Omsendbrief 24:
Circular 24/2010 6 May 2010
Dear Parent
REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO AGES IN VARIOUS SPORTS
At the commencement of a child’s first school year, the parents decide when they will send their child to school, especially if the child was born in the latter half of the year. Specialists in the field of education often advise parents to send their child to school a year later. As a result of his/her date of birth, he/she has to participate in sport with children in a higher grade. Some children have a problem with this and experience negative feelings.
The school understands the child’s dilemma and we are sympathetic towards him/her. Furthermore, various view points with regard to emotional development, etc could be made and we would like to judge each case on merit, but our national sport organisation, DISCOC, controls all school sports. They determine the rules and regulations of the various sports – the school merely applies the policy. If our school does not abide by the rules of DISCOC, we could be expelled, which means that we cannot compete in the leagues. Furthermore, it will be to the detriment of our learners, as they will not be able to participate provincially.
The rules of the different sport codes as determined by DISCOC are as follows:
HOCKEY
Beginners: These learners do not play matches, only skills are practised.
Age groups: U/10, U/11, U/12 and U/14. Two teams per age group. A particularly talented learner, may, according to the discretion of the coach, play in a higher age group, if that learner is selected for the A team.
Trials: Provincial and regional trials may only be played within the specific age group. Learners must be able to prove that they are in their specific age group at the time of the tournaments. There are only U/14 trials. According to WP regulations, the 3 top players (A team) are identified by the coach and sent to the trials.
NETBALL
Learners play in age groups U/10, U/11, U/12 and U/13. U/10 girls who are in Grade 3 in the Preparatory School, play at the Primary School. The Gr 7 girls who are U/14, play at the High School.
Matches: Girls play in age groups.
Tournaments: Girls play in age groups.
WP trials: Girls play in own age groups unless otherwise requested by the selectors (in case of a talented U/12 player being asked to play U/13). The school will then decide whether it is in the interest of the child to play in the higher age group.
RUGBY
Team rugby: Learners participate according to their ages. If a learner, e.g. turns 10 years in a certain year in the period from 1 January to 31 December, he participates as an U/10 player.
Rugby is a contact sport, therefore no U/14 players will be considered for an U/13 team. They will have to continue their rugby career in the high school.
Tournaments: Are played according to age groups. U/12 players may also be promoted to the U/13A group. If a player is promoted, he must stay there for the whole season.
Trials: Only U/13 players will be eligible for the WP team. U/12 players will only be considered for the U/12 AP team.
CHESS
Ages for teams are not relevant. However, at tournaments, players do play in age groups. Team players play according to rating and skills level.
CROSS COUNTRY
Runners participate in their age groups (see Athletics). Participants older than 13, will be accommodated in their age groups in the primary school’s league.
SWIMMING
Beginners, swimming group and swimming team: Learners are divided into groups according to their swimming abilities, irrespective of their ages.
Galas: Swim according to age groups – U/10, U/11, U/12 and U/14.
Trials: Swim according to ages. U/14 swimmers, must however, participate in the high school trials.
ATHLETICS
What does it mean “athletes participate according to their age groups”? If a child, e.g. turns 10 in a specific year, from 1 January to 31 December, he/she will participate as an U/10 athlete, today known as: Athlete 10 years. 31 December of the previous year, is therefore the cut off date. If an athlete is “fortunate” to have a birthday on 1 January, and he/she turned 10 on 1 January in that specific year, he/she participates as an U/10 athlete. U/14 athletes will only participate in items where the programme makes allowances for this .
Social : Mass meeting: Athletes participate according to age groups. There is also an open section which allows learners older than U/13, to participate in that group. Only certain items are presented for U/13 athletes and not all items, as is the case for U/13 athletes. An open athlete who shows great promise, will be allowed to participate at the high school in that age group, e.g. U/14. It will only take place according to the discretion of athletics and sport organisers. Qualifying times, heights and distances will all also play a role. Should there be a particularly talented athlete at the Preparatory School, such an athlete may participate in our mass meeting at the recommendation of the athletics organiser and sport manager, depending on his/her times. However, this only happens in exceptional cases. The mass meeting serves as the first sorting of athletes for the meetings of the Metropole North.
Invitation meetings: Athletes participate according to their age group and according to the specific items on the programme. At such meetings, all items for a specific age group are not always presented.
WP trials : Circuit meetings: Participation at these meetings are aimed at achieving WP colours or Western Cape colours. Athletes participate according to their ages and a certified birth certificate with ID photographs, must always be handed in with the entry. It serves as proof that the athlete is competing in the correct age group. Athletes must, however, achieve qualifying places or heights to be selected for the next meeting.
TENNIS
Social tennis: These players do not play matches and therefore, play according to their age groups.
Team tennis: The age is not relevant. Players play according to their rating and skills level. U/14 players may also play in the team.
Tournaments: WP and SATA tournaments are played according to ages. A player may enter in a higher or older age group. Tournaments presented by other schools are usually named U/13 tournaments, but in this instance, permission is usually requested for the U/14 players to participate if they enter at their own schools.
Trials: To be selected for the WP team, players must participate in the trials. At primary school level, learners may participate in 2 age groups : U/11 and U/13. U/14 players may therefore not participate. In the U/11 age group, younger players may also participate if they meet with the required standard.
CRICKET
Social cricket: As a result of the tremendous interest and growth in cricket, a possible beginners group will be formed next year.
Team cricket: Each age group is divided strictly according to ages. If a boy is 12 years old and is talented, he may sometimes be promoted to the U/13 group, but only after strict measures are followed by the school.
Tournaments: The U/13’s participate in an U/13 tournament and the U/11’s in an U/11 tournament. All boys must participate in their age groups in a tournament.
Trials: In order to be eligible for the WP team, learners must participate in trials. We have U/11 and U/13 trials. No U/14 players. For the U/11, as well as in the U/13 age groups, younger players may be invited to participate.
CONCLUSION
We kindly request our parents to discuss above-mentioned aspects with their children. Educators and coaches will also discuss the age group matter with the learners. This matter has also been discussed with the Preparatory School. They follow the same policy and this will be brought to the attention of their parents. We realise that the age matter is an emotional one and that there are many arguments for and against it, a practice which we have also looked into, but time and again, we are faced with a due date. We must also mention the fact, that if older learners are allowed to participate, they jeopardise the chances of other players. Contact sport has a further legal implication, as an over age player may not injure an opponent even if it is an accident.
We trust that the above-mentioned explanation will meet with your approval and we request you to support us in all our sport codes. Sport is only a game and although it is necessary for your child’s development, it is merely a part of his/her education as a well rounded person. Together with the support from parents and the school, children are able to adapt easily.
Let us make 2010 a winning sport year.
Durbanville greetings
A. Winterbach J.C. Swart
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT : SPORT PRINCIPAL