Eighteen-year-old Brodie Taylor from Albury-Wodonga has made history—becoming the first known badged wheelchair netball umpire in New South Wales, and possibly Australia, to receive his C Badge accreditation.
Brodie’s journey into umpiring is remarkable not just for the milestone it represents, but for the determination and collaboration that made it possible.
“I honestly wasn’t planning on getting badged this year,” Brodie said. “I was just umpiring at a local Schools Cup event when Amanda [McLachlan] came up to me and said, ‘Look, we’ve all been watching you—we’re very impressed. Would you consider going for your badge?’ I thought, why not? My mum’s badged, and this felt like a good achievement—something I never thought I’d do.”
Brodie lives with acute transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that caused a spinal cord injury when he was just seven months old. He has spent his life in and out of power wheelchairs and undergoing surgeries. Despite the challenges, netball became a constant—thanks to his mum.
“I was always around the courts with Mum on Saturdays. My sister was off dancing with Nan, my brother was with Dad at rugby, and I just sat with Mum. I started out doing stats as her team manager. I love my stats—that’s what got me hooked.”
Brodie moved into coaching in 2023 and instantly made an impact, taking a club team to a premiership win and continuing to grow as a leader. His desire to empower young players shines through.
“I believe in showing our girls that they have potential—that they are just as capable as anyone else. That’s what I see as my role in netball.”
This year, he took up umpiring more seriously—just for fun at first—only to discover he had a knack for it. His talent didn’t go unnoticed.
Behind the scenes, Netball NSW worked hard to support Brodie’s accreditation journey. With guidance from Netball NSW Workforce Manager Chris Hall, the organisation worked with Netball Australia to navigate existing umpiring frameworks and make the pathway accessible for Brodie. Adjustments were made without compromising the integrity of the game or the standards required for badging.
Brodie’s C Badge assessment took place at Hume Netball Association in Jindera, south west NSW—cementing his place in netball history.
His story is not only a celebration of personal achievement, but also a reflection of what an inclusive sport netball is. With support, belief and opportunity, Brodie is proving that barriers can be broken—on and off the court.
Article: Netball NSW
