Stoush brews over court shorts
By JIMMY ELLINGHAM - Manawatu Standard
Relevant offers
Netball
A Palmerston North netball team that wears shorts instead of skirts is embroiled in a stoush with the sport's administrators after it was told to fall back into the feminine line.
For the past six years, social netball team Bits and Pieces have worn the less traditional uniform for their Saturday club games.
But an edict from Netball Manawatu could see them back in skirts next season, and team members are angry they will have to fork out for new uniforms.
Netball Manawatu general manager Joy Walden denied Bits and Pieces had been banned from wearing shorts, saying a decision had not yet been made.
Team member Joy Zentveld said the shorts became an issue for Netball Manawatu in early May, when Ms Walden called a meeting with the team.
Fellow team member Wendy Ngataki attended the meeting, where shortening the team's full name of Adecco Bits and Pieces was also discussed.
Ms Ngataki said Ms Walden made it clear shorts were not welcome after Netball Manawatu denied another team the right to wear them.
That team had apparently cited Bits and Pieces' uniform as a precedent, Ms Ngataki said. Mrs Zentveld said Netball Manawatu suggested Bits and Pieces, an independent team, approach a club to get skirts for the players, or wear shirt-like flaps over their shorts.
"It's not just financial. It's the principle. They [Netball Manawatu] said we can play in shorts, so what is the harm? Who are we offending?
"We pay a lot of money [$800 a season for the team] to play the game. If we're in something outrageous, fair enough, but we were not," Mrs Zentveld said.
Ms Walden said the initial meeting was instigated by Bits and Pieces to discuss its team name.
However, the Manawatu Standard has a copy of an email sent by Ms Walden on May 8.
In it, Ms Walden asks for the team to meet her the following day.
"It has been brought to my attention that this team are wearing shorts again," she wrote.
Ms Walden told the Standard "there is no story here", as the team was still allowed to wear shorts.
Ms Walden said no decision had been made on what the team could wear next year, but she wouldn't rule out a ban on shorts.
Local associations had the right to make their own rules about team uniforms. Wearing shorts was not banned in Manawatu and Netball Manawatu had no plans to change that, Ms Walden said.
Netball Manawatu was aware of Bits and Pieces' different uniform, as it made clear on its annual registrations forms it would play in shorts, she said.
Netball New Zealand operations director Kate Agnew said the only clothing requirement in the rules of the game was that players wear positional bibs.
No mention was made about shorts in Netball New Zealand's guidelines, she said.
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
Great article Jimmy Elingham. I agree with OldFashioned, put the All Blacks in skirts then!!
If i was on the Netball Manawatu Baord id be concerned the amount of negitive press general manager Joy Walden is creatiing....She's been blocking the guys (they best move they could make is let the guys play!, i mean have you seen the level of netball on a Tuesday night... some of the games are a joke) now shorts! A previous commnet was made previously which i think sums it up "Does she realise that she sending netball backwards as far as sexism goes?"... i think Manawatu netball has 1 problem....
I disagree with Netball Manawatu, These ladies I have known them & played 1 season for them, for over 6yrs + & they are the team that always wears the shorts. All the teams that play on the Saturday morning or afternoon see Bits and Pieces playing in their shorts & it don’t bother them, Bits and Pieces are a lovely team & I think of memory 40% of the team is 50yrs + of age. I think that it is fantastic to see that age group still playing in an outdoor netball competition (I hope I will be playing at a ripe old age too), Netball Manawatu should just leave Bits and Pieces alone with their shorts, the last thing I want to see are these lovely ladies not playing the sport they love due to a pair of short.
I think that Netball Manawatu has forgotten about the love of the sport. all these player really want to do is play good outdoor netball, they should stick to the paper work & leave the fun to the players. I know that rules are rules but please Bits and Pieces have worn shorts for over 6yrs now
Good luck Bits and Pieces
this is just outrageous, how can they scrutinise a women's sports team for not wearing skirts, it is incredibly sexist. it should't be about the attire, more the quality of sport. it is just a ploy to feminise the sport which is already unisex. does that mean that male netball teams will now have to wear skirts too?
Wow this really seems to be becoming a prominent thing with the netball organisations we have had the same problem. i think providing the team all looks like a team and he shorts match then what does it matter - we are meant to be encouraging more people to get out there especially the overweight or obese women out there and i think that pety concerns over looking femine verses getting out and doing sport are stupid. Its social
Surely Netball Manawatu can move with the times and meet Bits and Pieces halfway here - change the rules to allow either short skirts or hot pants.
Re Pauls Comment to place the story in Odd stuff....... they are from Palmerston North - a very odd bunch the lot of them.
Ms Walden, this aint gonna go away, please come and tell us why netballers shouldnt wear shorts.
so if they get a strip of material and sew it over their shorts they can play? How daft is that?? No wonder no-one takes women's sport seriously!
For goodness sake- they pay their fees and turn up every week, the should be congratulated!
Ali Williams sees positives from Achilles injury
Referee says rugby has to change
Daniel Flynn pays price for Black Caps test
Brett, Mathewson among six new Blues named
Willie Ripia to start for Hurricanes
Australia dominate Rose Bowl series opener
Wide-eyed Kiwi skater poised to make an impact
Hi-tech glasses boost America's Cup's skipper's info
Andy Roddick's wife on SI swimsuit edition cover
Ronaldson's farewell factor to boost Breakers
Lauaki expected to line up despite infection
Waikato rape accused name supression lifted
Harawira Maori seats bill 'a mistake'
Base jumper injured in 30m fall
Billboard used in hunt for taxi driver's killer
Nintendo pirate just a shy gamer - dad
Crayfish game closed down in Auckland
Palin's ex stars as nude coverboy
Referee says rugby has to change
Operation Titstorm hackers strike Australia
'Lovesick' student sparked airport alert
Wooo Hooo !!! in vein or in vain