Christchurch Netball Centre is running a series of profiles on some of our Centre umpires who have two or more family members umpiring.

Meet Mariana Setu and her daughters Lu and Maia Te Hae ...

Awards: Luaao Te Hae (Lu), Zone Theory,  Maia Te Hae, Level 2,  Mariana (Mary) Setu

My mother Mariana Setu (75 yrs) had always loved the game netball and had a great passion for umpiring. She has umpired over 40 years, but sat her umpire theory and practical exam in 1984.

My two younger sisters and I played netball through the grades and we would literally live down at Hagley netball courts each Saturday right to the last round of the day because we would always be waiting for our mum to finish umpiring her games. Back then there was only one umpire who would ref the whole court.  So I could not figure out why the heck she took umpiring up, because I thought, it was the hardest and worst job ever.

Every year my mum says she is going to retire because her legs are not the same, but no… she is often still seen helping out umpiring the younger teams on Saturday and midweek for the Primary and Secondary Schools.  She just can’t stay away from the game.

I have four boys, and weekends were madness trying to juggle the boys with my husband racing from one park to another trying to catch their games.  My daughter Maia was a newborn following her brothers for years, then one day, all of a sudden she grew up, and said to me, she wants to play netball.

That is when I decided to get involved with helping out by coaching.  Then found out an umpire is required for the younger grades.  I told Maia, right we need help.  So I spoke to Kay Norris who encouraged me to jump on the umpires pathway.  So I signed up, and told Maia, by the way, I have signed you up for the whistlers program, because this is a great way for us both to get support, and knowledge so we can feel a lot more confident about what we are doing.

Being apart of the CNC umpires is the best decision we made.   You meet many people who have their personal stories why they umpire and we have developed awesome friendships. I remember umpiring with someone and she said, tell me your story.  I told her, and she had the biggest smile and said ‘yeah … you go girl!’.   The support by umpire coaches who give you tips each week is fantastic.  It makes umpiring so much enjoyable because you are always learning and you are not left on out on your own.  I’ve learnt a lot of important basic things that I kind of just took for granted, like … yes, you need to warm up, yes, we are human and make mistakes, and yes umpires can get injured too.   

By helping Pam Ormandy with the Whistler Programme, it has given me a greater appreciation for what umpires come up against.  I remember that nervous feeling starting out,  but I also remember that wonderful feeling passing Centre Badge.  So I love watching our young umpires grow and move up the umpire pathway like my daughter Maia, move through the Platinum Program this season. 

There have been some funny moments, and memorable ones when I have umpired with my mother. She gives me that stern look, if I’ve missed a contact… and I'm like, just worry about your own half mate.  Then when I’ve umpired with Maia, she’s like mum, have you got some water?… and I’m like, I’m not your mother… I'm your co-umpire lol.

I can honestly say I have caught that bug my mother caught over 40 years ago… Love netball, Love umpiring.  And I get now, why she loves the umpiring with so much passion. 

The best advice I could give someone looking to take up umpiring is always be open to feedback.  Be open to the tips, support and knowledge the umpire coaches have to offer.  But most importantly make sure you really enjoy it and know, you are not alone.   So give it a go,  or you will never know.