Recently, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) voted to amend the rules that limit the participation of foreign nationals in the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boy’s and Girl’s Championship (Champs). The rules will require foreign nationals who are sixteen-years or older to sit out one year. However, the “sit out” rule will not apply to foreign nationals who are under the age of sixteen-years-old or students who are the children of diplomats or expatriates. Currently, there is a quota system for foreign nationals that allows for a maximum of two athletes per class. The question is, what has necessitated these amendments when there has been no obvious abuse of the system? In my mind, ISSA is now behaving like a retrograde association in trying to further limit the participation of foreign nationals at Champs, especially when the event is growing leaps and bounds in appeal, popularity, interest and marketability.
No rational basis for rule change
ISSA is clearly demonstrating a lack of vision, if not incompetence, in targeting foreign nationals with its latest amendments. There is absolutely no rational basis for such rule amendments. Why would ISSA want to deny youths, any youth for that matter, the opportunity to develop their skills and to express themselves on the grand platform of Boy’s and Girl’s Championship? What is ISSA's real motivation for limiting the participation of foreign nationals? Clearly it could not be about equity and fair play as is being suggested by the ISSA President. ISSA needs to let things remain as they are. The foreign nationals contribute much to the Champs spectacle that fans have to come to appreciate and enjoy.
Foreign athletes are elevating the distance program
Long before the Africans and Caribbean student-athletes participated at Champs, middle and long-distances floundered and the performances were inconsistent and sub-par. The presence of the young African athletes in particular, has added new dimensions and interests in middle and long distances. They are gradually bringing out the best in our local athletes. Their presence in Jamaica has a positive impact in the same way that African, Jamaican, St. Lucian and other Caribbean presence in the USA have improved the NCAA product in the US collegiate system. What if the US was to adopt the same approach to Jamaica and other foreign nationals, would we like this? And what effect would such a reckless decision have on the NCAA? ISSA needs to think before it embraces and promotes nonsense! ISSA has put its wrong foot forward! Nothing but a complete reversal of such an imbecilic decision will be acceptable. ISSA cannot now choose to close the gate after the horse has bolted, under the guise of ensuring equity and fair-play.
Examine the numbers
In the near future, we in Jamaica might say that 100m and/or 5000m Olympic Champion and/or World Champion participated at the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boy's and Girl's Championship. We might even say that a president or minister of government in Africa and/or the Caribbean was a Champs star. Indeed, the kinds of strong cultural ties and friendships that are being developed and forged with our African and Caribbean brothers and sisters cannot be quantified in dollars and cents, and should be allowed to flourish. A sport is bigger than ISSA's myopia and xenophobia. Sports is life itself! We must boldly embrace the calculus of integration for the greater good of humanity, and not that of differentiation that make us divided and weaker. Also, we must endeavor to not stand in the way of natural evolution and progress; we should instead be facilitators of the constancy of progressive change which is an inevitable phenomenon.
Kingston College targeted?
It is my considered opinion, that, Kingston College (KC) and its African connection are the intended targets of the latest ISSA rules. And, the other schools with their foreign Caribbean nationals are only collateral damages as an indirect consequence of such backward decision. Before the arrival of the Africans from Uganda and Kenya, ISSA was quite fine with the participation of student-athletes from other Caribbean countries. And yet, every single African student-athlete, starting with Ari Rodgers (who enrolled at KC and performed exceptionally well in his schoolwork) has matriculated to universities with consummate ease. The same applies to student-athletes from other Caribbean jurisdictions. Evidently, KC is running a well-balanced school! What ISSA needs to do is to ensure some of our local athletes are of a similar academic standard as the African and Caribbean student-athletes. Indeed, that would be an even greater achievement for ISSA, than to be overregulating the participation of foreign nationals in Boy’s and Girl’s Champs. With or without the participation of foreign nationals, nothing would fundamental change at the Championship. Therefore, my strong recommendation to ISSA is to leave the rules as they are! You are on a collision course with history!
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Henley E. Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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