Karen Fuller: The umpire

By Bransen Gibson

Mar 21, 2022

Decision maker: Karen Fuller has been calling the shots on the netball court for almost four decades. Photo: Rohan Aldous

When it comes to basketball and netball in Rochester, Karen Fuller is a familiar sight on the court.

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Ms Fuller has been calling the shots for almost four decades, umpiring netball for 37 years and refereeing basketball for 15 years.

She said her first exposure to umpiring came during her playing career.

“I was playing netball and they were desperate for umpires,” Ms Fuller said.

“There was an umpire mentor there and she said, ‘do you want to give it a go?’ so I said yes and straight away she said ‘you’ve got it, you better keep umpiring’ – so I did.”

Later on, it was her children that got her into refereeing basketball.

“I was coaching basketball and they were pretty desperate for referees, so I thought ‘well, if I can do netball, surely I can do basketball as well’,” she said.

“I decided I’ll give it a go and I have been doing it ever since.”

Ms Fuller, who played both netball and basketball for Rochester, said she would play a game and then umpire too.

After almost four decades of blowing the whistle, she said she still enjoys the role.

“I love it,” she said. “I love the fact that at my age I am still getting compliments, ‘geez you’re a good umpire’.

“I’m slowing down, of course, but I still get people commenting on my umpiring.”

She said she was particularly enjoying the mentoring side of umpiring, something she was hoping to get more involved with in the future.

“I really love the mentoring side at the moment,” she said.

“I love to see lots of young umpires coming up through the ranks.

“I mentor young girls, teaching them how to umpire, working with them to get a badge so they can umpire A-Grade games.”

Taking charge: Karen Fuller in action at the Community Bank Rochester Netball Invitational on the weekend. Photo: Rohan Aldous

With a wealth of experience, Ms Fuller said there were three key things that made a good umpire.

“A loud whistle is always the first thing, so that they all hear, they all stop, they all look at you for direction,” she said.

“Also being clear with your decisions and consistency.

“Being consistent for the whole game, which the girls and boys playing appreciate.”

Ms Fuller has developed plenty of relationships with players and coaches during her time on the court, something she said certainly helped with umpiring.

“It definitely makes it easier,” she said.

Ms Fuller said she had found a particular kind gesture had a big effect.

“I still smile, I think a smile always helps with that relationship,” she said.

“It’s all about fun – you want them to have fun and you want to have fun as you’re umpiring as well.”

With almost every sport facing umpire shortages, Ms Fuller said some youngsters could find the role intimidating at the start.

“A lot of young kids, if they get yelled at once they take it to heart and I think that puts them off … and they don’t go further,” she said.

However, she said treatment of umpires was improving.

“I think it’s getting better now,” she said.

“There is more awareness around umpires and a lot of kids now realise that if you don’t have an umpire, you don’t have a game.”

For those considering getting involved with umpiring, Ms Fuller said it was a great way to get involved with sport.

“Some people can’t play sport, but they can still umpire,” she said.

Her message to future umpires was simple.