Netball: Units Measuring Puts Uganda at a Disadvantage at World Level, UNF President to Primary Schools Games Stakeholders
Since time in memorial, children taking part in primary schools or grassroots sports competitions do have minimum and maximum units that allows them to engage in competitions.
According to many games teachers, schools and the ministry of education and sports, assert that the units bring fair competition amongst the school going primary pupils and avoids age cheating and use of mercenaries.
However, this practice has eliminated a lot of talents out of the competition not because they are not primary school going Children or above required age but because of their structure, some are taller compared to expected height of that age or have a huge weight above their age.
While addressing the National Primary Schools Games Stakeholders in Mbarara City at Kakyeka where this year’s edition is hosted, Uganda Netball Federation president, Hon. Babirye Kityo Sarah asked all stakeholders in the underage sports competitions to eliminate the element of units measuring among the requirements a kid needs to feature in the competition.
For starters, as a prerequisite for a kid to feature in primary schools competitions must not be above 250 units (boys U12) and girls 254. U14 boys =260, girls 268, then U16 boys =280, girls at not above 292.
Kityo asserting that unit measuring kills a lot of talents at the grassroots and the nation loses such talents especially in disciplines that require athletes with height advantage like Netball, Volleyball and basketball.
“I have had some much, I have shared with the coaches, umpires, headteachers, sports officers and athletes.” Said Babirye
“We have discussed a lot and some of which are the heights of the players, we think this policy of measuring players, probably it’s a good one but when it comes to netball, it’s a disadvantage…..” She stated.
“…..so when you measure, you disadvantage the taller ones from playing netball in primary and it’s a disadvantage to the nation, therefore I call upon all stakeholders to find a way of changing that, I think all we need is to find out is the person a student, is he or she a primary pupil because these things of height are God given.”
Babirye’s cry has been the same cry for other sports administrators, but it seems their cry is ending this year, that is according to the Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association president, Pauline Musigire.
“We’re stopping this trend, this year because we have realized the outcomes and as we stop this, we have now devised means of selecting the eligible players using the players database.
We’re being helped by the USSSA to register all our kids online, this is going to help us know about the kids’ records of age.” Pauline Musigire told New vision.
This year’s edition underway at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara City, has attracted over 5000 kids from 130 districts, cities and Municipalities.