The 2026-2027 School Sports season was officially opened on Wednesday at the LOC Conference Room at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The press launch brought together members of the local sports community, including officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth Development and Sports.
This launch marks an earlier start to the school sports season than usual. In the past, schools and the public often received information about the season long after the term had already begun. Ministry officials described this early kickoff as a sign of positive change. The official calendar of events was also released at the event.
One of this year’s main goals is to use social media to share student-athlete stories. The new School Sports 758 social media handle aims to raise athlete profiles, generate excitement, and attract more corporate sponsorships and partnerships.
Additionally, alongside traditional sports such as cricket, football, and track and field, this season will introduce esports. There will also be a developmental programme for lacrosse and teqball, two of the fastest-growing disciplines in the world.
Minister for Education, Youth Development and Sports Kenson Casimir emphasised that school sports play a vital role in grassroots development.
“The Daren Sammys of the world, the Jady Emmanuels of the world, the Julien Alfreds of the world, Johnson Charles; they all have this one thing in common: they came through our school sports programmes,” Casimir said.
“I dare say sometimes we forget that school sports is perhaps the most important level of sports development on our island. For us as a nation to see young people stay on the right track, to see them attracted to the right track, we need more involvement. Not just from corporate Saint Lucia, but we need more involvement from our communities.”
Saint Lucia had an outstanding 2025-2026 season, winning the Windward Islands School Games and achieving new milestones at the CARIFTA Games, CARIFTA Aquatics, and Central American & Caribbean Games.
The new season begins with Inter-District Primary School Football on November 2.
