Several additions made to Schools’ Sports for 2026/27

Four new areas of competition were added to the 2026/27 schools’ sports programme in St. Vincent and the Grenadines school, revealed at a media launch on Monday, September 14, 2026 at the conference at Arnos Vale. Coordinator of Sports and Physical Activity Roxell John, said these additions have been introduced to broaden student participation, with a deliberate emphasis on female involvement. These include a six-a-side female football festival for primary and secondary schools, a one-day 3X3 basketball festival preceding the return of the standard 5X5 competition, a female talent identification cricket festival, and an inter-primary school road relay to build distance running experience early.

John said that early registration numbers demonstrate strong school engagement. Within secondary schools’ football, there are already 18 junior teams and 14 senior division teams registered, alongside 20 primary school football teams; while in netball, there are 17 junior and 10 senior secondary teams, plus 16 primary school teams registered.

Significant support from corporate sponsors and sporting organisations to help finance competitions and provide equipment for student-athletes throughout the academic year 2026-2027 have been secured, John pointed out.

The National Lotteries Authority is one of the largest contributors, providing approximately EC$280,000 to support track and field competitions.

Sponsorship for basketball competitions is valued at between EC$3,000 to EC$6,000; while Subway is contributing support estimated at EC$7,000.

The responsibility of managing the newly introduced female football competition and assisting with the cost of officials will be covered by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, according to John at an estimated cost of EC$20,000.00.

RW Sporting World will be sponsoring netball tee-shirts, and will pay the shipping costs for uniforms at an estimated overall value of more than EC$10,000.

Assistance is also expected from the Seattle Thunderbolts through a donation of netballs, along with assistance for cricket-related activities- the estimated value is between EC$7,000 to EC$10,000.

John added that the sponsorship support packages will allow the organisers to introduce additional awards and trophies during competitions, rather than waiting until the final stages of tournaments.

The calendar of activities will begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with the SVG Inter-Schools Cross Country Championships. This will be followed on Saturday, September 26, with opening-day secondary school Cricket matches scheduled to be held at the Cumberland Playing Field. On September 29, secondary schools netball competition will shoot off; while primary school football and netball are carded to run from September 29 to November 15; and September 30 to November 14, respectively.

The full calendar of activities is:

•Inter-schools Cross Country race September 24, 2026.

• Secondary Inter-schools Football starts on September 26, 2026.

• Secondary schools Netball Competition September 29 – November 14, 2026.

• Primary schools Football & Netball Sept 29 – Nov 15; and Sept 30 – Nov 14, 2026.

• Inter-primary & secondary schools Table Tennis,November 3 – November 6, 2026.

•Inter-primary schools Road Relay : November 18, 2026.

• Six-a-side female Football Championships: November 20, 2026.

•Inter-schools Under-15 Cricket: January 12 – February 5, 2027.

• Inter-schools Under-19 Cricket : January 27 – February 26, 2027.

• Primary schools Track & Field finals: March 19, 2027 (zonals, Feb 23)

•Secondary schools Track & Field finals: March 22 – March 24, 2027.

•Three v 3 Basketball Festival: May 8 – May 9, 2027.

• Primary schools female Cricket Festival: May 25 – May 26, 2027.

•Primary schools Cricket Competition: May 27 – June 18, 2027.