The Evolution of Sports in Canadian Schools

There is a long history of sports development in Canada. From the 1800s to recent years new sports of various types have been developed and refined. Basketball, ice hockey and other sports can be traced back to Canadian roots, based either on where they were created or on the heritage of the sports' inventors. Over time sports have been adapted from community games into organized sports programs in schools and universities.

  1. 1891 and Basketball

    • James Naismith was raised in Canada and attended Canadian universities. While he was a physical education teacher in 1891 he invented basketball as a fun indoor sport. The first game and the subsequent development of the sport, including regulations concerning competition, took place in the United States.

    Hockey

    • Although it has been played in some form for centuries, the representation of hockey that most recognize today was first played in Montreal in 1875. While he was a student at McGill University, J.G.A. Creighton refined and updated the rules for ice hockey, leading to that first game in Montreal.

    Lacrosse

    • Canadian native groups often referenced early versions of lacrosse by the name baggattaway. The game was originally developed as a ritual within the tribes and later became a sport. According to historical tales a mock game of lacrosse was even used as a battle strategy to distract an enemy attack. Lacrosse is a team sport in which players pass and transport a rubber ball over the field using sticks with net pouches attached which are used to toss and catch the ball. The ball is shot into the goals at each end of the field.

    Canadian Football

    • There are several variations used in Canadian football that differ strongly from the American version of the game. The playing field for Canadian football is longer and the rules also allow for 12 players instead of 11. Other nuances that regulate the timing of the game, time-outs and penalties also vary but the major themes of scoring and running plays are essentially the same. This has given way to Canadian football becoming a popular sport for high schools throughout Canada.

    Sports in Canadian Schools Today

    • Canada has a series of sports-centered educational programs for students. Many schools in Canada offer specialized sports curricula covering not only the playing of the sports but also the science and technology involved. In 1994 the National Sport School was founded to allow Olympic-potential athletes and others of that caliber to train in their given sport and attend traditional educational instruction as well, despite heavy travel schedules and competition requirements. Although sports programs are not the focus of all of Canada's schools there has been an emphasis on physical exercise programs in schools and communities to counter obesity rates and health concerns for the public good.