An inspirational netball umpire hailing from Helensburgh has been honoured at the 2022 sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering (COV) Awards.
Katie Howell has picked up the Official of the Year award for her outstanding dedication and commitment to umpiring the game of netball in Scotland.
The sportscotland COV Awards celebrate all those who break down barriers, inspire and enhance the lives of others through sport, and recognise the commitment of those who apply their own time and effort to make sport accessible to all.
Talented netball official Katie Howell has given generously of her time to the sport, having worked her way up to the highest possible level of national officiating.
The Official of the Year regularly umpires within all levels of the Glasgow Netball League. With an effortless ability to move across divisions while maintaining the highest standards, Katie has volunteered her time to pre-season training matches for the Vitality Netball Superleague Team, Strathclyde Sirens and the national side, Scottish Thistles.
This year, Katie was selected by Europe Netball to officiate at the Open Challenge competitions, as well as an Netball NI Invitational event, which saw women's’ teams compete against selected men’s and mixed teams.
Katie also dedicates her time to helping, supporting and mentoring future umpires as a tutor for Netball Scotland. A teacher by day, Katie has been recognised for her ability to share her vast knowledge far and wide.
Katie said: “Netball was desperate for umpires so I thought I’d give it a go, and I fell in love with it – I love it more than playing now actually.
"The biggest thing for me is that I can umpire at a level I would never be able to play at so you get lots of experiences and opportunities through umpiring.
“Every game is so fast paced and you’re always learning. You need umpires for the games to go ahead and it is great fun. It’s a good group to be a part of and to be named Umpire of the Year just tops it all off.”
Mel Young, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Our Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards give us a chance to celebrate the great sporting achievements and moments that are taking place every day and congratulate those who are making an incredible commitment to Scottish sport.
“Across Scotland, there are thousands of sporting enthusiasts who recognise the impact that sport and teamwork can have on our lives.
"Individuals like Katie have dedicated their time to helping others realise their sporting potential and shown the far-reaching benefits of community spirit and participation.”
This year sees the awards return for the first time since 2019, with sportscotland receiving 320 nominations covering 30 different sports across 31 local authorities. People keen to recognise the invaluable contributions of selfless coaches, officials and volunteers working across a range of sports the length and breadth of the country submitted their nominations earlier in the year.
The COV winners were invited to attend a presentation ceremony at Glasgow City Chambers as a thank you for their continued work and dedication.
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