Written by Amelia Barnes
Male participation in netball continues to increase with a new generation of boys championing their inclusion in the sport.
Among them is 16-year-old Jack Davidge: an accomplished netball player, umpire, and coordinator based in Castlemaine, west central Victoria.
In his family, Davidge is the netballer, and his sister is the football and cricket player.
Davidge’s involvement in netball began as a player at eight years of age.
He was only aware of one other boy playing at the time, but they both remain in the sport today, and train together in the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) 17/U development team (which feeds into the Victorian men’s state team).
“I'd say every team has a boy in it now… It's not just a girls’ sport,” Davidge said.
Davidge currently plays mixed netball at Castlemaine District Netball Association (CDNA) and was captain of their 17&Under Boys Squad who finished runners up at the 2023 Association Championships.
Davidge also captained the first 17&Under Male team for the North Central region in 2023 – the first time the region has fielded a boys side for the event – and again in 2024.
“I've always felt supported, especially the association I play at. They've always been so supportive with boys playing netball and me playing netball,” Davidge said.
A strong goal shooter and goal attack, Davidge hopes to continue progressing through the men’s netball pathway and make the state team, but his key focus is on umpiring.
“I actually like it more than playing,” he said.
Davidge started umpiring at 10 years of age, going on to earn his C Badge in 2023.
He made his umpiring debut at Association Championships the same year, leading him to be talent identified (TID) and invited to join the Northern Talent Academy.
As a Talent Academy umpire, Davidge participates in theory lessons with mentors and officiates match play during the athlete training sessions.
“We go over the rule book and analyse everything,” he said. “It’s really good, and it's definitely helped my umpiring.”
Davidge continues to finesse his understanding and control of the game by umpiring harder and faster matches, including finals and A Grade matches in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL).
“In my first year after getting my badge I got to umpire BFNL finals… I was so excited,” he said.
Davidge is also a keen watcher of Suncorp Super Netball, where he learns by observing the umpires’ positioning and perspective of the game.
In 2024, Davidge has taken his involvement in netball to the next level by becoming the umpire coordinator at both Castlemaine Football Netball Club and Castlemaine District Netball Association.
“I try and help the umpires who are developing at Castlemaine and do the whole roster for the season,” he said.
These volunteer roles, combined with Davidge’s umpiring and playing commitments, see him contributing numerous hours a week to netball, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Vanessa Saunders has been one of Davidge’s coaches since Under 11s and is excited to see his dedication paying off.
“He trains with us most weeks with the 17&Under girls and he's just part of the team,” Saunders said.
“He's now progressing with his umpiring, so he's now got two pathways… There's so many opportunities now.”
In future, Saunders can see Davidge harnessing his playing and umpiring experience to become a talented coach.
“We're really proud of Jack and what he's achieved at the association… He lives and breathes netball,” Saunders said.
“Jack's got a big future, whichever pathway he takes.”
Find out more about opportunities for men and boys in netball
