Jamaican umpire Tracy-Ann Griffiths says her upcoming assignment at the Vitality Netball Nations Cup in England represents another step in the right direction on a remarkable journey marked by perseverance, passion, and discipline.

Widely regarded as one of the best netball umpires in Jamaica and the region, Griffiths will be one of six umpires officiating the February 1-9 tournament featuring England, South Africa, Uganda, and Malawi across London and Nottingham.

“I always consider it a great opportunity to be selected to umpire internationally, so I’m very happy for the opportunity to learn and build on my umpiring skills. This will certainly provide well-needed match practice as I work towards preparing for the major events on the World Netball calendar,” Griffiths told SportsMax.Tv.

Griffiths’ journey in netball began in a high school PE class at age 11, and from there, she immersed herself in every aspect of the sport, eventually finding her calling in umpiring.

“I became interested in umpiring around 2006 and did the umpiring theory and practical tests in 2007/8. I patiently worked on my craft, and with guidance from mentors like Arleene Findlay, Dalton Hinds, Yvette Smith, and Chris Campbell, my confidence grew,” she said.

Her big break came in 2016, when she was awarded International Talent Identified (ITID) status by World Netball after officiating at the Jean Pierre U-16 competition. From there, she embarked on a steady climb to the top tier, officiating at events like the World Youth Tournament in Botswana in 2017 and earning her International Umpire Award (IUA) badge in 2018 after rigorous testing.

“Throughout all those experiences, I reminded myself that the journey to the top was a little closer, and so I got hungrier for the opportunity to be among the top-tier umpires in the world. The dream had finally come true, but that was just the start of the hard part of the work because getting to the top was one thing, but staying there was a whole different ball game,” Griffiths shared.

While being at the top may seem glamorous, Griffiths admits that getting there was by no means easy, as there were moments along the journey when she almost called it quits.

“There were times in the early parts of my umpiring career when I wanted to throw in the towel. It was frustrating feeling like I wasn’t making strides. As a matter of fact, I think I gave myself the ultimatum in 2016. I told myself I was going to put my all into it that year, and if nothing came of it, then I would just give it up,” Griffiths recalled.

Yet, encouragement from her support system kept her going.

“I had the right people in my corner encouraging me to keep going, and that I did. There have also been times when I’ve done a game and I know it wasn’t my best game that can be a low moment for me as well because anyone who knows me knows that my mantra is every time I stand on that sideline I want to be better than I was the last time, so with patience and encouragement, I stayed in it,” she explained.

Despite her achievements and the many rewards of travelling to numerous countries and officiating at prestigious events like the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the World Cup in 2023, Griffiths acknowledges the demanding nature of umpiring at the highest level.

 “I’ve enjoyed the journey. Determination and perseverance do pay off, and this journey with its highs and lows has made me so much stronger,” Griffiths, who also coaches Wolmer’s Girls netball team, declared.

“Because as glamorous as the travelling and events may seem, this is something we all do on the ‘side.’ It’s a huge balancing act to fit training, matches, and keeping up with rule changes into our already busy schedules,” she noted.

Tracy-Ann Griffths (left) shares a photo opportunity with compatriot Terrence Peart and Trinidad and Tobago's Lilia Mathurin.

For Griffiths, this means late nights, self-discipline, and relentless commitment.

“I love the game, and I like to succeed at what I set out to do, and that’s what keeps me going,” the reserved umpire added.

With the Vitality Netball Nations Cup on the horizon, Griffiths is focused on staying physically and mentally prepared, as her aspirations extend beyond the upcoming tournament.

“Physically, I’m going through my programme to ensure I’m as fit as possible. Mentally, I use visualization to prepare for different game scenarios and learn from other umpires,” she reasoned.

“I hope to climb the ranking ladder each time I umpire. My biggest dream is to carry the finals at one of World Netball’s flagship events,” Griffiths stated.

That said, Griffiths expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey, particularly her family and mentors.

“When I got my badge, a former IUA said to me, ‘Remember when you step on that sideline, you not only represent yourself, you also represent Jamaica.’ I want to do that to the best of my ability because I know there are many greats who have laid a firm foundation for me,” she ended.