A new interscholastic sports league for middle school and high school students has started in Cayman and is progressing in 2012. The Private Schools Association Interscholastic Sports League is providing new opportunities for students to compete at a higher level, build pride in their schools, broaden their social circles and enhance their performance in the classroom.
Cayman teenagers at schools on the Islands learn to develop essential skills and gain valuable educational experiences that will prepare them to become active contributing members of society. Part of a well-rounded and balanced educational programme includes athletics and physical education.
Physical education in schools is taken to the next level when school sports teams have an opportunity to compete against one another. There are great benefits to children and schools as they engage in interscholastic sports.
When students participate on a sports team, they are forced to have a focus on “we” instead of “me” and they learn empathy and teamwork skills that they can use the rest of their lives. As sports become a focus in schools, and their peers and parents come to watch and cheer at games, a heightened sense of pride and connection to their school begins to build. Players on a sports team feel connected to their school, and research indicates that students who feel ownership and involvement in their school achieve better in their academic studies. Through interscholastic sports, kids have a chance to interact with peers from other schools, broaden their social understandings, and make new acquaintances outside of their usual tight sphere of friends.
There is a tendency for sports leagues and clubs in general to be exclusive, catering only to the elite athletes in their respective sports, but interscholastic sports are intentionally inclusive, encouraging students, both boys and girls, to participate in athletic competitions that they might not otherwise have a chance to experience. Sports are for all kids, not just the top few per cent of players. That said, competition, improvement and performing at a high level are fundamental elements of interscholastic sports as well. Coaches push kids to improve and teach them how to be better players and teammates.
This school year, there are seven private schools participating in the PSA interscholastic league in netball, football, basketball, volleyball, track and swimming, with opportunities for boys and girls.
Through a collaboration of physical education teachers from all schools involved, a calendar of interscholastic sports competitions was established, with matches taking place from September to June. Schools participating this year are Cayman International School, Cayman Prep, St. Ignatius, CCC, Cayman Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy and Grace Christian Academy. In the future, there is potential for this league to expand in many various ways, including possible competitions with larger public schools.
Parents and the community can contribute significantly to this league by simply showing up to games and cheering on kids as they compete. The interscholastic Boys Football competitions in September-November were extremely successful, earning very positive feedback from students, parents and schools. Currently, games are taking place in Girls Football and Boys basketball. Cayman international School will host the second Annual PSA 7-a-side Football Tournament, following up on last year’s outstanding tournament for all kids involved.
The PSA Interscholastic Sports has a calendar. For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Moore at [email protected] .
The PSA Interscholastic Sports has a calendar. For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Moore at [email protected] .
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