Sunday is traditionally held sacred as a day of rest, reflection, and worship for a great number of faiths. In recent years, however, the proliferation of organized youth sports within our educational institutions has seen an encroachment of activities into our Sundays, causing a disturbance to this centuries-old observance.

Schools are institutions that are supposed to mold the future generation not only academically but also morally and spiritually. By scheduling games and practices on Sundays, they deliver a message to students that faith and family time can be superseded by recreational activities, which might not be the right message for our youngsters.

Although physical activity and team sports are vital for the overall growth and well-being of youth, it is also necessary to uphold and respect the importance of Sabbath observance in our lives. According to a PeW Research Centre survey, more than half of Americans (58%) say it is important for their day-to-day life that they observe a Sabbath day, a day of rest (2018).

We urge schools to reevaluate the scheduling of youth sports activities and exclude Sundays from their timetables. We propose that they be held on Saturdays or even weekday afternoons, provided they do not clash with the normal academic schedules.

Please support us in appealing to our education institutions to protect the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Sign this petition: Let our Sundays return to the family, rest, and focussed observance that it traditionally represents.