Dear Parents

YLP’s core values include honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect. We expect our youth to demonstrate these values at all times, especially when representing YLP in the community. Unfortunately, a serious situation occurred at Hoopla today that did not reflect those values.

Hoopla rules do not permit roster changes after a team’s first game has begun. We discussed this as a group, and I made it very clear that team revisions after check in was cheating and would result in disqualification.  Additionally, cheating is not tolerated by YLP.

Despite that conversation, several students on Team 2 switched jerseys and gave false names in an attempt to allow the student to play. They also tried to mislead the scorekeepers and referees about their identities. Most—but not all—of Team 2 knew what was happening several members of Team 1 were also aware — and did not report it or attempt to stop it. Once the officials discovered what had happened, the entire team was disqualified, resulting in public embarrassment for the entire group.

By that point, Team 1 had concluded its games for the day. The adult staff decided that the team involved in the cheating and disqualification would not be permitted to continue playing. We communicated this decision directly to Hoopla staff, who understood that the disqualified team would not participate in its remaining games. The students were informed of the decision and told to go home.

Afterward, however, several students on both teams—including all of Team 2—stayed behind without our knowledge or permission. They signed themselves in, falsely told officials that I had given them permission to play, and entered their remaining games anyway. This was a second deliberate act of dishonesty—both toward YLP staff and Hoopla officials—and a direct refusal to follow the instructions of the adult staff.

Removing the team from its remaining games was an intentional consequence and a lesson for the entire group: winning or participating is never more important than honesty, integrity, respect for the rules, and following staff direction. Students who did not personally carry out the deception but knew about it also need to understand that being part of a team means speaking up when teammates make choices that could harm the entire group.

This behavior may have serious consequences beyond today’s games. It could jeopardize our Nike grant and negatively affect YLP’s eligibility for future grants. The actions—and inaction—of individual students can therefore affect opportunities available to every young person in the program.

We will address this directly with the students and determine what additional accountability is appropriate. Please discuss today’s situation with your child and reinforce the importance of honesty, personal responsibility, following adult direction, and representing oneself and one’s team with integrity.  If you would like to know whether your student was involved or aware of what occurred, please contact me so that we can schedule a private meeting to discuss the situation.

This was disappointing for everyone, to me most of all.  Nevertheless, I hope it can be a meaningful learning opportunity. YLP’s core values are not simply words we use when things are going well—they guide the choices we make when those choices are difficult. We will continue to hold our youth accountable while helping them learn from this experience and understand what it means to represent YLP with honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect.

Thank you for your support,

Steve