#18 We’re not football! And we don’t have to be!

I have written before about my distain for booing at netball matches. Surrey Storm netball supporters felt my wrath at the home game against Thunder last year. For me, it’s completely unnecessary. We are not football and we can carve our own, alternative, supporting path!

If it’s one criticism I had of the World Cup 2019 it was the booing in the arena - particularly of umpires.

I was watching a netball game in recent months involving potentially talented Netballers, not one over the age of 21 and most between 16-18 years old. It was a high level spectacle featuring many players on the performance pathway.

Given the age of such performers I was, therefore, very disappointed at the lack of sportsmanship shown from the supporters at the game, about 50 or so, mainly, but not exclusively made up of families, who thought it was appropriate to cheer a warning and then a caution. Again, completely unnecessary, unkind and impactful on a young player who needed to be taken away from the situation, clearly upset.

Warning and cautions are now part of netball, we see them every week at local courts as well as Superleague matches on TV. I don’t condone the actions of those who receive them - they’ve broken the rules - but surely we can just be more kind.

I’ve been a football fan in the past particularly when I was young. I’d think twice about taking my own children to football games, if they showed an interest, partly because of the supporters (and some footballers!) behaviour. ‘The referee’s a w*ne’er’ is not on the list for music lessons or school assemblies - as far as I know! 😉

Superleague pundits are right when they say netball needs to attract new audiences to the sport. I suggest families would be a great option - they are also revenue drivers. (Lets be honest that is where we are heading!)

Wouldn't it be nice to invest in and encourage a family friendly product? Young fans can be inspired and excited by our amazing Superleague athletes, teenagers can watch the latest warm ups and take ideas back to their own sessions & adults can be entertained with some edge of the seat score lines.

We don’t need criticism of umpires, cheering of sendings off and booing of substitutions to muddy that atmosphere. Those negatives can be toxic to our great game. Surely we are more than that? Surely we can be better!?!