To reach Gold Badge status, Nico had to be at ITTF Level 4 (Blue Badge) for at least two years, pass the ITTF Advanced Rules Exam again and have at least three performance assessments by the referee team in the last two years, with an average rating of at least 85%. 

He is one of only 23 umpires from around the world to be confirmed at Gold Badge Level. It was a journey which started with passing the Level 1 (then called County) Umpire exam in England in 2012. 

“Nico has been an amazing umpire in England and around the World for many years now and its truly wonderful to see him reach the very pinnacle of umpiring in the World” commented Chris Newton, General Secretary Technical Officials Committee (TOC). “He is our first of many more Gold Badge umpires that we are striving to create over the next few years.” 

Developing future umpires and referees across England is a priority for Table Tennis England, with the launch of a new Technical Officials Academy happening very soon and the aim is to replicate Nico’s success through a clear pathway for officials. This new Academy will create seamless opportunities for those that want to officiate across all levels and make access to progression easier.

Andrew Wilesmith, Head of Development said; “The news about Nico is fantastic and testament to his dedication to the role over many years and, the support from his colleagues and TOC. Like our world class performance pathway, we are also striving for a world class officials’ pathway that places England firmly on the world stage.” 

Click here to read more about Nico’s journey. 

Nico said: “To cap a fantastic summer of table tennis for me personally, it’s a great feeling to have reached Gold Badge status and being among the 23 umpires worldwide who have achieved that.  

“There’s been a personal commitment to get here as I had to go to several tournaments for the necessary assessments, one of them being at the Olympics, and also pass again the ITTF Advanced Rules Exam. 

“But this commitment doesn’t stop there: to maintain the Gold Badge status, there are several requirements: a certain number of assessments every two years, participation also a certain number of international tournaments per year, further ITTF Advanced Rules Exam, attendance of webinars with fellow umpires as continuous professional development.  

“It’s always a learning environment. All this is addition of my daily job which also requires a lot of travel, so I’ll see how I can fit all this together. 

“However, as a Gold Badge umpire, it makes it easier to be invited to the big tournaments: WTT Smash, WTT Champions and Finals. In the end, this is why I very much enjoy umpiring, despite the pressure in those big events. 

“There is also my personal commitment to support new and upcoming umpires to also go all the way up the ladder, the same way that many colleagues in England supported me (and still do).  

“The same way that I achieved this, many of the great young umpires we have in England can definitely do it as well. It will come with the experience and I hope I can pass part of that to them. 

“I try to attend as many tournaments in England as possible, but not as many as I’d like to. But in those tournaments, I’m more than happy to share those experiences.” 

If you wish to start your Umpiring journey click here