Essay On Edmonton Grads

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The Edmonton Grads were significant and defining to Canada because they were an exceptional winning team that showed that women could successfully play competitive contact sports.

The Edmonton Grad’s are an exceptional winning team, truly champions; their success can be attributed not only to natural ability but also to strong leadership, dedication, sportsmanship and determination. Beginning as a high-school team to representing Canada, the Edmonton Grads dominated women's basketball from 1915-1940, winning 93% of their games and 49 out of a possible 51 domestic titles. (MacDonald Nov 5, 2015, pgph2). From the very start in 1915 to finish in 1940, the team practiced twice every week, and only took breaks during the summer months. (Canada in the 20s and 30s: The Edmonton Grads Nov 5, 2015, pgph 4) The Edmonton Grads had the dedication of champions, sportsmanship of leaders and skill set of amateur pro teams. The inventor of the sport, basketball, Dr James Naismith had nothing but charming words to say about the Grads. "In my opinion, the Grads have the finest basketball team that ever stepped on the floor. I doubt they have any equal in all round strategy, brilliance of play, and doggedness of attack" (Dixon 2003, pg 47). All the success and skills of the Edmonton Grads cannot solely be laid in the hands of the female athletes but given to their committed coach, Percy Page. Cathy MacDonald, a writer for the Canadian Encyclopedia wrote, “Page was the most important factor in their success, using simple well executed plays and demanding disciplined …show more content…

Women were expected to be good wives, take care of the kids, cook and clean. The women on the Edmonton Grads were not the everyday housewife. The women were traveling around the world, playing teams in foreign countries and making relatively good

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