Swana Ng Provincial Referee

How long you have been a referee: 5 years

What is it about refereeing that you enjoy: I enjoy making new referee friends and meeting other passionate individuals in the Volleyball Community!

Your favourite memory or story: My favourite memory is going to nationals in Edmonton for the first time last year. Despite the long tournament hours and lack of rest, it was very reassuring to have the support of your referee friends who were also experiencing the same thing as you. It was also very heart-warming to meet other referees from other provinces. I recall exchanging coins and talking about each province's respective volleyball association and stories of how we got into reffing. All of that combined made it a truly memorable experience for me. 

A tough moment you experienced and how you overcame it: Shortly after getting certified, there was a parent who yelled rude/disrespectful comments as they were watching the match right behind where I was standing. After the game, I was fortunate to have a Head Referee at that tournament who was there to support me and talk to the teams. As a young referee, it was definitely a shock, but I used that experience to learn and tried to turn a negative experience into a positive one. I continue to ref so that I can help support younger referees who become intimidated/nervous in similar situations and help them be able to learn and grow from it.