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.

It91裸聊视频檚 a decision that had BC School Sports scratching their heads.

91裸聊视频淭he Ministry of Education has their own guidelines that the schools are working under,91裸聊视频� said Jordan Abney, the executive director of BC School Sports who spoke with the Penticton Western News. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 some frustration there certainly.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e communicated with them why we think it91裸聊视频檚 important this [ruling] changes,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e working with the ministry to see what comes in the next steps. We91裸聊视频檙e hoping it changes as early as Friday (Feb.4).91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淎t the end of every season of play, there91裸聊视频檚 a provincial championship and we91裸聊视频檙e getting down to that point. Qualification for tournaments is starting to need to happen in the next week or two. So if there91裸聊视频檚 any further delay it starts to put a real crunch on those events.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭he response to this decision has been very loud and clear,91裸聊视频� he stated. 91裸聊视频淲hat it91裸聊视频檚 done is demonstrate the significance and importance of high school sports in this province and how important they are to our schools and communities.

91裸聊视频淭hat messaging has come through loud and clear in the last week from parents.91裸聊视频�

While individual games are permitted to happen, tournaments are not. It91裸聊视频檚 a decision that affects over 70,000 students across 19 different sports, according to BC School Sports91裸聊视频� executive director.

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

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l likely have some more clarity from the ministry on Friday (Feb. 4),91裸聊视频� Abney said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 been good dialogue about the different factors and pieces that go into making a decision like this.

91裸聊视频淚 wouldn91裸聊视频檛 say I91裸聊视频檓 optimistic but I91裸聊视频檓 hopeful.91裸聊视频�

logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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