For Spain’s Ana Ortega, last weekend in Barcelona marked a perfect intersection of past dreams and present milestones.

In the space of two days, she graduated from the EuroHockey Umpire Development Programme (UDP) and took charge of one of the biggest matches of her career so far — Kampong versus Braxgata in the EHL KO16 — standing shoulder to shoulder with the umpire who first inspired her to pick up the whistle, Scotland’s Sarah Wilson.

“It was a dream,” Ortega smiled. “Ten years ago, I saw this female umpire on TV at the Rio Olympics and thought, ‘Wow, I would love to do that.’ And ten years later, I was sharing the field with her. I still think I’m dreaming!”

From tennis courts to hockey pitches

Ortega’s route into hockey was not particularly traditional. Growing up in Madrid, she was initially a talented young tennis player until a PE teacher introduced her to hockey.

 “That’s where I learned the values of teamwork and camaraderie. My family were all about tennis — I was the first hockey player in the family!”

Her local club, JAB [please correct!], became the setting for those first steps in the sport. It wasn’t long before her curiosity turned to officiating — though her reasons at the time were more pragmatic than ambitious.

“After a few years of playing, I realised that players who were also umpires could sometimes complain a little more during matches,” she laughed. “So I thought it might be a good option! But the final push came when I watched the Rio Olympics. I saw Sarah Wilson on TV, and she inspired me completely. The next season, I signed up for my first umpiring course at my local association.”

From player to umpire

For a while, Ortega balanced playing and umpiring — until her two worlds collided. “When my team was promoted to Spain’s second division, I had to choose,” she said.

“There were too many clashes between matches and appointments, and I realised I was probably a better umpire than player. So that was it.”

By her early twenties, she had committed fully to umpiring, but her journey gathered real pace a few years later when she came under the mentorship of one of Spanish hockey’s leading umpiring figures, Paco Vázquez.

“The national federation set up an umpiring training group led by Paco,” she said. “They took a team of 10 or 12 young female umpires — we were known as Las Pacas! Paco made us dream. He taught us to set goals like going to the Olympics or the World Cup. He was my teacher, my mentor, my coach — one of the key people in my hockey life.”

That mentoring relationship would come full circle in Barcelona, where Vázquez once again served as one of the umpire managers during her EHL weekend.

Finding her umpiring family

Ortega’s first taste of the EuroHockey pathway came in 2019 when she officiated at a EuroHockey Hockey 5s event, but it was her involvement in the Umpires for Europe initiative that truly opened the door to continental experiences.

“Through Umpires for Europe (U4E), I got the chance to travel, meet different umpires, and learn about different hockey cultures,” she explained. “After a few years, I was contacted to join UDP 16, and I didn’t hesitate for a second. I remember jumping and screaming with my best friend when the message came — we knew it was a great opportunity to grow.”

Over the past few years, the UDP experience has been transformative for Ortega — not just technically, but personally.

“For me, the key of the UDP is the collaboration and teamwork with my mentors and my generation,” she said.

“Last year, I had a difficult time preparing for the Indoor World Cup because we didn’t have an indoor league in Spain. I asked my mentors for help, and they immediately offered me chances to go to other countries, train, and prepare properly. They gave me all the facilities and matches I needed — and it made such a difference.”

She was also able to draw on the experience from the UDP 15 group, getting the opportunity to umpire in the Dutch competition via mentor Fanneke Alkemade.

Umpiring with Sarah Wilson (left) last week at the EHL in Barcelona. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics

The results were clear: “The UDP works like a family, not just for your own generation. I was appointed to very important matches and enjoyed my first Indoor World Cup experience in the best possible way. That’s what the UDP means to me — a network that celebrates your appointments, supports you in tough times, and pushes you to be better.”

A weekend to remember

Last week was all about outdoor hockey — and a whirlwind of emotions. Graduating from the UDP and making her EHL debut in the same weekend might sound like a logistical nightmare, but Ortega handled it calmly and and with gratitude.

“Of course, I celebrated the EHL appointment — I was so happy,” she said. “But it was also our graduation weekend, our last time together as UDP 16. It was hard to be in two places at once!”

Thanks to a little planning and flexibility, she managed both. “I was focused on the tournament, had good matches and good debriefs, and on the last day my UMs agreed I could go to the graduation dinner.

“The hotel was close by, so I joined my group and we celebrated together. They all knew how important that EHL match was to me, so it felt like a collective success.”

The moment her appointment with Sarah Wilson was confirmed will stay with her forever. “When I got the appointment, I went crazy,” she admitted. “Ten years ago, I watched her on TV and thought, ‘I’d love to do that.’ Then suddenly I was there, walking out with her for an EHL game. It was a dream come true.”

Looking ahead

The coming months promise more milestones for the Spanish official. In December, she heads to Chile for the Junior World Cup, before a busy indoor season that includes the men’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship in Heidelberg in January and the Club Cup in Sant Cugat in February.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “The EHL was the perfect preparation for the Junior World Cup, and I’ve heard the indoor events are already sold out, so the atmosphere will be amazing.”

Gratitude and growth

Reflecting on her progress so far, Ortega is quick to share credit for her success. “I just want to say thank you,” she said.

“To my umpire managers, my mentors, the organisers, EuroHockey, and of course my colleagues. Without them, this journey wouldn’t have been possible. Sometimes it feels like an individual path, but really it’s a team effort. Every promotion, every appointment, it’s for all of us.”

With a bright future ahead and a heart full of gratitude, Ortega embodies the spirit of the UDP — a programme that nurtures not just great umpires, but great people.

“I always carry my little UDP 16 family with me,” she said. “In every appointment, every match, every victory. They’re part of me.”