Emma Rumbel’s life revolves around netball.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 18-year-old university student started playing for Dungog when she was nine years old.
She has worked her way up through the ranks and now plays with the Metro League in Sydney.
“My friends were playing netball so I thought I would have a go and see if I liked it,” she said.
“I got into umpiring when I turned 13 and also starting mentoring the little kids who were starting to play.
“I worked my way up to the national badge and can now umpire top level games including state league and championships.
“Umpiring is good and I really like it, but if I had my choice, I would prefer to play.”
And play well she does.
Every Tuesday night she heads down to Olympic Park at Homebush to play in the Metro League.
Emma was playing with the representative Hunter Flyers at Kurri Kurri last year and it was suggested she try out for the team to play in the Sydney competition.
There are two teams from Kurri Kurri in the competition and they play in division six.
Her team is made up of mainly new players to the competition.
“There were heaps of people at the tryouts at the basketball centre in Maitland and I didn’t really think I would be in with a chance,” Emma said.
“But I was so lucky to be one of the 12 chosen, who are aged 16 and over.
“I was blown away.
“To play indoor and at such a high level is great.”
The competition which began at the beginning of April runs for eight weeks.
I was so lucky to be one of the 12 chosen.
- Emma Rumbel
Emma’s comp starts at either 7.30pm or 8pm so it’s a late night when she is finished and gets back to her Salisbury home.
She is attending the University of Newcastle three days a week where she is studying early childhood and primary teaching.
“I train one or two days a week and play club netball for Central at Raymond Terrace as well as rep games for the Port Stephens opens,” she said.
“I have a very busy life which pretty much revolves around netball.
“I just want to do my best and try and get higher in the sport.”
Netball is a ball sport played by two teams of seven players.
Games are played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end.
The object is to score goals from within a defined area, by throwing a ball into a ring attached to a 3.05 metres (10 feet) high post.