With Covid having such a devastating effect on sport this year, in particular national events, we know you will all be looking forward to once again enjoying pinnacle school sport events in 2021.

With this in mind, School Sport NZ has worked with NSOs and other event organisers to prepare a comprehensive national calendar of sanctioned events and are planning to have this in schools by the end of Week 2, Term 4 2020.

As previously signalled School Sport New Zealand has implemented a new tiered structure to the calendar of events for 2021, aiming to support the principles of Balance is Better in providing a wide range of opportunities and formats that increase access and equity to events for more schools and more students.

The 2021 Calendar will contain 3 categories,

• Championship: These will be the premier events in each sport and will be subject to all School Sport NZ eligibility criteria including New To School quotas. The Championship category aims to provide the formal competitive opportunity for premier school teams. (Junior events are not eligible for Championship status)
• Cup: These events will also be characterised by formal competitive structures and feature divisions below the premier level of each sport including some junior events. By negotiation with School Sport NZ, some variation to eligibility criteria may be possible including composite teams and home schooled students.
• Carnival: A category where sport may provide a range of less formal opportunities including multisport festivals, mixed gender competitions, formats with no placings of teams and relaxation of eligibility criteria.

The new approach has been developed in consultation with schools and NSOs over 18 months and has received very positive feedback with NSOs embracing the opportunity to think differently about their offerings for our Rangatahi.

School Sport NZ supports the Sport NZ Season Transition Guidelines and will only sanction events within the appropriate seasonal window. In practical terms for schools, this translates as Terms 1 & 4 (and the holidays that follow) for summer codes and Terms 2 & 3 (and the holidays that follow) for winter codes.

School Sport NZ will endeavour to deliver the full 2021 calendar of events in either Week 1 or 2 of Term 4, 2020.

Article added: Thursday 24 September 2020