On behalf of grade nine parents, we would like to launch an appeal, first to Manitoba High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) and furthermore to the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (LSRCSS)  regarding the rules preventing Grade Nine (9) student-athletes in our area from participating in high school sporting competition in the province.

It is our understanding that grade 9 students in our jurisdiction cannot compete in any MHSAA sport despite the fact that they are recognized as high-school students, taking high school courses, and reside within the Lord Selkirk School Division.

How we first learned about this rule, was that after a hiatus of several years, LSRCSS is looking to have a female hockey team compete in the Kildonan Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).  A group of grade 8 girls that is entering grade 9 next year wish to participate on the high school hockey team with their peers (most of whom they have played with for several years).  These girls already play competitive minor hockey in the province and have the potential to make the high school hockey team, yet because of arbitrary and somewhat outdated rules governing who can and cannot participate in high school sports in our area, our girls are being told they cannot partake as grade nine student-athletes.

This set-of rules, as they have existed for a number of years, provides a competitive disadvantage to our school division and high school athletic programs. We do not have the same luxury in our division as the Winnipeg schools, all of whom have multiple high schools within each district that allow a student to select a school based on its sports programming.  On average, Winnipeg students have three high school options within each division to choose from if they want to participate in athletics within the MHSAA.  Our catchment area is also not as populated as those within the perimeter and because of this some of our sports teams are not as competitive as they could be because we continuously draw from a smaller pool of interested athletes.  

If we look at a larger picture beyond female hockey, our issue is the same as any grade nine athlete within the Lord Selkirk School Division who wants to pursue a four-year high school athletic career in sports from volleyball to basketball to track and field.  Having this type of rule specifically outlined in the MHSAA sporting rules and regulations discriminates our area’s student athletes. It is disappointing that the same body, which was set-up to govern and promote high school sporting activities within the province, now denies a particular segment of athletes the chance to play high-school sports.

We believe it is time to review, and overhaul, this set of outdated rules that prevents all of our grade nine students in the LSRCSS region the opportunity to be active participants in high school sport.

There are four main points we would like to address in this brief:

1)      A failure by the MHSAA to provide equal opportunity to participate in high school sporting activities for all recognized high school students in the Province of Manitoba

2)      MHSAA Rule 12 which does not allow for grade nine student-athletes to participate in high school sport if they are not physically in a “high school” and subsequently the LSRCSS for not providing these same student-athletes an option to play High School Sports if they choose.

3)      That student-athletes within any Winnipeg School Division can attend any of the high schools in their division for the purpose of playing sports IF the particular sport is not offered in the nearest high school from S1-S4 (grades nine through grade twelve).

4)      A question about the integrity of the Goals and Objectives of MHSAA as it relates to grade 9 student-athletes participation in High School athletics

5)   The denial by LSRCSS to allow Grade 9 students to have a four year high school athletic career equal to those of their peers in the Winnipeg School Division.

As it currently sits, Grade 9 high school student athletes CAN NOT try-out for any high school team at the comp including Volleyball, Basketball, Hockey, Golf, Cross-Country, Curling, Track 7 Field, Baseball, Soccer, Rugby or any other MHSAA sanctioned sport that may not have enough athleted to form a team.

In previous meetings with the school, the high school has indicated that having the Grade 9s may take a spot away from a Grade 12 student.  If a Grade 9 student is that much better than a Grade 12 student - wouldn't you want to have the best athlete in the program?  All the city schools have already decided that having that type of competition in their athletics is ok - so why can't our division do the same.  All we are asking for at this time, is a chance for our grade 9's, and those that follow them in future years, the opportunity to try out!

The other issue the High School has is that these grade 9 girls also have other options to play sports if they choose - such as club teams.  As much as this is true, the current Grade 10-12's also have that same opportunity to play club sports, therefor our Grade 9's are still being denied access to High School Sports. 

We hope to provide enough information in this document to warrant a re-evaluation of the rules, which prevent our children from having the same 4-year high-school sporting career as all of their peers in the province.  With inclusion being such a prevalent topic today, it is our hope that this change in the rules will allow EVERY grade nine student-athlete to participate in high school athletics moving forward.