A CLASS ABOVE

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Boys’ Championships-winning Coach Neil Harrison has thrown his support behind reported plans for the high school sports administrative body to introduce Class 4 boys’ competition at the annual track and field championships, although questions remain about the potential long-term developmental implications for younger athletes. There have been persistent whispers that ISSA plans to introduce Class 4 boys at next year’s staging of the five-day championships, along with other changes. Presently, there are three age classes for boys — Classes 1, 2 and 3 — unlike the girls, who compete across four age groups: Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4. For years, ISSA has resisted requests to add an age group for younger boys. The lowest class currently for boys, Class 3, includes athletes under the age of 13. Earlier this week, ISSA President Keith Wellington said the organisation had discussed a number of changes but was awaiting feedback from principals and coaches.

HARRISON... Class 4 boys compete in our regional championship so why not the ultimate? It’s a good motivation for them

Two proposals he mentioned were allowing first-year Class 3 boys to compete in more than one individual event and adding the 400m to the Class 4 girls’ events. While David Riley, head coach at Excelsior High and a member of the coaching staff when Wolmer’s Boys’ won Champs in 2010, declined to comment, saying, “I cannot comment at this time until the details are released for us as coaches to digest.” Harrison is among those who are leaning towards the change. Harrison, who is currently the head boys’ coach at St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), having previously held the position at Jamaica College, Kingston College and Munro College, said that, given Class 4 boys have been competing at regional championships, the proposed inclusion at the national high school championships would not be that big of a jump.

Former Calabar standout Christopher Taylor is one of several athletes who competed at the ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Championships in Class 3 as a Class 4-aged athlete. ISSA is reportedly contemplating adding Class 4 for boys at next year’s staging of the event.

“Yes, I think so,” Harrison told the Jamaica Observer. “Class 4 boys compete in our regional championship, so why not the ultimate? It’s a good motivation for them because when they are not allowed to compete, not only the interest in the sport is lost, but sometimes they get lost in the school system as well.” Meanwhile, Machel Woolery, head coach at Petersfield High, pointed out that Class 4-aged boys have in fact been competing at Champs, but against generally older boys. “It is just that they will now be separating them and having them run independently and in their own class,” said Woolery before weighing up the pros and cons of their potential inclusion at Champs. “It can be a plus as well as can be a negative.” Woolery noted that Class 4 girls have been competing at Champs for a long time, but raised concerns that younger boys, who are good enough to qualify for the championships and compete in an age group above their own, may already be facing excessive demands on their developing bodies. From a physiological perspective, the doubts linger.

ISSA President Keith Wellington (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Supporters of the potential move have argued that the introduction of a separate Class 4 boys’ category could provide younger athletes with a more appropriate competitive environment, reducing the need for some to compete against older and potentially more physically developed opponents. However, such a move would not come without some opposition. Detractors have raised questions about training loads, recovery, injury risk and the demands placed on boys who are still undergoing significant physical growth and maturation. There is also a broader question about whether introducing another competitive category would improve long-term athlete development or place additional pressure on schools and young competitors to achieve results at an earlier age. The challenge for ISSA, the coaches note, would be to ensure that any new category serves as a developmental pathway rather than simply creating another level at which young athletes are expected to produce results. Woolery suggested that ISSA introduce restrictions for Class 4 boys, similar to those already in place for the girls. “Maybe they can be limited to one event and a relay,” he added.