Robotics - The Next "Sport"?

Well, at least the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) believes that it should be.  As most of us know, the UIL is an organization that oversees athletic programs across the State of Texas.  They set the standards by which programs are run, help define athlete eligibility, and sponsor a wide range of state championships for both boys and girls athletics. 

The UIL also has extensive involvement in academics programs; according to their web site, the UIL "offers the most comprehensive program of acadmic competition in the nation", and to that we can now add robotics.  On December 10, the UIL announced that it will host the first statewide robotics competition from July 28-230, 2016.  The release can be found by clicking here.

     

This effort is also supported by National Instruments, headquartered in Austin.  In a separate release, National Instruments highlighted their role in making the first statewide robotics championships a reality.  NI’s efforts are truly a reflection of the business community commitment that is required to continue to drive successes in our public schools, and their efforts are to be commended.

For those who have always thought that the UIL is all about athletics, this program is a great example of their focus on academics, and how the combination of athletics and academics ensures that students have opportunities to succeed regardless of their interests and aspirations.  

Additional information on UIL academic programs can be found at http://www.uiltexas.org/academics.