Competitions for the right reasons

Having competitions for the right reasons, other than simply having them, must be the deviation in thinking of those who rubber-stamp the hosting of annual schools’ basketball and volleyball exercises.

Not because of what is taking place with the two competitions this year, but there have been clear indicators for some time that both are getting nowhere.{{more}}

Surely, persons who do not intimately follow these competitions by actually presenting themselves at the venues and who rely on the limited media coverage which they receive would believe that all is well.

The realities escape the eyes and ears and the organizers – the Ministry of Education, and the respective sub-committees – will get away with immunity, as it would be stated that the competitions actually took place.

Then the compulsory reports would be penned, draped with glowing adjectives about their successes and forwarded to the superior personnel and they in turn will add their superlatives on the efforts.

Teams are selected to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines for the yearly Windward Islands schools’ games.

In recent times, mainly the volleyballers, of the two, would show some prowess among their peers in both genders, and as a consequence, the self-praise falls into place.

After the games, the processes are repeated year after year.

However, not many technical analyses are done of the players, hence they go back to square one and everything is tucked away until the cycle comes around.

This lack of a developmental harnessing of the talents is coming out in the wash in the 2016 editions.

And the scores reflect the real disparity in some of the teams, which almost makes a mockery of describing the on court action as competitions.

When also minimized, it would show one or two players who know what they are about and the rest, they tag along.

The youngsters cannot be blamed, as there is not a clear pathway mapped out for an emergence of competent players of the two disciplines under the microscope.

It is also difficult to attract youngsters to these sports, as they require more technical competencies, as compared to track, which comes naturally to many students.

And, when the elimination process is inevitably applied, the pool of the two disciplines is left almost empty.

One knows the catchment of the volleyball talents is in the north eastern belt of the mainland, hence, except for one or two of the outfits, the other teams are just making up the numbers.

In the case of basketball, it is common knowledge that Bequia and Union Island possess those players who are adept at the sport.

Also in most of the schools, there is this one teacher who is expected to prepare all the teams for competition.

Invariably, most of the physical education teachers, whilst they may have a general knowledge of all sports, their expertise and forte will be limited to at least two disciplines.

Added to the mix is that there are no basketball and volleyball competitions at the primary schools’ level; hence, the disciplines are in the main learnt at the secondary schools.

But both basketball and volleyball at the schools’ level are feeling the effects of two national associations, which are themselves, administratively disabled.

Given these are the truths, what role is the Division of Physical Education and Sports contributing to the progress of the two disciplines?

Is there any synergy among the departments, so that the best can be gained from having the two competitions on an annual basis?

Therefore, granted the aforementioned adverse conditions which prevail, it then may stand to suggest to have the two competitions alternately, as surely there is not the talent or the commitment from the sub-committees to do so each year.

One year for development and the other – competition; otherwise, the farce which exists will continue.