Narrabri netball umpire Mackenzie Knox awarded B Badge and Breakthrough Umpire Award at Academy Games

Narrabri netball umpire Mackenzie Knox recently brought home the distinguished Breakthrough Umpire Award from the state’s 2023 Your Local Club Academy Games, where she was also awarded a National B Badge.

There were approximately 250 netball athletes, 26 umpire athletes, 15 umpire coaches and 38 coaches at the prestigious event, which was hosted by the Southern Sports Academy in Wagga Wagga.

In total, there were approximately 1500 athletes that competed across seven sports, including basketball, cycling, golf, hockey, netball, triathlon and indoor volleyball.

Mackenzie is part of Northern Inland Academy of Sport, which was one of 11 academies that attended the event. The 17-year-old Narrabri girl, who is the daughter of Michael Knox and Sharlee Bruce, is NIAS’s first umpire athlete.

“A special congratulations to Mackenzie Knox, who was a standout at the games,” said NIAS CEO Shona Eichorn,

“We couldn’t be prouder of her mammoth effort.

“Mackenzie was assessed and awarded her netball umpires B Badge, no small feat in that huge audience.

“This wonderful achievement would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts and support of our NIAS netball umpire coaches Sarah Horne from Tamworth Netball Association and Laura Cambridge from Armidale District Netball Association.”

There are four badges that fall under Netball Australia’s Umpire Accreditation System – C Badge, B Badge, A Badge and AA Badge, which is the highest national award.

The system is an educational pathway based on Netball Australia umpiring courses (foundation and elite), ongoing professional development and practical umpiring instruction through an experienced umpire coach system.

Assessment is based on the rules of netball theory examination, practical evaluation through an established competency-based assessment system, self-reflection and, where possible, video analysis.

Mackenzie was awarded her C Badge back in May 2021 when she took on more umpiring duties after breaking her wrist at Quirindi Netball Association’s representative netball carnival.

She went away to Netball NSW’s Senior State Titles with team white for the first time that year and has since gone from strength to strength.