New officials are stepping up, milestones are being celebrated, and there’s room for you to join the journey.

It’s been an exciting year for the Table Tennis Victoria Umpires League (TTVUL). Across the state, more people are taking on officiating roles, experienced officials are reaching major milestones, and the pathway for aspiring umpires has never been more welcoming. The energy in the community is growing - and there’s plenty of opportunity for others to get involved.

“TTVUL has had another really positive year,” says TTVUL Training Coordinator Kameron Chan. “We’re thrilled to welcome six new State Umpires from across Victoria, with a seventh expected very soon. Huge thanks to Gary Warnest for his tireless work in bringing in new blood. Delivering our first-ever regional State Umpire course was a success, so much so we’re already planning another one in 2026.”

It’s not just new officials making waves. Some of Victoria’s more experienced members have also taken significant steps forward.

“We’re incredibly proud of Shahram and Anna for completing the State Referee course,” Kameron adds. “And a very special congratulations goes to Shahram for achieving the International Blue Badge Umpire qualification. It’s a massive achievement and opens the door to world-class opportunities, including the Olympic Games.”

TTV and the TTVUL warmly congratulate all newly accredited officials:

International (Blue Badge) Umpire

• Shahram Aminzadeh - Diamond Valley Table Tennis Association

State Referees

• Shahram Aminzadeh - Diamond Valley Table Tennis Association 

• Anna Wright - Mornington & Frankston Table Tennis Association

State Umpires

• Craig Woodward & Chris Nanere - Bendigo & District Table Tennis Association

• Alex Broch - South Eastern Table Tennis Association

• Elsie Wei - Croydon & District Table Tennis Association

• Ross Lappin - Melton Table Tennis Association

• Ajay Manoharan - Sunshine & District Table Tennis Association

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics only six years away, Kameron says there’s never been a better time to step into officiating.

“Imagine yourself in the Olympic Officials uniform in Brisbane… as the host country, it’s more achievable than you might think. If you’ve ever been curious about officiating, this is your moment. We’d love to help you get started.”

Getting started has never been easier. TTA’s fully online Level 1 Community Umpire course on Spin Academy offers a flexible, accessible way to take that first step. It’s self-paced, completely free, and designed as the ideal entry point for anyone considering a rewarding career in officiating:

https://www.tabletennisvic.org.au/news/community-umpires-course-spin-academy

Looking ahead, 2026 promises even more opportunities. A new hybrid officiating framework, that blends online learning with hands-on, in-person training, will make the pathway clearer, more practical, and accessible to everyone. The content has also been refreshed so prospective officials are better aligned with practices and expectations at modern Australian tournaments.

“From 2026, the Community Umpire course will be the required first step before undertaking any formal officiating training such as the State Umpires course,” Kameron explains. “It’s completely online, self-paced, and free so it is the perfect way to begin your journey. There’s no reason to wait, and who knows where officiating could take you!”

Ready to take your seat in the chair? Start your officiating journey today by contacting ttvumpiresleague@gmail.com.