School Sports additions, changes – all for the good

The pronouncement of the additions, changes and reset to some of the schools’ competitions effective for the 2026/2027 academic year are most welcomed.

It was somehow better late than never in some instances, as over the years, persons have been clamouring for reconfigurations to the various set- ups.

However, despite the talk, the manoeuvrers and bellowing, nothing came to fruition.

Hence, it was sweet sound on Monday, September 14, 2026, when at a media launch held at the National Sports Council’s conference room, that the new moves were made public.

Among the major changes and highlights will be the 2027 National Lotteries Authority Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships (ISSAC).

At last, the championships will be a three-day event, instead of the crammed one-day affair.

Set for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, accordingly, each day will host preliminary, semi-finals, and final events.

That format is in keeping with what is done regionally and internationally.

This speaks volumes as it is on record that when our young home-grown athletics talents are required to compete overseas, they often flop, unaccustomed to doing rounds in one day.

As it stood for many years, ISSAC had the heats and finals relatively far apart from each other.

The new move therefore gives all involved a window to train, the body to adjust to the demands, and augurs well for an enhancement in performance.

Another of the visible changes is that of scheduling of competitions.

As such, team competitions will convene to allow for specific zones to take place in a particular time frame, instead of all zones at once.

The reasoning behind this move is to allow for a greater optimization of instructional time, whereby zones that are not engaged will remain in school.

Also listed to get some attention is male and female Basketball.

A one-day 3 x 3 Festival will preface the 5 vs 5 competition, all with the aim of giving the sport a shoo-in.

Additionally, a national inter-primary road relay is planned, again to give the young athletes that experience prior to them transitioning to secondary schools.

It was also revealed at the media launch that the Division Sports and Physical Activities has planned an ongoing talent identification programme, all intended to tap latent skills at the earliest point.

On the cards as innovations are a six-a-side female football championship for primary and secondary schools, as well as a female talent identification cricket festival.

These go along with promises to have better media coverage, medical support, venue experience, recognition, professional presence and presentation.

Indeed, these changes were well- thought out to address the flaws, kinks and inefficiencies that existed, and would have affected the overall product emanating from the annual schools’ sporting programme of activities.

But it is all well and good for the Division to advance and promise to the Vincentian sporting public this type of narrative, hope and optimism.

The real deal though will be the execution, as the ministry as a whole has to provide the backing, staff support and commitment, knowing that it is for the greater good and for the bigger picture.

Everything can come to nought if the support structures to ensure success are not erected or stable.

All eyes then will be on the Division to see if they can back their mouth and deliver a more acceptable 2026/2027 schools’ sports calendar in the first instance.

Thereafter, an upward trajectory would be envisaged as everyone looks eagerly at getting sports entrenched at the schools’ level.

Again, from here on in, the proof of the pudding is in the eating; and this phenomenon applies as the face value no longer takes precedence, but improvements will be achieved all-round.