ladyball

amdublin

Anyone seen the ads and the hooha all over twitter?
It's mind blowing ly sexist.

I'm convinced it's a pr stunt for a health campaign. I'm thinking ovarian cancer. And with Ger Brennan backing it (religion fella who doesn't like gay people getting married) I'm thinking #getyourrosarysoffmyovaries

If it is a true campaign for a true product I have no words.
If it is a pr stunt it's appalling.

The J Stands for Jay

I saw the ad in the paper and then looked at their website. It says the product doesn't exist, but if there's demand they'll make it. Looks like a pr stunt, but they're thinking some women might actually want a pink ball.

No mention of any sport it's for, and they talk about it being lighter. The rules if each sport set out the size and weight if balls that must be used. Seems to be an obvious pisstake.

amdublin

So what is the pr stunt for??

The J Stands for Jay

It's probably for some proper sports equipment, saying they don't patronise women etc.

amdublin

Let's irk people so bad that they will be relieved when they see our product. We'll that's some crazy twisted marketing logic

vicwatson

Saw it on indo website, ckicked through, was confused. Clicked out.

The J Stands for Jay

amdublin wrote: »

Let's irk people so bad that they will be relieved when they see our product. We'll that's some crazy twisted marketing logic

I imagine they'll be like: this is what those other pricks think of you. We're not like that, we're cool.

RiderOnTheStorm

Big Ed loves Mona

whiskeyman

Anyone know more about this?
I thought it was a poor final year marketing student project when I first heard it, but the fact it has (paid for) radio and press ads makes me rethink.
Looks like some PR or 'creative' ad agency just showing how 'in touch' they are to get something viral, even though it's lame... it's succeeding well.

IMO, they need to come out with the real reason pronto before people don't care about it anymore... that's if they want to!

amdublin

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Big Ed loves Mona

Now that was an ad campaign!
*shows age*

sullivlo

Its odd. They very obviously have Ger Brennan as backing for it, but all of the details on their website are in American English - favor, neighbor etc etc.

I thought bad marketing FYP too, but now I'm not so sure. I just would like to know what the basis of it is. Mainly so I can never buy the product as it's a ridiculous concept.

And I say that as a female sports player, who has no problem playing with the regulation sized balls :pac:

Dolbert

I assumed it was a piss-take based on the word "ladyball" tbh

How so Joe

Dolbert wrote: »

I assumed it was a piss-take based on the word "ladyball" tbh

Ovaries are ladyballs, right? Right?
So ovarian cancer is a relatively... it's not that much of a stretch?
/grasping at straws

The end is nigh

amdublin

How so Joe wrote: »

Ovaries are ladyballs, right? Right?
So ovarian cancer is a relatively... it's not that much of a stretch?
/grasping at straws

See my op that's what I am thinking too. But Ger Brennan being associated with my ovaries is just too much for me
#getyourrosarysoffmyovaries

First his opinions on same sex marriage...and now he's either a blatant sexist with his new "ladyball"... or else it's a health campaign for women and eh I've no idea why he's involved.

Ash.J.Williams

i think its genius...somebody went to all that bother just to make a tit of ger brennan.....again

blue note

I don't really understand the problem other than it being a terrible ad. I play golf and there are huge ranges of clubs and balls aimed at ladies to suit their slower swings and to give more forgiveness for off centre hits. And I play hurling and girls use a different ball. I think again to suit their slower swings and smaller hands. I played a little squash and there were different balls for different levels, so again different balls were generally recommend for women and people at my level (of course everyone wanted the same balls as the pros however unsuitable they were).

So what's the problem with this on aside from it being a terrible ad? A product aimed at women is a good idea in my view. The normal balls are made for men because they're the biggest market, but making balls that would suit women more sounds like a good idea to me.

Dolbert

It was a viral marketing stunt to promote women in sport

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/the-ladyball-mystery-finally-solved-after-social-media-furore-715942.html

amdublin

What a sh!t pr stunt

MissFlitworth

blue note wrote: »

So what's the problem with this on aside from it being a terrible ad? A product aimed at women is a good idea in my view. The normal balls are made for men because they're the biggest market, but making balls that would suit women more sounds like a good idea to me.

If it had been real the problem would have more been because it was pink & sparkly with something called 'eazi play' than that it was sized differently for woman. And the 'what's big and bouncy' advertising

eviltwin

Dolbert wrote: »

It was a viral marketing stunt to promote women in sport

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/the-ladyball-mystery-finally-solved-after-social-media-furore-715942.html

Hmmmm. Not sure if that campaign does much to improve the image of women in sports. Quite the opposite in fact.

blue note

MissFlitworth wrote: »

If it had been real the problem would have more been because it was pink & sparkly with something called 'eazi play' than that it was sized differently for woman. And the 'what's big and bouncy' advertising

I just looked at the video ad. I'd just seen the poster. How on earth did anyone take that ad seriously?!? 😂

um7y1h83ge06nx

I feel a bit embarrassed for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, total cringe!

sullivlo

blue note wrote: »

I don't really understand the problem other than it being a terrible ad. I play golf and there are huge ranges of clubs and balls aimed at ladies to suit their slower swings and to give more forgiveness for off centre hits. And I play hurling and girls use a different ball. I think again to suit their slower swings and smaller hands. I played a little squash and there were different balls for different levels, so again different balls were generally recommend for women and people at my level (of course everyone wanted the same balls as the pros however unsuitable they were).

So what's the problem with this on aside from it being a terrible ad? A product aimed at women is a good idea in my view. The normal balls are made for men because they're the biggest market, but making balls that would suit women more sounds like a good idea to me.

Because in other sports - rugby, soccer, Gaelic football off the top of my head - there's a minimum requirement for the dimensions and weight of a ball. No point in having a ball that can't be used competitively.

blue note

sullivlo wrote: »

Because in other sports - rugby, soccer, Gaelic football off the top of my head - there's a minimum requirement for the dimensions and weight of a ball. No point in having a ball that can't be used competitively.

Some sports use the same balls for men and women, some use different ones. If a different ball would make sense for men and women I'd hope the sports bodies would change.

And lots of sports will have balls that are suitable for training or different practice drills or balls that might be suitable for different levels, but not legal for competition. There's often a point of a ball that can't be used competitively.

The ads a mixture of funny and rubbish. The idea of a more specialised balls, in an age where there's more and more technology going into sports equipment, is one worth thinking about from a sporting point of view. From a public backlash point of view it would seem that it's not worth the hassle, we're not ready.

Fluorescence

I heard the radio ad today in the car today and was actually so baffled that I had to pull over and google Ladyball, the results of which left me even more baffled. The radio ad sounded like something Foil Arms & Hog would make. The google results said it was a pink football that doesn't exist. Lidl are involved somehow.

I still don't understand what it is :pac:

Stheno

Is it not about lidl supporting female gas players?

maudgonner

blue note wrote: »

Some sports use the same balls for men and women, some use different ones. If a different ball would make sense for men and women I'd hope the sports bodies would change.

And lots of sports will have balls that are suitable for training or different practice drills or balls that might be suitable for different levels, but not legal for competition. There's often a point of a ball that can't be used competitively.

The ads a mixture of funny and rubbish. The idea of a more specialised balls, in an age where there's more and more technology going into sports equipment, is one worth thinking about from a sporting point of view. From a public backlash point of view it would seem that it's not worth the hassle, we're not ready.

They already do use a different size ball for Ladies GAA (size 4, men's uses size 5). But the size is the only difference, it is not pink, thankfully!

mahamageehad

I'm genuinely surprised at the hate this campaign is getting, both here and on Twitter. I think it's quite clever. I'm also completely confused about how people though it was a real product in the first place, it was obviously a pïsstake!

The only issue with the campaign is that it should have gone on a little longer. Really get the "outrage" going. They picked out the things that people who say bad things about women's sport actually say - we need to make it easier for the women, they like pretty pink things, they are more delicate and need lighter/softer equipment. There are people out there who genuinely think that! Seeing both men and women jumping to defend women's sport has been great.

Between the outrage over this and some of the comments I've seen thinking that waterford Whispers stories are true, I'm starting to think Irish people as a whole have lost their feel for satire and sarcasm since I left!

The J Stands for Jay

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Big Ed loves Mona

I think I still have that Frisbee somewhere in my parents attic.

At least it's just a pr stunt.
Not like those stupid pink gaa jerseys.
I mean, how patronising are they??

' girls, want a Jersey? Which county do you support? Ah, who cares, here
have a pink one '
Assholes

IvyTheTerrible

mahamageehad wrote: »

I'm genuinely surprised at the hate this campaign is getting, both here and on Twitter. I think it's quite clever. I'm also completely confused about how people though it was a real product in the first place, it was obviously a pïsstake!

The only issue with the campaign is that it should have gone on a little longer. Really get the "outrage" going. They picked out the things that people who say bad things about women's sport actually say - we need to make it easier for the women, they like pretty pink things, they are more delicate and need lighter/softer equipment. There are people out there who genuinely think that! Seeing both men and women jumping to defend women's sport has been great.

Between the outrage over this and some of the comments I've seen thinking that waterford Whispers stories are true, I'm starting to think Irish people as a whole have lost their feel for satire and sarcasm since I left!

You just have to look at the Lego "Friends" range to realise that patronising pinkified products are only too real. So it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that it exists

(Also, AFAIK, "Ladies" GAA has it's own organisation - why isn't it in the main organisation? Also look at some of the scheduling issues they had in the last couple of years to see the respect the GAA old guard has for women's sport.)

PressRun

The GAA is still struggling to catch up to the modern era on multiple fronts, so any outdated move pulled by those associated with the organisation fails to surprise me, unfortunately.

XxMCRxBabyxX

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

(Also, AFAIK, "Ladies" GAA has it's own organisation - why isn't it in the main organisation? Also look at some of the scheduling issues they had in the last couple of years to see the respect the GAA old guard has for women's sport.)

I'm pretty sure that they even have to rent out Croke Park to play their football final ever year.

skallywag

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

...(Also, AFAIK, "Ladies" GAA has it's own organisation - why isn't it in the main organisation? ...

Yes, both ladies gaelic football and camogie are completely separated from the GAA itself, with these organizations having evolved completely outside of the structure of the GAA (there were of course traditionally strong links).

Practically all female players that I know are extremely proud of this fact and are more than happy to run their organization completely independently to the GAA, and rightly so, it's a wonderful thing that these organizations have done for women's sport, especially in the counties where it's popular.

When it comes to being accommodating, etc, in many many cases the GAA is allowing the ladies organizations to use it's facilities up and down the country free of charge, or for a nominal base charge just to cover expenses. When it comes to finals etc at Croke Park being rearranged due to the fact that a men's All Ireland needs to be replayed etc, then that is indeed very unfortunate, but this has always been the prearrangement between the organizations. Those that follow, support or play GAA, Ladies Football or Camogie are very largely accepting of this, at least those who I have interacted with myself.

CrabRevolution

bubblypop wrote: »

At least it's just a pr stunt.
Not like those stupid pink gaa jerseys.
I mean, how patronising are they??

' girls, want a Jersey? Which county do you support? Ah, who cares, here
have a pink one '
Assholes

Much as I hate those jersies too, the demand for them seems to be utterly huge. Those women obviously see no problem with wearing them.

(Also, AFAIK, "Ladies" GAA has it's own organisation - why isn't it in the main organisation? Also look at some of the scheduling issues they had in the last couple of years to see the respect the GAA old guard has for women's sport.)

I'm not sure what your point is here. Both camogie and ladies football are separate from the GAA by choice. The GAA would easily take them in if they asked. What "scheduling issues" are you talking about too?

PressRun

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Much as I hate those jersies too, the demand for them seems to be utterly huge. Those women obviously see no problem with wearing them.

I don't know why anyone gets them. If you want a jersey to wear to support a team, why not just wear their colours? The pink makes no sense to me, from the stand point of a supporter.

skallywag

I agree totally that the pink jersey thing makes so sense from a team support perspective.

That said, if someone wants to wear such a jersey to a game or wherever else then off with them, I don't see anything wrong with that from a sexism point of view, or any other point of view for that matter. Some people have a thing for pink, my own daughter included, and they should be free to wear whatever they like without folk sneering at them or casting them as the unwilling subjects of some other agenda.

It's not as if women are been forced to put them on before they enter a GAA ground ...

goose2005

I thought last year's troll-campaign was better:

Dirty Dingus McGee

bubblypop wrote: »

At least it's just a pr stunt.
Not like those stupid pink gaa jerseys.
I mean, how patronising are they??

' girls, want a Jersey? Which county do you support? Ah, who cares, here
have a pink one '
Assholes

It's hardly patronising when a whole load of women have ended up buying them and justified the manufacturers making them in the first place.It's just good business practice.

fatknacker

It's just...the name. The NAME...

"I know....let's call it Ladyball. Because football. But for women. Ladies.
We'll make a male equivalent and call it Ladball. For the lads. Oh, no we won't. That's just plain old football.
But with a blue ball?
No, there'll be too many jokes about blueballs."

IITYWYBMAD

mahamageehad wrote: »

I'm genuinely surprised at the hate this campaign is getting, both here and on Twitter. I think it's quite clever. I'm also completely confused about how people though it was a real product in the first place, it was obviously a pïsstake!

The only issue with the campaign is that it should have gone on a little longer. Really get the "outrage" going. They picked out the things that people who say bad things about women's sport actually say - we need to make it easier for the women, they like pretty pink things, they are more delicate and need lighter/softer equipment. There are people out there who genuinely think that! Seeing both men and women jumping to defend women's sport has been great.

Between the outrage over this and some of the comments I've seen thinking that waterford Whispers stories are true, I'm starting to think Irish people as a whole have lost their feel for satire and sarcasm since I left!

Completely agree. The 'mock' outrage is laughable. People really need to get over themselves.

As a father of 3 girls and 1 boy, all GAA players, I think the campaign has stoked much needed debate around female participation in the game and should be welcomed, despite what I'd admit is a rather hackneyed approach.

bubblypop wrote: »

At least it's just a pr stunt.
Not like those stupid pink gaa jerseys.
I mean, how patronising are they??

' girls, want a Jersey? Which county do you support? Ah, who cares, here
have a pink one '
Assholes

My 12 year old has one. She loves it. Patronising? She actually couldn't give a f**k.

IITYWYBMAD

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Completely agree. The 'mock' outrage is laughable. People really need to get over themselves.

As a father of 3 girls and 1 boy, all GAA players, I think the campaign has stoked much needed debate around female participation in the game and should be welcomed, despite what I'd admit is a rather hackneyed approach.



My 12 year old has one. She loves it. Patronising? She actually couldn't give a f**k.

It is patronising, totally. If your daughter supports a team why doesn't she wear their Jersey?
And if she likes pink why not just wear a pink top?

It just screams of suits in a room somewhere discussing how to get even more money for their already rich organisation.
' the wimmins know nothing about football, sure they only go to see the boys! Let's make them nice pink tops'

blue note

bubblypop wrote: »

It is patronising, totally. If your daughter supports a team why doesn't she wear their Jersey?
And if she likes pink why not just wear a pink top?

It just screams of suits in a room somewhere discussing how to get even more money for their already rich organisation.
' the wimmins know nothing about football, sure they only go to see the boys! Let's make them nice pink tops'

But no-one is being forced to buy them or wear them. And they are still the team jerseys, just in pink.

As far as I can see, if it helps to get a few girls involved in GAA who would otherwise have regarded it as a boys pursuit then I think it has worked very well. Your stereotyping of the men and the GAA is amusing though considering you're accusing them of doing the same of "wimmins."

skallywag

bubblypop wrote: »

If your daughter supports a team why doesn't she wear their Jersey?
And if she likes pink why not just wear a pink top

... and if someone's daughter wants to wear the pink version of the county jersey in supporting their county, then you don't think it their right to do so?

skallywag

bubblypop wrote: »

...
' girls, want a Jersey? Which county do you support? Ah, who cares, here
have a pink one '
Assholes

It's pretty clear that you are quite ignorant of the facts here. Each county has it's own pink jersey, complete with county crest, sponsor etc.

Dial Hard

skallywag wrote:

It's pretty clear that you are quite ignorant of the facts here. Each county has it's own pink jersey, complete with county crest, sponsor etc.

They're still all pink, though. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having county colours.

I'm a massive Leinster supporter and wear my blue with pride. For me, it's part of the identity of supporting a team.

CrabRevolution

It's the women themselves who buy and wear the jerseys in huge numbers though. They could wear a county's normal colours but obviously choose not to. It's not like O'Neills/Azzurri declared women can only buy pink jerseys, they offered a choice between pink and every other colour, and people picked the pink en masse.

Personally I think they're ridiculous and defeat the purpose of a jersey in the first place. Wouldn't call them sexist though.

fits

I missed the whole ladyball thing and havent seen any sign of it.

I have seen the lidl - supporting ladies football ad. And I think its brilliant. I wouldnt be a fan of GAA at all, or any team sports really, but that ad is completely compelling and makes me think about looking out for it.

IITYWYBMAD

bubblypop wrote: »

It is patronising, totally. If your daughter supports a team why doesn't she wear their Jersey?
And if she likes pink why not just wear a pink top?

She does all of the above. And she has a pink Meath jersey. So what?

bubblypop wrote: »

It just screams of suits in a room somewhere discussing how to get even more money for their already rich organisation.
' the wimmins know nothing about football, sure they only go to see the boys! Let's make them nice pink tops'

Far from it, and it actually shows your complete ignorance of how the Gaa is financed and run. To me, who was actually involved locally at both GAA and Soccer, it's a (tiny) part of a marketing campaign aimed at attracting young women to participate, in what has been a hugely male dominated sport for too long.

I really won't justify your uninformed rant on the GAA being a "rich" organisation, as if you had any clue about how the county board operates from a funding perspective you would not have made your ill judged comment.

IITYWYBMAD

Dial Hard wrote: »

They're still all pink, though. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having county colours.

I'm a massive Leinster supporter and wear my blue with pride. For me, it's part of the identity of supporting a team.

They're not all pink.