Kammata suggests that NAM officials should put in place protocols that will see more umpires undergoing trainings such as these.

She said: “We need some technical bench officials to add up to the numbers we have, so that if others are busy, if others are missing for some reason, we can put in others on duty. So there won’t be any hiccups in the officiating department in the sport of netball. This is a good development.”

Meanwhile, NAM has successfully been training officials countrywide, specifically, those in the rural areas, where stakeholders highly regard as a pool for scouting talent.

Therefore, the grooming of 30 participants who attended a Level 3/Basic Netball Coaching Course at Monkey Bay Primary School from March 24 to 29, last month, is said to be a vital cohort that is expected to bring wide contributions to the sport in their areas.

The course was led by Netball Association of Malawi’s Technical Director, Joseph Mazaza, and National Team Head Coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa, aimed to equip coaches with skills to develop netball in schools and communities.