The Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) released the following statement on Tuesday, March 10 regarding the state of basketball playoffs across the province in light of the job action announced by the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) on Monday morning:
Considering the STF job action that was announced on Monday morning in response to the failed bargaining talks with the Provincial Government, the SHSAA Executive Council met on Monday evening.
The Executive reviewed past scenarios where teacher-government contract negotiations have impacted SHSAA activities and championships. The SHSAA relies heavily on the volunteer efforts of teachers across this province to provide educational athletic experiences to our students. Without Saskatchewan teachers available to participate in SHSAA activities as a coach, official, or organizer, SHSAA events cannot continue to be offered. This belief is consistent with the statements and thoughts provided by previous Executive Councils.
The Executive Council has determined that basketball playoffs will continue if efforts between the two bargaining committees can result in sanctions being lifted before 3:30pm on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. If sanctions are not lifted, all remaining basketball playoffs will be cancelled due to the lack of teacher involvement in the events, the loss of the qualification process, and the constraints for schools and host sites in planning and preparing for the events.
It will be most unfortunate if the two sides cannot come to an arrangement that will allow the sanctions to be lifted. Approximately 1700 students and 300 coaches would be impacted by the cancellation as will several other organizations and entities that are involved with SHSAA and the hosting of basketball playoffs.
SHSAA playoffs are a celebration of school sport in our province and provide a showcase for student-athletes as they finish their season of play. The playoffs are one of many programs that SHSAA utilizes to achieve the goals of school sport. The critical life skills that student athletes attain are accumulated through months of participation in a school sport program. That being said, it cannot be denied that an opportunity to participate in school sport playoffs is another means to enhance the learning opportunities of students as they develop citizenship skills in a competitive sport environment.
The SHSAA Executive and Office Staff will be unavailable for further comment as they will wait to see what the two sides can do to alleviate the situation by 3:30pm on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
Sincerely,
Lyle McKellar
Executive Director
SHSAA
*UPDATE FROM SHSAA AS OF MARCH 11*
RE: SHSAA Basketball Playoffs
As of 3:30pm this afternoon, there has been no notice that sanctions (being implemented at midnight) will be withdrawn. The sanctions to be implemented will limit the participation of STF members in extra-curricular activities.
Through discussions with both groups involved in negotiations, SHSAA was unable to determine if there would be any immediate solution to the impasse; therefore, it is with regret that all remaining SHSAA sanctioned basketball events for the 2019-20 high school season of play are cancelled. Tuesday’s communication outlined the reasons for this action. The ability to schedule around continued sanctions makes it impossible to save a sport season within a multi-sport, multi-program Association.
In addition to basketball, all SHSAA sanctioned badminton events are also suspended until further notice, dependent on the duration of sanctions. The SHSAA badminton season of play began on February 10, 2020 and is scheduled to conclude on May 9, 2020 with the provincial championship in Nipawin.
The Executive Council is extremely disappointed at the outcome and the situation that our Association was put in. For over 70 years of operation it is easy to recognize that our Association is built on the back of our teacher volunteers and the support of our members, the School Boards of Saskatchewan. As individuals that live school sport every day, the Executive members are fully aware of the disappointment that exists amongst our student athletes and coaches.
For those who value the philosophy of school sport, the last few days have continued to provide examples of opportunities for students to develop life skills through a school sport situation. As students have rallied, they have demonstrated many of the qualities that their coaches have tried to nurture in an educational athletic setting. We have also been made aware of many situations where teams have met to celebrate their season and cope with the disappointment. Our school sport coaches are phenomenal individuals that continue to help student athletes develop skills to prepare them for whatever their future may hold.
With the immediacy of the basketball season at a conclusion, the SHSAA will turn efforts towards maintaining viability of the Association and continued plans toward securing a future of the remaining SHSAA sanctioned activities and programs in this school year.
Sincerely,
Lyle McKellar
Executive Director
SHSAA
