Netball: Young squad have good shot at world supremacy

Promising young Waikato netballer, Laura Langman. Herald file picture

Under-21 captain and Silver Fern Laura Langman. Picture / Alan Gibson

The New Zealand under-21 team have embarked on the ultimate sporting adventure to secure the world youth netball championships title at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Netball was invented in the US in 1891 and called basketball. So it seems somewhat overdue that a world championship is to be played in the game's birthplace.

Twenty countries will compete for the coveted title. A New Zealand win would be a wonderful complement to last month's success by the Silver Ferns - who included under-21s Laura Langman and Casey Williams - against nemesis Australia.

Given their success to date, one would have to cautiously predict that this is New Zealand's year. But we should never underestimate the Australians, who again will be New Zealand's greatest challenge.

Under-21 captain Langman said she was as fresh as a daisy after playing against Australia and ready for what she envisages will be the pinnacle of her sporting career to date.

Another under the spotlight will be New Zealand umpire Josef Brown, who has been selected as a tournament referee. This builds on his selection last year as Maori referee of the year, at the Maori sports awards.

Brown started playing netball more than 20 years ago in Rotorua, where men's netball was very strong. He played at club level and at national level for the Rotorua men's team, a successful side nationally.

Part of the deal was supplying their own umpires; hence Brown's introduction to umpiring.

His mentor was Lorraine Blundell, a Netball New Zealand umpire and umpire-coach for the Rotorua Netball Association.

She saw his potential and so, with her encouragement, the path to being a world championship umpire was paved.

First, there was a local badge at the old Rotorua netball courts in Kuirau Park, then a regional badge, followed by a New Zealand umpire's badge in the late 1980s.

Brown then moved to Auckland and was appointed to his first national age-group tournament, which he did for five consecutive years. In 2002 he was appointed to his first NPC tournament and from this performance he was selected to the New Zealand umpires squad.

Brown has said that being a male umpire in a female sport is challenging and fun, probably because he shares the passion for the sport.

Having played the game, gaining a good appreciation of the players' perspective, has ensured the necessary mutual respect between player and umpire.

All Brown wants to do is have some fun. He sees the job of the umpire as applying the rules when needed, and enjoying the game.

So, go get 'em, Kiwis. New Zealand is behind you every step of the way.

* Louisa Wall is a former New Zealand netball and rugby representative.