Homeschoolers Not Welcome at Spur MTB League

[LeoKnight]

CALM AND SENSIBLE!?

 

I just jumped to the conclusion that it was some or other influential parent whose kid was beaten by a home schooled kid somewhere that went nudge nudge, wink wink ... maybe we should ban these kids as they have an unfair advantages. 

 

But please don't start looking at the advantages other kids have, for example top of the market bikes, use of a professional trainers, indoor trainer equipment for those winter months, heck a wattbike at home, etc.

[Slowbee]

CALM AND SENSIBLE!?

cheap and safe?

[V12man]

Ja no, when you call Uncle HarryN, then you know HKGK.

Already notified...

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Also, OP, have you tried conatcting the Pestalozzi Trust on this?

[NickGM]

I've let the relevant persons involved in this specifically know of this thread - there will be feedback, please just remain calm and sensible for a moment 

But are Spur really gonna listen to Steer?

 

 

sorry. I'll show myself out. 

[Blokeonabike]

Being someone that competed in this exact series I can see why homeschoolers aren't welcome.The competition between schools are extremely high and some schools go very far to secure overall top positions.Some of them even too far...

 

Athletes have nothing to "gain" from winning on of these races, not even from winning the series.There are no "scouts" for professional teams, no "national colours" or any other sort of idividual prize to be won.Only schools can "brag" by saying they have the strongest MTB team.

 

If your daughter wants to cycle competitively just take her to the SAcup series, USN cup series, Trailseekers or even the XCOcup series at the Voortrekker Monument.

 

For a school to recieve the points earned by a person that isn't in the school isn't fair.If that was/is allowed then any school can pay or ask any young, talented and fast kid from and other province to come ride for them.This will result in just another series.NOT a school series.

[Jehosefat]

Being someone that competed in this exact series I can see why homeschoolers aren't welcome.The competition between schools are extremely high and some schools go very far to secure overall top positions.Some of them even too far...

 

For a school to recieve the points earned by a person that isn't in the school isn't fair.If that was/is allowed then any school can pay or ask any young, talented and fast kid from and other province to come ride for them.This will result in just another series.NOT a school series.

 

Because that doesn't happen in any other school sports...

 

No schools "buy" rugby or cricket players right?

 

Also surely if you competed in this series you would want to compete against the best? Why would you want to measure yourself against anyone other than the best?

 

I say that the more people who are allowed to compete, the stronger the sport as a whole will become (although you will obviously get some moaners who can't win anymore)

[Stretch]

Being someone that competed in this exact series I can see why homeschoolers aren't welcome.The competition between schools are extremely high and some schools go very far to secure overall top positions.Some of them even too far...

 

Athletes have nothing to "gain" from winning on of these races, not even from winning the series.There are no "scouts" for professional teams, no "national colours" or any other sort of idividual prize to be won.Only schools can "brag" by saying they have the strongest MTB team.

 

If your daughter wants to cycle competitively just take her to the SAcup series, USN cup series, Trailseekers or even the XCOcup series at the Voortrekker Monument.

 

For a school to recieve the points earned by a person that isn't in the school isn't fair.If that was/is allowed then any school can pay or ask any young, talented and fast kid from and other province to come ride for them.This will result in just another series.NOT a school series.

Yadah yadah.... Any competition or series that prevents a willing child from taking part in a sporting event is doing something wrong

[Coolspin]

I always tell my 7 year old daughter that sport is about participation and sportsmanship, not points ( unless at a professional level ).

I tell her that its not important who wins or loses but the important aspect is that you participate and mostly have fun doing it.

 

The fact that this series excludes some kids due to the fact that their parents decided to home school them doesnt really seem fair.

 

If they had to interview the sponsors "Spur" as to why they chose to sponsor the series they would likely say that development of the sport would be one of their primary aims.

( not because they see kids as their primary customers)

 

Their policy for this exclusion seems to fly in the face of their objective.?

 

They should have a category for "home schooled participants"

 

Would the other schools pull out of the series, dont think so.

[LeoKnight]

Being someone that competed in this exact series I can see why homeschoolers aren't welcome.The competition between schools are extremely high and some schools go very far to secure overall top positions.Some of them even too far...

 

Athletes have nothing to "gain" from winning on of these races, not even from winning the series.There are no "scouts" for professional teams, no "national colours" or any other sort of idividual prize to be won.Only schools can "brag" by saying they have the strongest ..

Thanks for your input, it is sometimes lacking that hubbers might not want to raise their opinion here because it might degrade in a mud fest and a fragrance of bullying.

 

Here is hoping that those that do decide to engage with your view and opinion stay on points and the facts and not attack YOU for holding a view. Who knows all might walk away a bit more aware.

 

my personal view if the purpose of the school series is to develop the youth, being part of a school or not should not disqualify you as it pits the best of the best against each other. bragging rights is a additional bonus.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

7 New negative ratings on the FB page since 16:32!!!

 

We gonna do this!

[porqui]

.

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And what would CSA say about this - just asking?

[Slowbee]

snip...

No schools "buy" rugby or cricket players right?

 

ummm yes they have done and yes they VERY much do and will continue to do so!

 

It is often the case that up and coming players from one school suddenly have "full" bursaries in a school  that does not even offer bursaries !

[Sniffie]

Sponsor gets involved in an event. As sponsor they surely have some input as to the official name of the event, the rules etc. The official name is, and I quote from the website: "The Spur Schools Mountain Bike League". Note the word schools in the official name. Perhaps they learned a lesson from problems with other sport codes where highly trained and sponsored home schooled kids were bought by schools to improve their teams performance.

 

If, for example, another sponsor thinks he sees a gap in the market and calls his event: "The XXXX Home Schooled Mountain Bike League", and in his rules exclude pupils from traditional schools will we also be calling for a boycott of XXXX?

[LeoKnight]

Sponsor gets involved in an event. As sponsor they surely have some input as to the official name of the event, the rules etc. The official name is, and I quote from the website: "The Spur Schools Mountain Bike League". Note the word schools in the official name. Perhaps they learned a lesson from problems with other sport codes where highly trained and sponsored home schooled kids were bought by schools to improve their teams performance.

 

If, for example, another sponsor thinks he sees a gap in the market and calls his event: "The XXXX Home Schooled Mountain Bike League", and in his rules exclude pupils from traditional schools will we also be calling for a boycott of XXXX?

We would probably see the same response

[PygaSchmyga]

Yadah yadah.... Any competition or series that prevents a willing child from taking part in a sporting event is doing something wrong

You are completely correct - and this principle must prevail.  There is, however, at least a question to be asked, as follows:  If the Spur league is set up in a particular way, and the needs of literally ONE kid were not anticipated when setting it up, then WHY SHOULD the whole thing be changed to accommodate a single participant?  Let me be the first to say that I do not know enough about how the series works, but what is actually at stake in changing the rules to accommodate a single disgruntled participant?  Can we dial back the wailing and tearing of sack cloth for a second?

 

This pitch fork reaction is typical hub mob outrage, and yes, very sad that a young girl  is prevented from participating, but what happened to the greater good argument?  How many kids have benefited from this series?  What risk to the entire series is presented by accommodating outliers?  I have not read the answer to this in any of the comments