School Sports to Tip Off Next Week

The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports is set to resume the inter-school competition this month, after completing under-19 boys football, under-19 girls netball, and primary and secondary school road races in the first term of the academic year. 

A draft calendar for sports up to August has been shared with schools through the Ministry of Education.

Five sports will be contested this term – basketball, table tennis, volleyball, cricket, and athletics. The ministry’s calendar has under-19 boys basketball starting next Monday at the Beausejour Indoor Facility, followed by inter-district primary schools table tennis at the same venue, with competition in teams, singles, and doubles.

From February 10, under-19 boys cricket will begin at venues islandwide. In the same week, boys’ and girls’ volleyball will start at the Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex, followed by girls’ basketball from February 18 at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.

The calendar does not detail the format or duration of the various team tournaments.

With a number of schools and districts already booked for their track and field competitions at venues including Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Mindoo Phillip Park, and Soufrière Stadium, registration for Island Champs commences on February 28.

Track finals in the inter-school secondary athletics meet will be on March 23 at Soufrière Stadium, to be preceded by qualifiers March 18-20, and field events finals March 11-13  at Vieux Fort’s George Odlum Stadium.

The term ends with inter-district primary school athletics on April 8 and 10 in Castries and Soufrière.

Already on tap for Term 3 are under-16 boys cricket, under-16 boys football, under-16 girls netball, under-16 boys basketball, special education table tennis, and primary schools football. The ministry is also planning mini hoops, netball, and volleyball festivals for primary schools, and summer sports camps in August.

After a delayed start to the sports programme for the 2024-2025 school year, Minister for Youth Development and Sports Kenson Casimir said the department had “perhaps the busiest year” ever.