Emily lives umpiring dream

A passion for officiating netball games from a young age has led Albany’s Emily Porter to become part of the 2019 WA Netball League umpiring squad.

Selected as one of 14 umpires across the State, Porter will tomorrow umpire in her first match in the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League (WANL).

It has been a process almost two years in the making as Porter become a C-level umpire and was earlier this year announced as part of the squad in preparation for the WANL season that runs from May to September.

Her first WANL game will be a 20-and-under clash between the Curtin Hamersley Comets and West Coast Warriors at 6.30pm on Friday.

“I’m overwhelmed,” she said.

“I’ve worked really hard for a couple of years and I’m rapt to have an opportunity like this.

“I never really considered it but once I got my C-badge it became a confidence thing and something I was really passionate about.

“I’m really nervous, it’s a very different level to down here and lots of rules and things done a little differently.”

The 20-year-old is on a strict fitness program to maintain the level required, with a strength and conditioning plan plus a personal trainer and netball training part of her busy weekly schedule.

Porter will travel to Perth every second Friday to officiate in WANL games and said the pressure was on to perform.

“Once you are in the WANL you have to perform or you get dropped,” she said. “Umpires have to be as fit as the players.”

Netball WA Great Southern officials co-ordinator Lyndsey Unwin said Porter was deserving of the opportunity after being identified at last year’s Academy Cup.

Porter has just received the Fay Bevan Umpire Scholarship to help assist her financially with the regular trips to Perth and back.