It’s kind of ironic, that we usually learn about irony in high school, and one of the greatest ironies these days is in Bluewater High School sports.
I’ve mentioned before, when comparing the Bluewater Athletic Association to high school days gone by, how wide the level of choice for sport participation is now compared to what it once was.
By my count, at the very height of options, there were close to 30 sports for Bluewater students to choose from, depending on age and gender.
The irony is the more high school sports were developed, the fewer students were around to participate.
In Bluewater, with more than a dozen secondary schools, only one institution now, West Hill in Owen Sound, is rated as ” AAA ” based on student population.
The declining enrolment, combined with a tricky economy, has led to a lengthy examination of the sports offered, and the B.A.A. decided recently to discontinue Junior Girls and Junior Boys Soccer and proceed with Varsity Soccer only.
Cost of a split season and, again, less students in the various schools, were the primary factors.
However, there is a fear that Junior Soccer might be the first, but not the only, casualty.
Bluewater, like Simcoe and other school boards, have done a tremendous job of growing their sporting programs, giving students far more opportunities to participate for their school.
Yet, in this day & age, with more to choose, there are less people to make the choice.
Ironic, don’t you think ?
I’m Fred Wallace