A meeting this week with the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association's board has led to the cancellation of the 2021 SHSAA badminton and track and field provincial championships.

It's the second year in a row these events have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

In a memo to the SHSAA members dated Jan. 25, 2021, executive director Lyle McKellar said that for badminton, the earliest possible time for the start of youth competitions in schools will be after the Easter break, meaning there wouldn't be adequate time to prepare for the events.

"Without regional or provincial championships, districts may be able to conduct district championships within the season of play provided the public health measures and the education sector have established parameters for that to happen," said McKellar's memo. 

For track and field, with the amount of preparation needed for such a large event, coupled with not know if or when restrictions will end, the executive believes cancelling provincials may leave the door open to localized competition this spring.

"The Executive Council has provided direction to office staff to prepare scenarios for educational athletics during the nine-week period from April 12 – June 11," McKellar's memo read. "The Executive has scheduled a provincial meeting of district representatives (Presidents and Athletic Commissioners) for the last week of March. With that timing in mind, the office will be preparing and presenting scenarios to the Executive Council for their consideration in late February and early March."