A recent ruling from the Ministry of Education restricting school tournaments has BC School Sports frustrated but hopeful students will be allowed to participate in tournaments soon.

As of Feb. 1, child and youth club sports are allowed to resume tournment play. Fans are also allowed to watch indoor sports, unlike school-based games.

Athletes representing either a primary or secondary school are still not allowed to participate in their respective sports tournaments after intervention from the Ministry of Education prevented the revised health provincial orders from applying to schools.

It害羞草研究所檚 a decision that had BC School Sports scratching their heads.

害羞草研究所淭he Ministry of Education has their own guidelines that the schools are working under,害羞草研究所� said Jordan Abney, the executive director of BC School Sports who spoke with the Penticton Western News. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 some frustration there certainly.害羞草研究所�

Abney has been meeting with the ministry regularly since it was decided school sports tournaments were still not permitted.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the situation remains on a week-to-week basis, according to the executive director.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e communicated with them why we think it害羞草研究所檚 important this [ruling] changes,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e working with the ministry to see what comes in the next steps. We害羞草研究所檙e hoping it changes as early as Friday (Feb.4).害羞草研究所�

Late winter and into the spring is a significant period for school sports tournaments, Abney explained.

害羞草研究所淎t the end of every season of play, there害羞草研究所檚 a provincial championship and we害羞草研究所檙e getting down to that point. Qualification for tournaments is starting to need to happen in the next week or two. So if there害羞草研究所檚 any further delay it starts to put a real crunch on those events.害羞草研究所�

Along with his recent conversations with the Ministry of Education, Abney has also been in regular contact with parents who are concerned about the status of school sports in B.C.

害羞草研究所淭he response to this decision has been very loud and clear,害羞草研究所� he stated. 害羞草研究所淲hat it害羞草研究所檚 done is demonstrate the significance and importance of high school sports in this province and how important they are to our schools and communities.

害羞草研究所淭hat messaging has come through loud and clear in the last week from parents.害羞草研究所�

While individual games are permitted to happen, tournaments are not. It害羞草研究所檚 a decision that affects over 70,000 students across 19 different sports, according to BC School Sports害羞草研究所� executive director.

Still, the governing body of school sports is hopeful the recent decision will be reversed.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l likely have some more clarity from the ministry on Friday (Feb. 4),害羞草研究所� Abney said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 been good dialogue about the different factors and pieces that go into making a decision like this.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 say I害羞草研究所檓 optimistic but I害羞草研究所檓 hopeful.害羞草研究所�

logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on and follow us on Twitter.