2020 in focus: Referee Conor Davis

As part of Water Polo’s 2020 in focus series the series will catch up with the people and clubs that make up water polo in Australia.

Conor Davis is one of the many referees officiating at this years KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

The New South Wales referee has just spent his first year on the FINA referee list.

At just 24 years old, Davis has spent the last couple of years as a National League referee, and recently travelled to Kuwait where he refereed at the FINA World Junior Men’s Water Polo Championships.

But refereeing wasn’t something that Davis thought he’d ever excel in.

“I first got involved in refereeing as a kid to get a bit of extra pocket money,” Davis said.

“But from there I started loving what I was doing, and the more I refereed, the more I felt I was a part of helping the sport to grow, which is a really rewarding feeling,” Davis said.

Now, to have been appointed as a referee on the international stage is something that Davis is extremely proud of.

“Making both the National League list and the FINA list weren’t things that I was expecting, but that I was working hard towards,” Davis said.

“Going to Kuwait for the Junior Worlds was an amazing experience. It was incredible to be there in an atmosphere of elite performance,” he said.

“But for me, it was just another stepping stone for whatever comes next.”

While Davis remains humble about his FINA appointment, he said that the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced referees in the game whilst in Kuwait was extremely valuable.

“Having those guys there, who have years and years of experience, and to learn from them at every opportunity was incredible,” Davis said.

“You can’t do well as a referee without constantly learning and having the guys there to tell you everything you need know was exactly what I needed,” he said.

No matter what level of game Davis referees, there is one thing that he always keeps on his mind.

“The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to referee like you’ve refereed a million games before,” Davis said.

“When you step onto pool deck and blow your whistle, you’ve got to do it confidently.”