A rant about the shocking England netball mascot

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Bath university to see England play Australia. They won. It was awesome.

It was the first proper live netball match I have watched that wasn’t being played by slightly wobbly mums, and it was incredibly inspiring – we all came away absolutely buzzing, and with big plans for our own netball team.

Less inspiring though was the team mascot. The event was packed out with women and girls, and yet at half time they got this:

"England netball mascot"

Seriously. WTF?? Words actually failed me for a moment.

This is what we want young girls and women in sport to be inspired by is it? Some sort of Bratz/sex doll hybrid? Surely the human body can’t even hold up hair that big?

It was absolutely shocking.

They were featured in the programme too, because obviously all girls love hearts and cupcakes and what not. Not sport.

IMG-20130120-00096

There was an interview with Petal in the programme too, where she was asked all sorts of probing, sports related questions, like where her fashion inspiration comes from. Glee apparently.

Am I being unreasonable to be shocked by this?

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12 Comments

  1. 4 February, 2013 / 2:01 pm

    That is horrible and deserves a stiff mail to the promotors and any one else you can think of….

    • admin
      5 February, 2013 / 11:40 am

      You’re right Hilary, I feel a stiff letter coming on…

  2. 4 February, 2013 / 2:04 pm

    The images of this and mentions together with the word netball makes me a bit sick. I was forced to play netball at school and had the coordination of Norman Wisdom, I was awful The Bratz doll types all looking beautiful, clever and ….. rant. Email somebody at English netball, this sucks.

    • admin
      5 February, 2013 / 11:41 am

      It DOES suck doesn’t it? I’m glad it’s not just me being over-sensitive – thank you!

    • admin
      5 February, 2013 / 11:40 am

      Yes, I think they must!

  3. 4 February, 2013 / 3:13 pm

    Well you’re shocked and I’m shocked and I think the others who have commented are shocked too, so I’d say that’s pretty much giving you your answer. Can’t believe after our ‘summer of sport’ and amazing role models last year that this is what the English netball association thinks is a good idea as a mascot.

    • admin
      5 February, 2013 / 11:39 am

      It’s so depressing isn’t it? Not really much of a ‘legacy’.

  4. 4 February, 2013 / 8:23 pm

    I think the mascot looks sort of creepy. It is her lips and neck that most freak me out. I think a random animal wearing something funny, would be better.

    • admin
      5 February, 2013 / 11:39 am

      I agree Brian – random dog in a suit is fine, these weird dolls are not.

  5. Petal
    22 March, 2013 / 2:28 pm

    I was one of the volunteers that wore the mascot outfits for both test series and they were amazingly well recieved! These mascots have been in front of over 20,000 people as well as being sent out to 80,000 affiliated members nationally and not one complaint was registered to England Netball until this blog was written. The mascots are not meant to be seen as role models the role models are the girls playing, The royal Welsh regiment has a goat as a mascot there not asking recruits or employees to look up to the goat! The fact that this blog is pink and your daughter cooks one direction cupcakes surely epitomises what young girls like! The increase in participation numbers and people at the events is down to an amazing job being done by England Netball, thank goodness it is only a handful of people that take this view. Lots of kisses and girly stuff PETAL

    • None of your business
      4 April, 2013 / 9:04 pm

      I play netball. I love the mascots they r girly fun and cute. They are epic I love them

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