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Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
https://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33354		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  haggisv [ 28 Aug 2018, 10:03 ]
Post subject:  Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
We faced a moral dilemma last night. Our club has 2 teams in the grade I play in, and we played each other in the final round.
My team won't make the finals this year, but our other team could make the finals if they beat us. :( :( :(

All the players in the grade are good friends, and club loyalty is very strong. So the thought crossed all of our minds on whether we should not try so hard... allowing our other team to make the finals.

We decided that it would be poor sportsmanship if we didn't try our hardest like we normally do. We ended up winning, so neither team will make the finals. Last year both our teams made the finals, and ended up playing in the Grand Final.

So yes we put sportsmanship over club loyalty... and certainly the other team didn't hold this against us... but we can't help feeling a little bad about winning, and denying the club another chance at the flag for the top grade. :( :( :(

What would you have done?
Author:  Debater [ 28 Aug 2018, 10:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Play to win.

Teams and team mates come and go. This was a one year tournament. In 5 years you might not even recognise these players let alone be friends with them. You could have moved area. In 5 years, you would still know yourself if you tried or not.

Having respect for myself, a recognition that this was a competition and therefore played to be won, they would be my driving motivators. For me it's not about sportsmanship, it's about having respect for yourself. The consequence of having that respect is sportsmanship wins out.
Author:  BRS [ 28 Aug 2018, 10:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
A handy shortcut for decisions like this one is to think about how you would feel if you were on a different team that lost a place in the finals because your club fixed the last match.

If you would feel cheated, then it probably is not the right thing to do.
Author:  SuperHappyFunSlider [ 28 Aug 2018, 11:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
We have that happen a fair bit up here! Similar circumstance happened and we compromised: we would try our best (as the team that wouldn't make the final) but would try new rubber or things, and relax in the doubles component. Singles was anyones games and if we won, so be it.

Worked out :-)
Author:  Retriever [ 28 Aug 2018, 11:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Our local competition tries to have it that 2 teams from the same club don't play each other towards the end of the regular competition. This helps both those who would otherwise be tempted and also those who would not otherwise be tempted.

We also have a round robin top 5 tournament for each division, and similarly have players from the same club play each other in the first round of it.

Personally, in competition I play to win and encourage my team mates to do so as well.

Results being posted to Ratings Central also helps unless sandbagging is in play on top of club loyalty.
Author:  iskandar taib [ 28 Aug 2018, 16:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Remember "Team Orders" in Formula One? :lol:

Iskandar
Author:  haggisv [ 28 Aug 2018, 20:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Thanks guys, I feel better now! :oops: :oops: :oops:
Author:  RebornTTEvnglist [ 29 Aug 2018, 00:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
If you let them win, they may have been "softened" for the experience for the final, doing them no favours. If they won on their own merit, then they'd have gone into the final knowing their form was as good as can be. Losing means it just wasn't meant to be.
Author:  Japsican [ 29 Aug 2018, 00:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Always play to win. Otherwise, even if they win on the finals it's a manufactured victory, and less authentic. I'd rather not make it and know my wins were all genuine than go to the championships knowing we had some help. I find no honor in manufactured victories. I also understand this is influenced by culture.
Author:  Lorre [ 29 Aug 2018, 06:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
It seems like I'm the strange duck here. It depends if it would be beneficial or disadvantageous for myself ranking wise. If neither I'd let the opponent win.
Author:  Cobalt [ 30 Aug 2018, 08:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
I think setting an example for the young players and the whole competition is important and will pay off in the future. You don't want anyone throwing matches in table tennis or life in general. Finals can be a big thing for some people. Got to earn it.

In my mind no doubt you did the right thing.
Author:  birchamboi [ 30 Aug 2018, 11:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
haggisv wrote:
We faced a moral dilemma last night.
This is interesting. Even more interesting is that the majority are taking the "sportsmanship" option. I wonder what the results would be if we posed an alternative "moral dilemma": sportsmanship vs doctoring rubber/sponge?
Author:  Retriever [ 30 Aug 2018, 11:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Go ahead!
Author:  iskandar taib [ 30 Aug 2018, 12:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Cobalt wrote:
I think setting an example for the young players and the whole competition is important and will pay off in the future. You don't want anyone throwing matches in table tennis or life in general. Finals can be a big thing for some people. Got to earn it.

In my mind no doubt you did the right thing.


Table tennis (and sports in general) is one thing.. but life in general? I mean, there are many situations in life where it's of general benefit to let the other guy "win". For instance, letting someone merge into traffic ahead of you on a busy road.

Iskandar
Author:  Cobalt [ 30 Aug 2018, 13:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Sportsmanship vs club team loyalty
Yes, I completely agree Iskandar and thanks for raising it. I guess I was taking a narrow view about things like trying your best, integrity, earning what you get etc however on the other side there could as many other lessons such as helping and supporting others, sharing etc.

I'd hate to see my oldest son always beat my youngest without ever letting him win (there's a 6 year age difference). Equally in say business in a sales role it can be good thing to share things around for the benefit of others and morale of the team. Having said that in that case there can be all those other counter arguments too. I do happen to be one of those that lets the traffic in and thats a great example.
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