I read in the SATURDAY SUN that the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) had communicated that they were boycotting all tournaments of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).
In case anyone questions my opening sentence or criticises my contribution in this article, let me offer a simple disclaimer. I was never invited to any meeting to discuss this issue, my views and opinions were never sought or given, and I certainly was never informed by anyone of the decision – neither by BAPPSS, the representative body of which I have been a member since 2002, nor the BCA, to whom my school pays annual registration fees.
Hence, my views given here are quite personal and representative of no organisation. I speak with the knowledge of being in the forefront of establishing two schools’ competitions, having served as a member of the board of the BCA for more than a dozen years, having responsibility for decision-making as it impacts the children of the school to which I have been assigned and also having been on the respective committees that shaped the structure for the Combined Schools and negotiated (as a BAPPSS representative) the conditions of schoolboy participation in BCA tournaments.
Let me begin by saying that I am totally and unreservedly in support of BAPPSS’ position that schoolboys’ first responsibility is to their schools. No organisation has the authority to tell schoolboys that they must turn their backs on the needs of the school and must represent an ad hoc team.
Developing a cricket player is more than just giving him the opportunity to bat, bowl or field against better competition. Factors of discipline and emotional and character strengthening are equally important. That is why the principal was always required to sign a letter of release for any of his/her students to play for any other team.
Two options for BCA
This heavy-handed action on the part of the BCA against boys who opt to play for their schools, in many ways ignores important structures and will be counterproductive. As one who lived it, I totally object to the notion of boys being taken from their schools to play in one division in which sometime during the season they will compete against their own school. School culture and environment are very good. In this era of promotion and demotion, the BCA should exercise one of two options. Revert to the original position when the first division team was made up solely of boys from schools with only one team or disband that team altogether.
The decision of BAPPSS to withdraw from all competitions also makes absolutely no sense to me. Select your school teams as is the norm and let the BCA do what it chooses to do (illegal or otherwise).
No action of the BCA should be allowed to supersede the statutory responsibilities and duties of principals. We should not, therefore, allow a situation in which Combermere does not turn up to play against Parkinson. The only persons being hurt by such actions are the boys themselves.
It is clear that the BCA only accommodates schools’ cricket. Why else would they switch around the dates of school tournaments without any understanding of the reasons why Mac Fingall, Pedro Hinds and I initiated at least two of these tournaments? Why move the Under-19 tournament that was established to give youngsters pre-season preparation?
The exam argument goes through the window when it is noted that all of the domestic tournaments are in full swing from early May and schoolboys are involved when the CXC exams are being written.
The BCA and schools need to build bridges to help prevent boycotts and bans. Every senior club is provided with a coach. The BCA also has at least four coaches on staff and quite a number of players on retainer contract. Each of these coaches and players should be assigned to work with a school or two on a weekly basis. The schools should be in the forefront of structuring an education component for the Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence. They can also do short training courses for national teams on public speaking and interviews. These are not new ideas but they are still soft touch approaches to relationship-building.
Jeff Broomes is an experienced educator, principal and community organiser who also serves as vice president of the Barbados Cricket Association and director of the West Indies Cricket Board. Email: [email protected]
