No Schoolboy Football in 2020

Photo: Jamaica College celebrate winning the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup final in 2019. 

Almost inevitably, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), the governing body for sports in high schools in Jamaica, has canceled all sporting activities for the Christmas Term.

Things were in the balance for the playing of sports during the Christmas term and decisions were already made for a later than usual start, a few weeks ago.

But the recent in spike in cases on the island, up to triple figures for one day on Monday, has forced ISSA to make the decision to cancel all sports, which includes football and netball.

“With the recently announced delayed start of the 2020-21 academic year due to the spike in positive Covid-19 cases, the Executive of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association has decided to cancel all sporting competitions scheduled for the Christmas Term of the 2020-21 academic year.

“Having previously proposed an October 16, 2020 restart to our competitions, ISSA will use the next eight weeks to re-assess the conditions under which schools will reopen and how they will operate,” ISSA said in a release.

ISSA has promised to continue to monitor the situation and resume sports if and when possible, most likely in 2021.

“Subject to this assessment and the suitability of conditions, ISSA through consultations with its membership, will determine the list of competitions to be offered and a new timetable for the resumption of school sports.”

ISSA also acknowledge the importance of sports in schools and gave the assurance that they will endeavour to get things up and running, whenever possible.

“We would like to reassure all our stakeholders, that ISSA is cognizant of the role of organized sports in the physical, mental and physco-social development of our teenaged high school population.

“As such, we are committed to ensuring that at the earliest possible opportunity, we will re-engage our students in our various competitions as we play our part in bringing back some sense of normalcy to their wholesome development.”

The cancelation of sports for the Christmas term comes as a huge blow to student athletes, after ‘Champs’ was cancelled in March.