In trying to explain why he was academically ineligible to represent defending champions Calabar High School at the 103rd ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys Champs that started two days ago, Demar Robinson said on national television that he was driven to be “a great athlete, not just a good one.”

Demar who arguably represents himself better than most high school athletes, whether it is track and field, football or cricket, ironically drew an analogy to the academically inclined student, saying the more time they spend on their chosen profession, the better they get.

So this young man chose to spend more time honing his craft as an athlete than he did in the classroom and is learning a harsh life lesson, as a result.

Hopefully this setback will not stop Demar, a talented triple/high jumper from attaining his dreams of being a great athlete, and if anything, this may serve as a greater motivation.

Of more importance, however, is the need for some one to sit this young man down and explain to him about balance and the need to have a solid educational foundation, whether he attains greatness in track and field, and especially if for any reason, he does not.

Demar Robinson who was second in both the Class One high jump and triple jump Open at last year’s Champs, and was expected to contribute significantly to Calabar’s points total this weekend, was not the only ‘big named’ athlete to miss the five- day sports extravaganza.

Wolmers Boys’ Youth Olympics 100m champion and IAAF World Junior Championships bronze medalist Odean Skeen will also watch Champs from the stands.

These two are only the latest gifted athletes to miss Champs and it adds fuel to the debate about the academic and attendance requirements that are in place for any student to represent their school in any sporting discipline run by the Inter- Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA).

The rule that has been in pace for decades ask each student to maintain a 45 per cent minimum average in four subjects up to 11th grade or four subjects, while in Sixth Form.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts Demar and Odean might not be the last athletes to be asked to sit out a major competition or season either, and this begs the question of who takes the major share of the blame. Is it the student or is it the institution and the teachers or coaches, who stood by and watch the students fall behind?

And where are the parents in all of this? What are the roles of the principals and the board in all of this? No way any student can compete for their school without the principal signing off on the form, hence the buck stops with him or her.

Not all coaches employed by schools are teachers or even work at the respective school, but certainly this does not or should not hinder them from making sure there is balance.

Certainly, it cannot be the coaches’ only responsibility to see that students excel in sports and leave the academics to “someone else”. In most cases the coaches have far more influence than even parents, but as we have seen too often, these same men and women who are given the responsibilities to guide the next generation fail in this one task.

Someone needs to have a serious face to face with the Demar Robinsons who “choose” the elusive greatness of track and field over a solid academic foundation, and remind him that one sprained ankle or some other injury could mean the end of the road for professional sports.