Hi Ontario, we need your help! 

What started out as a high school tennis petition for one school, has helped to illustrate a bigger problem that is affecting students across many schools in Ontario. Over the past two years teachers were forced to adapt to online teaching, while also caring for their families throughout this pandemic. We fully understand and are grateful for our teachers who continued to teach us the best that they could in times of chaos, uncertainty, and fear. Now that life is returning to normal, teachers are quickly realizing that they have no energy to coach high school sports, nor are they paid enough to coach. 

Even though coaching is voluntary and not required, the school board currently restricts community volunteers from coaching high school sports unless a staff supervisor is present for all tryouts, practices, games, and tournaments. This policy does not take into consideration the impact COVID-19 has had on teachers, and does not have students' best interests at heart. 

This petition is requesting a policy change to allow students across Ontario the ability to have a community volunteer coach a sport team in the event that no staff member should want to coach. This would allow students to play high school sports without depending on staff interest. 

Note: A community volunteer would still have to provide the school with a police background check and have completed and received a certification number in respect of the “Respect in Sport” program run by Respect Group Inc.

High school sports are vital to youth development and education and it's time for the school board to step up and allow kids to play the sports they love, and enjoy the full high school experience.