The Yorkton Elementary School Sports Association (YESSA) elementary badminton championships were played at M.C. Knoll and St. Michael's schools and the Gloria Hayden Community Centre last week.
The event saw close to 200 youngsters from eight local schools as well as from St. Theodore and Saltcoats schools participating in the annual tournament, says YESSA president Susan Cochrane.
The competition saw both boys' and girls' singles and doubles as well as girls' boys and mixed doubles events, Cochrane adds.
The badminton season which started just after the volleyball season wrap-ped up in January and culminated with the recent championship tournament. Badminton is one of the sports on the school extra-curricular calendar for elementary school students. "We start in the fall with volleyball. We go from there to badminton," says Cochrane. "Basketball will begin this week and terminate tentatively April 11 and 12."
Teachers at the various elementary schools volunteer their time to coach the various sports. "They go out before and after school and during their lunch time. That's when they do this coaching," Cochrane points out.
The developmental programs work in conjunction with the physical education programs to develop the various skills associated with the sports in question, says Cochrane.
The emphasis is to encourage broad participation, Cochrane states. Then, each school runs its own tournament or play down to qualify for the YESSA championship tournament, she notes.
While the students are still learning the skills in each sport, they are beginning to show some promise. More importantly, they are improving their fitness levels as well as learning the sports. "That's what's most important, is to get the kids out there and for them to enjoy it," Cochrane states.
The sports programs, both in school and in extra-curricular programs are intended to encourage the love of sport and to develop a healthy, active lifestyle, she continues.
Cochrane expresses her appreciation to the coaches who volunteer their time to working with the youngsters. "They take the time out of their days and away from their families to come to and to put in the extra effort for their kids," she says.
Cochrane thanks Quinn Haider for running the tournament and being the guy on the mic, and Mark Schendel who helps to organize the tournaments throughout the year.
She also thanks the schools and the Gloria Hayden Community Centre for offering the use of the facilities for the tournament.
Badminton tournament results were: Boys' Doubles - Turner Ottenbreit and Riley Kerr (M.C. Knoll); Girls' Doubles - Christina Mentanko and Taylor Malayney (St. Paul's); Mixed Doubles - Andrew Solenenko and Bailey Pelchat (M.C. Knoll); Boys' Singles - Haylen Langelier (Columbia); Girls' Singles - Morgan Sapara ( M.C. Knoll).
