The Christchurch Netball Whistlers pathway encourages people of all ages to gain valuable skills and confidence by learning to umpire.

Learn more about Christchurch Netball Whistlers – click here

Pam Ormandy has been the well-known face of Christchurch Netball Whistlers, a programme to recruit and support rangatahi learning to umpire since 2012.

In 2025, Pam will support new Whistlers Coordinator Jo Sice, a familiar face in our Christchurch Netball Community. This handover brings together Pam’s expertise and Jo’s unique journey. Jo started as a Whistler at Year 9 and advancing to New Zealand C last year.

According to Jo, her journey began at the start of high school, when she enjoyed playing netball but was looking for more. “I wanted to do something to be independent and do something for myself.”

In 2017, Jo completed her Bronze and Silver Whistler qualifications. The next year, she reached Gold and Platinum. In 2019, Jo reached Levels 1 & 2, and Centre status. By the end of 2021, Jo was an accredited Zone Umpire, and in 2025, her ninth season as a game official, she is part of the Mainland Netball Umpire Development Squad.

Jo recalls the workload, including plenty of self-analysis and development. She attended multiple tournaments, meeting “lots of cool people,” including some of the current New Zealand umpires.

Last year Jo travelled to Dunedin with the Christchurch Netball U18 representative campaign. She was awarded her New Zealand badge and assessed by ANZ umpires.

The dedication and perseverance involved meant training for yo-yos, being committed to the gym and continuing to set the bar higher.

Jo remains committed to “giving back” with all the support she received, and she has done this for many years as a Whistler and Centre Panel umpire coach.

At present, she is preparing to umpire a major event in April – Men’s and Mixed Nationals.

“I’ve learnt many new and important skills, some of which are key in life, such as communication, but the main part is what I enjoy about umpiring. I enjoy the highs and the lows, learning more and more about myself, how I learn and can grow from there. Pushing myself beyond my limits and also working on personal development and growth. In umpiring it is a way to control something in a life that can be extremely busy and hard to control most things. So finding something to control can be a good equilibrium to fall back to. Sometimes even keeping within my comfort zone, and knowing when to push myself out of it too.

“With being selected to be on the Mainland Umpire Development Squad for 2025, it is going to require a lot more hard work, more training, more time, but in return I will be getting a lot of amazing support and experience and opportunities. Which I will be taking full advantage of.

“I hope to be able to give back the knowledge and experience that I have gained and as I gain more, to whistlers and other people I coach.”

Jo’s Umpiring Highlights | Tournament Selection

2022 - Reserve Umpire then called in start of U18 Nationals in CHCH (umpired whole tournament) and Umpired at SISS in Timaru

2023 - Reserve Umpire for U18 nationals in Hamilton, Umpired at SISS in Invercargill 

2024 - Umpired at U18 nationals in Dunedin, Mixed Nationals in Auckland, SISS in CHCH, Men’s Nationals in Tauranga, NZSS in CHCH (Reserve umpire, but called in end of Day 1)

Article added: Sunday 23 March 2025