Shepparton’s James Dean wins National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Official of the Year
It’s normal to expect a rapturous applause when James Dean steps on stage.
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And for a Shepparton tennis chair umpire and namesake of the legendary actor, a recent awards ceremony delivered similar Hollywood-esque glitz and glamour.
Dean was named Official of the Year at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards, attending the Brisbane-hosted who’s who of Indigenous sporting elite on November 15.
The 36-year-old rubbed shoulders with the likes of Evonne Goolagong, NRL stars Dean Widders and Matt Bowen and former Port Adelaide and Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard, who presented his AFL-sponsored award.
But Dean admitted the honour arrived with no warning — and even less expectation.
“It came as a complete surprise to me when I got the phone call that I’d been nominated for the award,” he said.
“I felt so honoured just to be nominated and just been blown away that my sports officiating had been recognised in that way on a national scale.
“To be recognised by my own community and mob as well, it just made it that little bit extra special to represent Aboriginal people around the country.”
Dean honed his game as a junior at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club before turning to officiating, a journey that began by reading a piece of paper tacked up in a clubhouse.
In the early 2010s, he moved to Melbourne from Shepparton in the hope of finding a new home at a local comp.
The problem? The season was already underway.
“I’d gone to a local club to express my interest and I had to wait to join that season,” Dean said.
“There just happened to be a flyer on the wall looking for Australian Open line umpires, and I thought to myself, seeing as I can’t play at the moment, I might as well do some tennis chair umpiring just to get my tennis fix until the season starts.”
It was meant to fill a gap; a temporary hobby.
Instead, some 13 years later, Dean still sits above the baseline, calling lines and managing emotions on some of the country’s most prestigious courts.
The Shepparton product said he never expected to be umpiring in the present day and age, and to be recognised on a national level is even more overwhelming.
But that proves two things true: Dean is committed to umpiring, and is damn good at it too.
So what makes him a cut above?
For spectators, an umpire’s work seems simple: call what you see.
But for Dean, the heart of the job lies in what the audience can’t hear or measure.
“Everyone sees me call out or a fault, but so much of what I do in the chair is just player management,” Dean said.
“You could have Hawkeye Vision but the player will still disagree and think that the ball is out.
“The biggest skill you need is communication and being able to talk to players.
“Maybe not convincing them you were right and they were wrong, but more so being able to manage their frustration - particularly if they’re in a losing position - and making sure the game flows nicely.”
Tennis has countless instances of umpire versus player on the pro circuit, from John McEnroe’s infamous Wimbledon meltdown of 1981 to Nick Kyrgios’ back and forth with anyone who’ll listen.
But Dean has had his fair share of memorable encounters, too — including a ball mark inspection debate on a clay court at Kooyong.
“I came on down, it was borderline touching the line for an ace, and as I’m returning to the chair having made my call, he’s lying down on the court, microscopic on that ball mark,” Dean said with a laugh.
“I still see him around the courts and he still makes a point of saying ‘James, that ball was out’.
“It’s all light-hearted fun, but you want to develop those relationships with players because you’ll see them around the traps.”
For all the line disputes, the pressure of major tournaments and the constant travel, Dean says his favourite part of officiating doesn’t happen on the court at all.
“It might sound cliché, but it’s the tight-knit officiating community we have,” he said.
“Because we come from all across the country, it’s so nice - if I go to Brisbane or Hobart or Perth or Darwin, being able to catch up with all these mates and fellow officials who I’ve known for many years.
“The highlight for me is seeing all my fellow officials, and also seeing others take that next leap in their own officiating career.
“I enjoy mentoring some of the younger ones who are starting to come up as well.”
Dean can now call himself an award-winning umpire, mentoring the next generation and keeping the peace when tennis tempers flare.
Who would’ve thought it all started by reading a flyer on the wall.