The Inter-schools’ Basketball, Netball and Volleyball programs are into their third week now, and already enthusiasm is running high with the players.

Some great talents have been exhibited and it’s all left to be seen who will eventually emerge champions of the respective leagues.

So far, Ottos Comprehensive is leading the girls’ division in the Schools’ Volleyball, whilst Antigua Grammar is the front-runner in the male category.

Meanwhile, the count-down for the staging of the biggest Inter-schools’ Event, Track & Field, has already begun. The launching of the program was done on ABS Television on January 31st.

The Showdown, which will include the rivalry for the male & female championships, between reigning champions Princess Margaret School and Christ the King High and former male champions, St. Joseph’s Academy is slated for March 10 & 11, at the YASCO grounds.

Importantly, however, is the support or lack of support given by many of the Principals of schools and parents of the athletes.

When the CPTSA was founded in 1989, it was formed with the general philosophy that parents and teachers can make a greater difference in the lives of the athletes by their physical support and involvement.

However, it continues to seem as though that parents, teachers and sponsors and officials will only jump on the band-wagon when an athlete is successful. But where were they to have helped in the formative years, when the athlete needed their help, emotionally or financially?

The CPTSA extends kudos to those principals and parents who see the value of sports in the lives of the children and give them the time to train and play. Some parents are delusional in stopping a child from participating in sports as a form of punishment. But that is just like saying to a child “you’re not going to maths class today because you didn’t finish your chores or you misbehaved.” But the child stays home and watches television or is on the cell phone or sites on the internet, because the parent still can’t spend the time to supervise them.

Kudos to parents like Pauline Francis, a founding member of the CPTSA Wings Sports Club who have followed her children & grand-children from their initial touch of a ball to their adult lives.

With all the Independence Awards to Freddy Justcome, or Jane Dolittle, make an Awards Category to honour our Sports Supporting Principals and Parents.