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Date: 07 Oct 97 09:34:26 +0000
From: Jonathan Schofield <jonathan.schofield@designmotive.co.uk>
Subject: The Tour has eliminated the learning process?!
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completely eliminated this learning process
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Nancy Stebbing covered a number of issues, many of which I am not well en=
ough=20
informed to comment on. She did however write the following, which I take=
=20
issue with:

"Many mid-to lower-level teams learn a great deal from getting walloped b=
y top
teams every once in awhile.  They learn new plays, see real flow, and hav=
e
a chance to push themselves harder than they might otherwise.  The Tour h=
as
completely eliminated this learning process, serving the needs of the top=

teams, but at best ignoring (and at worst discounting) the needs of the
other teams."

My personal view on this (borne out of personal experience of getting wal=
loped!)=20
is that the above is naive. I don't recall ever learning any aspect of ho=
w to play better=20
or more intelligently whilst getting walloped by a better team. There is =
little one can=20
learn (WHILST PLAYING) from failing to defend against a significantly bet=
ter offence=20
or from failing to score against a superior defence other than that they =
are better=20
than you. This is admittedly a lesson in itself, but one that can be expe=
rienced at=20
non-Ultim8 tournaments - the tour is only 5 events after all.

You can however learn from WATCHING better teams and individuals play.=20=

I continue to do this myself whenever I can. Do please correct me if I am=
 wrong,=20
those of you who sympathise with Nancy's perspective, but what was to sto=
p you=20
from watching better teams play their games at Ultim8 tour events when th=
e=20
schedule permitted?

Jonathan
Shotgun