And Sportsmanship is not optional.
Some Background to Invitationals
All end of the season tournaments, finals or championships for teams at the Gr8, Gr9 and Junior levels in all high school sports in BC are deemed Invitationals.
In BC each high school sport younger than the Senior level, having an end of the season tournament or “championship”, establish criteria for a team to receive an Invite.
The criteria for teams to receive an Invite to the 28th Annual Grade 9 Boys High School Basketball Invitational Tournament (formerly the BC High School Annual Grade 9 Boys Invitational Provincial Basketball Championships) is based on a team’s finish in its Zone Playoffs, Finals or Championship and the number of berths assigned to that Zone. Further information on this is located here.
This year we have added a new criteria to earn an Invite, its called Sportsmanship.
WHY have we done this?
Over our 27 year history we usually encounter a situation every few years where a coach or player or team or its fans create a serious enough problem that we must get their schools’ administration involved. Last year we had 8 separate incidents, 8! Discussing this problem with the other organizers of the Gr8’s, Juniors and Seniors’ Tournaments and Championships, we learned of a surprising uptick in serious unsportsmanlike problems being exhibited by some players, coaches and fans, both young and old. A very disturbing trend at all levels.
Why? We don’t know.
However as organizers, we have an obligation to do our best to provide a safe environment. Most teams and fans do not conduct themselves in this poor manner, but the few that do cause an oversized problem.
On reviewing our situation from last year, we learned that one of those 8 incidents was caused by a team that exhibited very unsportsmanlike conduct at their Zone Playoffs and throughout their season. So much so that had we learned about that team’s conduct immediately after their Zone Finals, an Invite would not have been extended to that school’s team. We have never encountered this situation before but given the trend in the problems we both witness and hear about from other organizers, we have made several changes.
What we are now doing:
1. Before issuing an Invite, we are getting a report from our Zone Rep and Coordinator on the conduct of the top finishing teams at their respective Zone Finals and Championships to determine if there is any conduct to warrant not issuing an Invitation to a top finishing team.
2. All Coaches of each team and their Athletic Director as well as a School Administrator are being asked to sign an acknowledgement of our Code of Conduct on their School and Team Consent form.
3. A Gym Manager is being assigned to work with the Game Director to help monitor conduct in the gym during the warmups, game and post game. Poor conduct will not be tolerated.
4. New Signage regarding a Spectator Code of Conduct is being posted at the entrance to each gym.
We take these steps to help protect all of the participants in our Tournament and to show our respect for this game.
The Tournament and Game Directors are all active or former players and coaches and big basketball fans. We are all volunteers who love and respect this game and the many many wonderful people we have met along the way. We are doing our best to help create a great environment for strong competition and we hope that participants will continue to look back with many fond memories.
Please note that the 28th ANNUAL GRADE 9 BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT is conducted as a not-for-profit event by the volunteer organizers. 100% of all monies (Tourney Fees, Gate, Merchandise, Concession, Advertising and Sponsorships etc.), are directly received by the Host School for the benefit of their basketball programs.
Link to our Sportsmanship Award criteria.