Irene Maguire has been a volunteer with Christchurch Netball Centre since the late 1980s.

Irene, please tell us how you first got involved, when and why?  

I began umpiring at CNC in the late 1980’s as a player umpire for Albion Netball club. I soon realised I enjoyed umpiring more than playing and progressed to sitting my Centre badge.

After a break for having 5 children – I returned as an umpire for CNC around 1999, umpiring for the centre and as well as for the OLA netball club and Villa Netball Club till about 2006.

Once our children were no longer involved in playing netball – I decided to progress with my umpiring and resat my Centre badge and passed the Zone Theory paper.

During this time, I was helping coach young umpires in the Whistlers programme.

In 2009 during a game I tore a meniscus in my knee which put me out of action for the rest of the season. Following surgery in 2010 – I could no longer umpire.

As I could no longer umpire – but loved the sport – I decided to become part of the Centre panel and I loved working with umpires encouraging them to improve and enjoy the game.

I wanted to give back to the CNC for the support that they had given me over the years as an umpire.

In 2015 I was appointed the coordinator of the Centre Panel.

Please tell us a little bit about the roles you have had:

• A committee member of Albion Netball in the mid 1980’ till they joined forces with Marist.
• A committee member of OLA netball in the mid-1990s as well as club umpire for them.
• A club umpire for Villa Netball for about 4 years, early 2000’s.
• Coach for Whistlers Umpires for a few years in the mid 2000’s till 2009.
• Centre Panel Coach for CNC 2011 – to present.
• Coordinator of Centre Panel for CNC 2015 to present –.

What is your current role and how long have you been doing that for.

Coordinator of Centre Panel for CNC 2015 to present, which involves:

• Managing a team of Coaches, and ensuring that they are all on task for the role as coaches.
• Following up on the progression of umpires from beginner to Level 1 and Level 2.
• Making sure that practical Centre exams for umpires are arranged and coordinating assessors to each exam.
• Work with Kay Norris to get game allocations out to the coaches each week.
• Running training sessions with the Umpires and umpire coaches.
• Generally, keeping everyone motivated and making sure that we are all on the ‘same page’ re our level of coaching.

Tell us about your most memorable moment:

The thing I love about this role is not just one memorable moment – but the moments every week where I know that I have been able to encourage somebody – whether it be an umpire or a coach.

The value of spending a few minutes of time with someone to listen to a challenge they have (either on court or off) and potentially make a difference to their day. I love seeing people smile after any sort of encouragement.

What is the best thing/reason to volunteer?

I know how important that is to volunteer – because if I had not been encouraged when I was learning how to umpire – I know that I would not have had this opportunity to do the role I am in now.