SNSWUA - Committee

Level 8 WBSC Umpire
WBSC #516a | Australian Cap #82

In recent umpiring history, it is hard to compare the distinguished contribution Andrew Rindfleish has made to any one individual. Andrew’s profile as an umpire, administrator, mentor and passionate participant of the game not only speaks for itself, but is unparalleled.

His impact is multi-layered, given the relative successes he enjoyed in his umpiring career at the local, state, national and international level. Andrew’s profile clearly illustrates his lasting contribution to each level of the sport. At the local level, Andrew was an active member of Sutherland Shire Softball Association for 35 years. At the state level, Andrew serviced State Championship events for 33 years. At the national level, he umpired at no less than 50 National Championships over a 27 year period. Internationally, Andrew serviced elite competitions – including four ISF World Championships – for 23 years.

At all times throughout this process, Andrew always had the development of others and the advancement of softball firmly embedded in his mind. His role as a mentor, instructor and trainer of umpires from across the country cannot be overlooked. It is difficult to measure the impact of one individual in this area when so many people have entered and exited the program throughout his time, but it is accurate to say that his impact has been immense.

Andrew’s generosity in giving over 35 years of his life to service and advance the game of softball in Australia is an achievement that is definitely worthy of Softball Australia’s recognition. His selflessness, dedication and passion cannot be accurately articulated in words. Andrew’s deeds have enriched our sport for the better and have touched the lives of many fortunate enough to share the journey.

Andrew umpired internationally from 1988 – 2010. His first international tournament was in 1998 (Open Women’s Bicentennial Challenge) and his last international tournament was in 2010 (Japan v Australia test series). Andrew was appointed as an umpire at two ISF Junior World Championships (1991, 2001) and two Open Men’s World Championships (1996, 2000). Andrew has contributed to the development of the sport through his work on the National Umpiring Committee including the position of as National Umpiring Chief from 2004-2009. Andrew was a member of the National Umpire Staff from the mid 1990’s.

International Events
1991 ISF Junior Men's World Championship
1996 ISF Senior Men's World Championship
2000 ISF Senior Men's World Championship
2001 ISF Junior Men's World Championship
2003 Oceania Olympic Qualifier
2015 Down Under Series
2016 Down Under Series (TCU)
2018 Asia Pacific Cup (TCU)
2019 Asia Pacific Cup (TCU)
2020 Australia Pacific Cup (TCU)

AWARDS
Redbacks Softball Club Life Member
Sutherland Shire Softball Association Life Member
1992 Softball NSW Umpires Association Life Member
2000 Softball NSW Umpire of the Year
2000 Australian Sports Medal
2002 Softball NSW Umpire of the Year
2013 Softball Australia Hall of Fame
2015 Director's Award for Services to Umpiring
2017 Softball NSW Hall of Fame
2020 Order of Australia Medal

Level 6 WBSC Umpire
WBSC #1009 | Australian Cap #96

Darrell Shephard first began umpiring at a NSW State Championship in 1983 and has gone on to umpire in no less than 33 State finals and over 100 managment crew appointments spanning 30+ years. 

In his 30+ years involment Darrell has held numerous leadership roles, including Softball NSW Director of Umpiring from 1991 to 2009 and the Softball Australian National Umpiring Committee Staff - Technical since 2016 until present. 

Darrell's service to Softball was recognised at the highest level in 2023 when he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. 

International / Overseas Events
1988 Bicentennial Challenge Series - Open Women
1992 Australia v New Zealand Open Men Tests
1994 Australia v Japan Open Women Tests
1994 Australia v USA Open Women Test
1999 Australia v New Zealand Open Women Tests
2002 Australia v New Zealand U19 Women Tests
2002 South Pacific Classic International Championship 
2003 Australian Youth Festival International New Zealand v Argentina U19 Women
2003 Australia v Japan U19 Men Tests
2004 Australia v Japan U19 Men Tests
2004 Blacktown International Open Women Softball Challenge 
2005 New Zealand Men's Open Championship
2006 Australia v Japan Open Women Tests
2006 Australia v New Zealand U19 Men Test Series
2007 Australia U19 v China Open Women Test Series
2007 Japan Cup
2008 International Series, Open Women
2009 Chinese National Games
2010 Australia v Japan Open Women Test Series, Sydney
2010 Australia v New Zealand U19 Men Test Series
2012 Australia v Japan Open Women Test Series, Canberra
2019 Asian Pacific Cup Open Women at Blacktown

AWARDS
1996 Softball NSW Umpires Association Life Member
1998 Softball Australia Service Award
1999 Softball NSW Umpire of the Year
2000 Dapto Softball Club Life Member
2000 Australian Sports Medal
2001 Wollongong Lord Mayor Sporting Recognition Award
2004 Illawarra District Softball Association Life Member
2005 Softball Australia Administrator of the Year
2009 Softball NSW Umpire of the Year
2017 Softball NSW Life Member
2023 Order of Australia Medal

Level 6
Australian Cap #189
Softball NSW

Level 4
Penrith City

Matthew (Matt) Beach is an up and coming umpire who recently attained his Level 4 umpire accreditation. Matt has taken on a leadership role with becoming Penrith City Softball Associations UIC where he encourages players and spectators of all ages to become umpires. 

In 2023, Matt will make history with becoming the only NSW member to Play, Coach and Umpire within the same national period. 

Matt is an umpire of the future and is working towards obtaining his level 5 in the future. 

AWARDS
2021 SNSWUA Encouragement Award - Umpiring
2021 SNSW Junior Coach Award

Level 6
Australian Cap #191
Manly Warringah

Jess has been heavily involved in softball for the past 21 years and impressively continues to play, coach and umpire within Softball NSW. Her extensive knowledge of the game has been an asset to her Association as a coach and an umpire, and  for SNSW, Jess is a valuable contributor to the  Softball NSW Umpiring Program as a current Executive Committee member.

Jess is currently a part of the Australian Development Squad for umpires and is working hard to achieve her goals of obtaining WBSC certification. She continues to work towards her goals daily and takes every opportunity that comes her way. Jess has represented NSW at 4 National Championships from 2017-2021 and was appointed her first international games appearance at the Australian Pacific Cup and Summer Slam in 2019. She regularly takes on roles at State Championships as a Deputy UIC, where she enjoys mentoring and organising the umpiring service to the game.  At the association level, Jess is the Umpire In Chief at Manly Warringah Softball Association, where she continues to support and grow the umpiring development program. 

As a coach, Jess has been appointed the Head Coach of the Manly Warringah Open Women’s and Under 23’s Representative teams and an assistant coach for the Under 18s, and Under 12’s current representative teams. She previously assisted the U14’s MWSA representative teams from 2018-2020. 

AWARDS
2016 - SNSWUA Encouragement Award.