Senior Tigers Update: October 17, 2019

THE TIGERS BUSIEST WEEK OF THE ENTIRE YEAR!

Good luck to our teams this week as we embark on the busiest weekend of the entire school year!

  • Senior Volleyball at Western Canadian Independent Schools Championships (WCISVC) at Rundle College in Calgary, Alberta.
  • Junior Volleyball at ISA Championships hosted by St Michaels University School (SMUS) in Victoria.
  • Grade 8 Volleyball ISA Championships hosted by Southpointe Academy in Tsawwassen.
  • Varsity Field Hockey at ISA Championships hosted by Crofton House.
  • Senior Field Hockey at ISA Tournament hosted by Shawnigan Lake School.
  • Junior Field Hockey at ISA Championships hosted by Shawnigan Lake School.
  • Cross-Country Team and Swim Team prepare for zone championships coming up next week.

Go Tigers!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT RECRUITING AND ATHLETICS

The subject of “recruitment” for athletes is top of mind these days among all schools in BC. 

In the context of BC high school sports, recruiting is simply not allowed. 

BC School Sports (BCSS) is the governing body of high school sports (Grade 8-12) in BC and they have clear rules around student eligibility and recruiting.

Recruiting has never been allowed. However, last March, BCSS outlined new terms and definitions of recruiting. As a result of these new broader guidelines, schools all over BC have changed some of their practices. For example, schools will not use photos of teams/athletes with BCSS championship banners on public websites or in marketing material. Photos like this may appear in internal blogs and news bulletins for the school community but not in our advertising.

All schools in BC essentially recruit students. Vancouver is awash with many schools that all promote their programs to attract students. Independent schools all promote their school and programs to attract students. While this is allowed, using athletics or enticement from a school to attend for athletic purposes is not allowed. As a result, it is important that YHS staff, coaches, players, and parents understand just how broad the new guidelines around recruiting are. Please see the BCSS Recruiting Definition.

BC School Sports also enforce rules that restrict student transfers after Grade 9.

Students attend any school they want in Grade 8 and they are allowed to freely transfer schools any time before the start of Grade 9. If a student transfers after the start of Grade 9, they must meet very specific criteria in order to be eligible to play or else they must sit out 12 months before becoming eligible to compete. These rules are not new. Back in the 1990s, when Steve Nash transferred to St Michaels University School (SMUS), he sat out 12 months before he was eligible to play basketball for SMUS.

Schools with excellent programs attract student-athletes. Having an excellent program and attracting student-athletes is not recruiting. Parents and students are free to seek out the best school for their child. However, the school must not play a role in enticing or pressuring students to attend. 

York House has enjoyed tremendous success in many sports over the past 20 years and has, no doubt, attracted students as a result of our success and reputation. Many excellent athletes have chosen to attend YHS. However, York House has never actively recruited students for the purpose of athletics.

If you have any questions regarding this please do let me know.

David Prissinotti
Senior Athletics Director