EVERYBODY PLAYS: LEAGUES OF PLAY

In the 2022/2023 school year, Ever Active Schools and Canadian Tire Jumpstart entered into a multi-year partnership centered around the dream that everybody plays. Through this work, we are providing:

  • 100% opportunity to participate so that everybody plays.
  • Focus on priority populations so that everybody plays.
  • Capacity building through grassroots approaches so that everybody plays.

A big part of the Everybody Plays framework is creating Leagues of Play to provide opportunities to participate.

One example of this is the Southern Alberta Tournament Series, intended to support schools and communities with hosting athletics, physical activity or performing arts opportunities. We support schools with the basics, like training students for scorekeeping and other tournament roles; building tournament draws/brackets; providing necessary equipment; arranging transportation; and more. 

To date, we’ve been able to support several Leagues of Play opportunities across the province.

In Medicine Hat, we’ve hosted barrier-free after-school opportunities for students to participate in a variety of sports with guidance from coaches in the community. This culminated in a tournament that saw participation from a number of schools! We’ve also hosted basketball and volleyball coaching clinics in Treaty 7 to build capacity within communities. For tournaments, we’ve supported volleyball tournaments in Tsuut’ina and Siksika, a basketball tournament each in Stoney Nakoda and Piikani, and we are looking forward to more this spring.

Learn more about hosting your own tournament with our free guide, developed thanks to the Everybody Plays work!

A basketball team wearing gold and blue post with medals. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play event.

A team poses with their medals after a basketball tournament supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart. Photo shared by Nakoda Elementary.

A line of adults dribble two basketballs each. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play coaching clinic.

A basketball coaching clinic supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart.

Two lines of adults, each holding a basketball to their chest. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play coaching clinic.

A basketball coaching clinic supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart.

A circle of adults crouched in a ready position, each holding a basketball. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play coaching clinic.

A basketball coaching clinic supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart.

A circle of adults during a basketball coaching clinic with a rolling whiteboard in the centre. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play coaching clinic.

A basketball coaching clinic supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart.

A basketball is tossed to start a game. Two teams are on the court, one dressed in white and one in yellow. Taken during an Everybody Plays Leagues of Play coaching clinic.

A basketball tournament supported by Ever Active Schools and Jumpstart. Photo shared by Nakoda Elementary.

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