ISSA to limit foreign nationals competing in high school competitions
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Starting September this year, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) will implement a quota system to limit the number of foreign nationals that can compete in high school competitions under the organisation’s umbrella.
President of ISSA, Keith Wellington told the OBSERVER ONLINE on Tuesday that principals voted in January to put the system in place starting September 2023 when the academic year starts.
The quota system will mirror the one that was introduced a few years ago, restricting the numbers of students who transferred from one school to another to play sports.
The system will see three players each for football, cricket and hockey; two each for each class in track and field and two each for basketball and netball.
However, there will be some exemptions such as children of Jamaican nationals, who are returning to Jamaica, members of the diplomatic corps and foreigners under the age of 16 years old, according to the ISSA head.
It was also reported that approximately 100 foreigners, mainly from the eastern Caribbean and as far as East Africa, represented schools at the recent ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.
In addition, a number of schools added players from the eastern Caribbean to their football teams that participated in ISSA-run competitions between September and December last year.
