Here's the full release from WCSSAA on the decision to pull the plug on winter sports:
"Due to insufficient voluntary participation by coaches of our member schools, WCSSAA will not be proceeding with Winter Sports schedules at this time."
Curious wording, don't you think . . . "at this time?"
Thoughts?
For Tim: Your comment at 2:30 on January 12 brings up an interesting point (to which I alluded in my up to now most recent post). "Certification". What exactly do you mean by that? (asked non- confrontationally). Most teachers who coach sports are not certified by anybody with regards to their sport. I know many teachers who (up until now) have dedicated thousands of hours of their free unpaid time to run ECs. Not a single one has any training or certification in the sport that s/he coaches. And among those coaches, are people who have coached teams that have many WCSSSA and CWOSSA trophies in many glass display cases in many schools. Sure, there is the odd teacher (I would suspect hockey and basketball are good examples... not to leave anything out) where coaches have spent their own money to get to training workshops. And there are probably even more, particularly younger staff, who played those sports (with clubs, not simply in school) when they were young who still have a passion for their sport who coach. But as I said, most do not. I can name curling coaches, swim coaches, soccer coaches, field hockey coaches and, yes, even football coaches (and many more) who have been very successful working with the student/athletes at their schools, but for whom no certificate of training in that sport exists. The answer to the "why" question is quite simple. Teacher are hired to teach Math, Science, Art, Shop, French and lots of other subjects- not to coach or run clubs. This is not a rant (as this is a friendly forum), but it should serve as an FYI for some.
Posted by: Goran | January 13, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Tim- you're 100% correct. But that's a WRDSB decision and has nothing to do with teacher federations (I know you didn't suggest that- but somebody will). And for Aaron- you are also 100% correct as to the role that any EC plays in a student's life. Ask the teachers that have done them... But you miss the mark, sir, with the assertion that school sports are "better" somehow than club sports. Most high school sports coaches are neither trained, nor expect in the sport they coach. They do it because they like to do so. A far greater percentage of coaches (many of whom are paid to do so) in the club system are either provincially or nationally certified experts in that field. You have to remember, that even WCSSAA's approach towards sports is that it is fun first. And that's fine. But that is hardly the line in the competitive world of club soccer, hockey, volleyball, basketball, football etc. (not wanting to leave any out). The real controversy with ECs in high schools is simply that parents want their kids to have fun for free. Nobody questions their role, however in a nutshell, that's what it all boils down to. And that is no reason to defame teachers (which you have not).
Posted by: Goran | January 13, 2013 at 09:46 AM
High school sports provide more than just the opportunity to play a sport. With minor sports, especially when playing house league which most people will play when playing a sport for the first time, you normally only see your teammates when you have games and the occasional practices. High school sports make students interact with other students daily after school. I truly think that high school sports build better interactions between people in sports than in minor sports just because they spend way more time together in most cases.
Signing up for minor sports is of course an option, but it is not comparable or a good substitute for how useful high school sports are.
Posted by: Aaron | January 12, 2013 at 03:12 PM
In reply to Tim, sign up your kids for minor sports all the things you mentioned have to done by minor sports coaches. Your child does not have to play high school sports.
Posted by: sign em up! | January 12, 2013 at 02:48 PM
The strike has exposed a basic challenge with high school sports - that being that you need a staff member on the coaching staff for the sport to be properly insured.
This needs to change - open up the coaching pool to non faculty members and alter the insurance prerequisites accordingly - do what you need to do - ensure criminal background checks and references are done, appropriate certification etc but do not allow this to happen again.
Posted by: Tim | January 12, 2013 at 02:31 PM
Actually the CWOSSAA playoffs are not until the end of February and the OFSSAA playoffs are in early March in most sports. Lots of time for some kind of playoff tournament.
Posted by: Go Hawks | January 12, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Um-- - exams begin in 2 weeks and the spring sports would start up a few weeks later. Not much point in trying to finish something now that never really got started. Sad, but true.
Posted by: Goran | January 11, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Never say never. It didn't look like we'd have WCSSAA rugby and soccer seasons in 2011 because of lousy spring weather and we managed to get them in with mini-tournaments. Like most, I think it will come down to the Liberal leadership convention.
Posted by: Mark | January 11, 2013 at 03:14 PM
If things change in the near future maybe WCSSAA will also try to salvage something. The announcement did not say canceled.
Posted by: Tonka | January 11, 2013 at 02:15 PM
According to a report in the Brantford Expositor, the Brant county high schools are planning for a restart of athletics in early February depending on the new Liberal leader and repeal of Bill 115.
Posted by: Go Hawks | January 11, 2013 at 01:58 PM