Push to ban year 14 students in national sport events

Rules were recently changed for the Maadi Cup rowing regatta to prevent students returning for their sixth year of high school from competing. Schools can still apply for a dispensation.

Only about 15 to 20 year 14 students are estimated to compete in national competitions. But some principals believe the rules need to be tidied up.

Auckland Grammar School headmaster Tim O’Connor said that it is an issue of competitive fairness.

Preventing year 14 students from competing will eliminate the risk of schools sacrificing the welfare of athletes in pursuit of national titles, Mr O’Connor said.

It might also see a broader range of schools winning competitions or making finals, he said.

“We need to go back to why do we offer sport in our schools, and who are we focused on the most? For me, it’s to give students opportunities while they are at school, it’s not to keep them coming back once they have finished.”

School Sport NZ head Mike Summerell said that the “year 14 issue” is part of a review of eligibility criteria.

The rules of School Sport NZ state that students must be under the age of 19 to be eligible for its events. Rugby and rowing have under-18 age limits.

Mr Summerell said that rowing had had its challenges over the year 14 issue, but School Sport NZ rarely receives complaints about year 14 students in other sports.

Any widespread changes to the rules would have to be weighed up against the positive effects of sport being a vehicle to keeping young people engaged in education, Mr Summerell told Radio New Zealand.

School Sport NZ would have to be convinced there are genuine concerns in other sports before implementing a blanket year 14 ban.

School Sport NZ will confirm any changes to its eligibility rules in June.

FULL STORY

School Sport NZ weighing up blanket ‘year 14’ ban for high school sport | RNZ News (By Dana Johannsen/Radio New Zealand)

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