Three coaches and three umpires from across the South Australian netball community have been recognized for their service, chosen as finalists for the 2025 Coach of the Year Award and Umpire of the Year Award (Community).
Joshn Kleeman from Lobethal Netball Club, Samara Szymaniak from Metro Jets Netball Club and Anna van den Berg from South Adelaide Netball Club are the finalists for the Coach of the Year Award.
Mardi Masson from Great Flinders Netball Association/Tumby Bay Netball Club, Astrid Schupelius from Contax Netball Club, and Kristy Turnbull and Carlie Woods from Ports Netball Club are the finalists for the Umpire of the Year Award.
Both awards will be presented at the Netball SA Awards Gala on September 5.
Cobb’s Hill Coach of the Year (Community)
Josh Kleeman was nominated for his efforts as a dual A Grade coach for Lobethal Netball Club.
Described as the kind of coach every club dreams of, Josh is said to be energetic, committed, and driven by a genuine love for netball and his players.
From day one, he’s created a warm, welcoming, and safe environment where players not only thrive but fall in love with the game for life.
Long before trials even began, Josh had players doing pre-season fitness, giving them a head start on confidence, fitness, and team spirit.
He personally rang around to rally coaching support, inspiring people to get involved and reminding them that they’re all part of something bigger.
Josh coaches not one, but two A Grade teams, all while actively supporting the three other senior coaches with anything from strategy chats to sideline support.
Josh’s passion helped attract enough players to fill six jam-packed senior sides this year, which is no small feat. When the decision was made to split our A Grade into two teams, he respectfully and professionally advocated for those who felt unheard.
His style of leadership is firm but thoughtful and is what makes Josh more than a
coach; he’s the glue that holds the senior group together and a big reason so many players at Lobethal now call netball their home.
Samara Szymaniak was nominated for her coaching role with Metro Jets Netball Club.
Nominated by one of the parents of a netballer Samara coaches, she was described as fostering a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all to grow and thrive.
As she welcomed a new player to the team, Samara set the tone for the season with warmth and approachability. Her calm, encouraging presence made it easy for the girls to feel that they belonged, no matter their prior experience or ability.
She communicates clearly, praises effort as much as outcome, and always takes the time to check in with the girls individually.
Samara is deeply respectful of the players’ different personalities, skill levels, and learning styles. She sets high standards but never with pressure - instead framing challenges as exciting opportunities for growth.
Training sessions are structured yet fun - a balance that keeps the girls engaged and eager to return each week. Samara celebrates small wins and team spirit, not just the scoreboard, reinforcing the idea that netball is about connection and improvement as much as competition.
What stands out most is Samara’s ability to lead by example. She models sportsmanship, fairness, and composure in every interaction.
Whether it’s handling a tough game or a teachable moment at training, she brings empathy, positivity, and patience, showing the girls that strong leadership can be kind and constructive.
Samara is not just coaching netball - she’s shaping confident, passionate young athletes who will carry the love of the sport with them for years to come.
Anna van den Berg has been nominated for her contribution to coaching at South Adelaide Netball Club.
As a long-standing member of the club, Anna’s commitment extends far beyond coaching a team. She is a driving force in creating a positive, safe, and inclusive environment where all players feel welcome and supported.
Anna is always the first to volunteer her time, stepping in to help fellow coaches, running extra sessions, and offering guidance to anyone who needs it.
Her generosity and team first attitude contribute to a culture of collaboration and kindness, which filters down to her players and those around her.
She is deeply invested in the growth and wellbeing of every player she coaches. Anna takes the time to get to know each child individually, building trust and making sure they feel seen, heard, and valued.
Anna creates safe spaces where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities and where every player, regardless of ability, feels like an important part of the team.
Her coaching is patient, encouraging, and always focused on building players up. Many of her past players continue to speak of the positive impact she’s had on their lives, both in sport and beyond.
Always looking to improve, Anna actively seeks new ways to grow her knowledge and share it with others.
She models lifelong learning and leadership, and inspires young players to do the same.
CITB Umpire of the Year (Community)
Mardi Masson was nominated for her commitment to umpiring with the Great Flinders Netball Association and Tumby Bay Netball Club.
At just 20 years of age, Mardi has already made a profound impact on her community.
As a recently awarded Nationally Accredited B Badged Umpire, Mardi demonstrates a commitment to self-development, leadership in her local area, and a genuine passion for widening access to netball through umpiring.
Mardi officially achieved her B Badge accreditation in June 2025 at the Adelaide University Country Championships, a milestone she worked toward with dedication and professionalism.
Her performance over the weekend was so outstanding that Netball SA personally reached out to GFNA’s President following the event, requesting Mardi be considered as a future regional mentor.
This recognition speaks volumes to the calibre of her umpiring, composure under pressure, and ability to lead by example, even among experienced peers.
Beyond her own progression, Mardi plays a vital role in ensuring access to umpiring and quality officiating across the Great Flinders Netball Association and neighbouring regions.
Her presence helps bridge the umpiring gap in rural areas where coverage is often stretched thin, and her reliability has earned her the trust and respect of players, coaches, and administrators alike.
Astrid Schupelius was nominated for her umpiring contributions with Contax Netball Club.
After joining the club’s junior development squad in 2013, she was mentored by Lynda Robinson and Jill Hunt and quickly gained the skills to umpire games at a junior level.
She showed an excellent understanding of the rules and the procedures and protocols of umpiring.
She challenged herself to perform to the best of her ability in each game, seeking feedback as to where improvements in her techniques, line calls, positioning etc could be made.
She has gained both her Australian National C and B badges, demonstrating her commitment to umpiring and as a result was selected as a part of the TID squad at AMND level and Premier League level.
In 2024 Astrid was asked to take on the role of junior umpire allocator for Contax and met the challenge head on.
She ran sessions for Contax players, coaches and families when the new rules were released last year.
Feedback from the sessions was very positive, indicating that the need for information was well received and a greater understanding of the rules had been gained.
Astrid also allocates umpires for all Contax trials, academy and training sessions, and mentors juniors while umpiring at least one game per week at senior level.
Kristy Turnbull and Carlie Woods were nominated for their work with the Ports Netball Club.
The duo led the club’s Umpire Mentoring Program, demonstrating dedication and enthusiasm for the growth of the program.
Taking into the consideration the club’s small scale and subsequent needs, Kristy and Carlie led the development of a tailored in-house mentoring program that has transformed umpiring at Ports.
Since its inception, the program has had a ripple effect throughout the club and community.
Over the past two years, Ports has celebrated four C-grade badge achievements and have two members currently completing their cadetship to become panellists.
This demonstrates the program’s ability to not only support new umpires but fosters leadership and long-term engagement.
Both Kristy and Carlie are outstanding umpires with over a decade of experience. Carlie holds a C-grade badge and is a qualified panellist, actively involved in the development and assessment of new umpires.
Kristy, who has umpired for many years, recently achieved her C-grade badge - a significant accomplishment after navigating injury setbacks.
Both women are deeply committed to continually improving their own umpiring craft - regularly engaging in rule updates, attending training sessions, and staying up to date with changes in the game.
Their efforts have put Ports Netball Club in such a strong position for officiating and made umpiring a proud part of the club’s identity.
