I agree with the statement that "it is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened." But now step back and find out why it happened. Academy suffers from a lack of resources (only 20 girls in the school to choose from) and was likely woefully underprepared. They haven't won in 4 years. The athletic association that schedules games should have procedures in place to avoid having unbalanced matchups like this in the first place. I know that's difficult to do - I scheduled youth soccer games for many years and it's hard to predict just which team will turn into a powerhouse and which team will implode.
So how does this compare with FRC? Rather than offering to forfeit the game, Covenant should take a GP attitude and offer to help Academy to improve. I've emailed them:
Quote:
I saw a story about your girls basketball game with Dallas Academy: http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=903780 It was cross-posted to a robotics forum, ChiefDelphi.com, which contains discussion about FIRST Robotics ( usfirst.org ).
One of FIRST's highest ideals is the concept of Gracious Professionalism:
Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical
Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious
Professionalism."
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that
encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and
the community.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions.
Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and
kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk,
but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably
blended.
“In the long run, gracious professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. If one becomes
a professional, and uses knowledge in a gracious manner, everyone wins. One can add to
society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you have acted with integrity and sensitivity.
That’s good stuff!”
Rather than offering to forfeit the game, perhaps your team could offer some training and coaching help to Academy improve.
Gary Voshol
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