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Harned wins top newcomer

VOLLEYBALL: Vernon official makes big impression
web1_Rose-Harnedweb

She’s a nice, caring student-athlete but don’t take Rose Harned as a pushover on the volleyball court.

Named the recent winner of Volleyball BC’s Official Newcomer Award, Harned passed her referee certification one week and was working for real the next at age 15.

“I down-reffed a senior boys game with (veteran official) Cam Robertson,” said Harned, a Grade 11 Seaton student. “It was incredibly intimidating but amazing. Cam made sure I knew what I was doing and helped me through all the tough spots, let me call my own stuff and let me know if I was missing things. I’ve worked with some amazing people along the way and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”

Volleyball, unlike hockey or soccer, isn’t without controversy between officials and coaches/players.

“You have to be firm and say, ‘This is my call, if you don’t like it, you can choose to be angry or keep playing.’ If they’re going to mouth off to me, I have no problem giving them a card and saying, ‘Get out of my gym.’”

She gives major props to allocator Joan Rowan for assigning her multiple matches around her own practice and game schedule.

“She gave me my own Grade 8 league right off the bat and I learned so much from that. It was amazing.”

Harned says earning some spending money refereeing is the only way she can balance a part-time job around playing school volleyball.

“People ask me all the time how I manage to ref and be a student and play all the time. I have great support from my family and from my coaches. Mr. Huggins has been amazing. He’s been the best coach I’ve ever had.”

Harned, who plays Libero for the senior Sonics, was harshly questioned officiating junior boys matches last season.

“It’s hard because I’m young and a lot of times, the coaches and even some players, they see me as young and I’m a girl. You have to make your decisions right away and you have to be confident in them. The farther along you go, the more experienced coaches you meet and the more they understand you can’t see everything.”

Sonic head coach and vice-principal Jeff Huggins sees both the athleticism and academic success in the ever-smiling Harned.

“Rose is a fantastic young lady who works hard at everything she does,” said Huggins. “She’s first to practice. She sets up the standards and the nets and starts warming up. She’s the last one at practice taking things down.

“She’s always willing to help when we’re going away for a tournament to make sure things are organized and ready and she always has a good attitude, on the court and waiting to play on the bench. She never complains.”

Harned often brings homework on bus trips.

“She’s a great student, a smart young lady,” said Huggins.

Seaton athletic director Nathan Lee could go on forever about Harned’s attributes.

“She is a fantastic kid,” said Lee. “Starter on our second-place (in B.C.) AAA girls volleyball team, straight A student, leadership kid, athletic leadership kid, minor scorekeeper for both volleyball and basketball. She is as hard working and as driven as it gets. It comes as no surprise that she excels as a referee as she gives such attention to detail to whatever she takes on here at Seaton.

“Rose is an assertive young lady with a very strong will to succeed in whatever she takes on. She is a part of our volunteer athletics leadership group here, a member of Seaton Leadership, and has volunteered her time as a referee at the elementary level both last year and this year at our feeder schools. She is a great minor official for both volleyball and basketball, and is an excellent student.”

Rowan, the Zone Rep for the North Okanagan Volleyball Officials, believes Harned can go big time in officiating.

”Rose only started officiating in 2015 and has shown remarkable talent and maturity,” said Rowan. “We think she has the potential to rise to the top of the officiating ladder in Canada and internationally…..she’s that good. Kids like Rose are rare.”

Harned is taking the award with honour and grace.

“It means a lot to me; it’s incredibly great to be recognized for something that I enjoy doing. I’ve done a lot of different things reffing. I did the Grade 6 leagues for a while and I enjoyed that the most. It’s nice to see the kids when they’re learning.”