Timeline
Take a step back in time and journey with us from our humble beginnings, as Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletics Federation (NLHSAF) evolved into School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL).
1969 To 1970
The Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation (NLHSAF) is formed under the direction of the Department of Provincial Affairs and the Physical Fitness Division, led by Director Graham Snow
Brother G. I. Moore from Stephenville was elected the first President of NLHSAF
Ice Hockey & Badminton became the first official sports to host Provincial Championship Tournaments
1970 To 1980
In 1970, 14 local zones were established to organize high school sports within schools across the province
In 1970, Provincial High School Champions were declared in Ice Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country Running, Badminton, Table Tennis and Wrestling
In 1972, girls were competing in 2 sports – Volleyball and Basketball
By 1973, there were 15 Provincial Championship Tournaments, nearly doubling the number of Provincials that took place just 3 years earlier
In 1974, Girls’ participation increased to 7 sports with the addition of Softball, Track & Field, Cross Country Running, Table Tennis and Badminton
In 1975, a full-time Executive Secretary – Walter Crotty - was hired to run the organization
In 1977 Girls’ Soccer was added as a Provincial Championship
By the end of the 1970s, 20 Regional Zones had been established and participation increased from 2,737 participants in 1970-71 to 13,313 in 1979-80
In 1975-76 Grant Collegiate in Springdale, begin an impressive winning streak of 12 consecutive Provincial Table Tennis Championships
Include Champions Block
Gallery Block
1980 To 1990
In 1984, Nancy Barnes (Queen Elizabeth Regional High, Foxtrap) & Michael White (Xavier High, Deer Lake) became the first two students to receive the Brother G. I. Moore, Male and Female Student Athlete of the Year awards.
In 1989, Karen Richard became the organization’s 3rd Executive Director. Karen still holds the position today.
In 1985, Glen Stanford became Executive Director of NLHSAF
In 1984 NLHSAF hosted one of its first mega-tournaments - SuperVolley ’84 - featuring 60 high school volleyball teams
In Pursuit of Excellence, a Coaches and Physical Educators Symposium was held in Gander in 1986
In 1982-83, Junior divisions were added to the sport of Cross-Country Running
In 1989-90, Slo-Pitch Softball was introduced, which replaced fast-pitch within a couple of years
In 1982, the first Provincial Conference of High School Athletic Directors took place
In 1980, the sport of Cheerleading was added as an Official Sport.
In 1988-89, Cross Country Skiing was added to the calendar with 4 divisions (male and female, junior and senior)
Include Champions Block
Gallery Block
1990 To 2000
In 1992-1993, a new division was added to Girls Soccer.
In the 1998-1999 school year, the NLHSAF was hit with a decline in membership - moving from 190 member schools down to 130 - with the end of the denominational school system in NL
In 1998-1999, The Eagle River Zone, encompassing 7 new member schools on the south coast of Labrador, was added to NLHSAF.
In 1993, NLHSAF hosted SuperVolley ’93, encompassing all provincial high school volleyball championships. The event took place in Grand Falls-Windsor in December
In 1994, Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation celebrated its 25th Anniversary
Amidst its 25th Anniversary celebrations, some NLHSAF tournaments were cancelled as a result of the 1994 Newfoundland and Labrador teachers strike. Photo credit: November 2010 issue of The Bulletin
Hoopla ‘94 took place in St. John’s in March and included all high school basketball Provincial Championships for both genders, taking place that year
Templeton Collegiate in Gillams, now Templeton Academy, dominated the Provincial Boys Wrestling scene, winning 7 Provincial Titles
*Include Champions Block
In the 1998-1999 school year, the NLHSAF was hit with a decline in membership - moving from 190 member schools down to 130 - with the end of the denominational school system in NL
2000 To 2010
The number of participants in the Participation Nation program tripled in just 2 years, rising from 7,264 participants in PNs inaugural year to 23,685 ins 2006-2007.
In the 2003-2004 school year, the first Girls High School Provincial Championship for Ice Hockey was held
In 2003-2004, a Fair Play division was added for Volleyball.
In 2004 after much anticipation, the Participation Nation Program was launched
Girls Wrestling was introduced in the 2004-2005 school year, with Carbonear Collegiate and Roncelli High dominating
Between 2000-2009, Roncalli High in Avondale are crowned Girls Slo-Pitch Provincial Champions 6 times
The Upper Lake Melville area hosted the Labrador High School Championships in 2002
In 2003, Newfoundland Labrador High School Athletic Federation changed its name to School Sports NL (SSNL)
*Include Champions Block
The Upper Lake Melville area hosted the Labrador High School Championships in 2002
2010 To 2020
In 2007-2008, There was a 2A 7-A-Side Soccer option added to compliment the Soccer program
In 2015, Participation Nation encouraged schools to ‘Dart Outdoors’ for the first time ever, during Education Week. #DartOutdoors is now an annual event.
In 2018, the Participation Nation program receives a fresh new look and feel, complete with an overall PN logo and 6 individual logos that represent the various core and complementary programs offered.
Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Basketball expand to include 4 classifications in both male and female divisions.
In 2017, the Varsity Program was formed and officially branded.
In the 2015-2016 school year, SSNL introduced Indoor Soccer.
Between 2010 & 2017, 5 new Participation Nation Programs were introduced. These Programs – PN Unplugged (2010), Play 4 Fun (2012), High School Spirit (2015), Sprockids (2016), and Outdoor Adventures (2017) - were introduced to complement the existing Core Programs offered through PN
Stephenville High School dominates Boys & Girls Track & Field
*Include Champions Block
Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Basketball expand to include 4 classifications in both male and female divisions.
Calendar
Come join the celebration! Check out our calendar of events to see what’s happening next!
Varsity Events
PN Events
Alumni Events
Best. Coach. Ever.
When you look back fondly on your days participating in school sports, we want you to think of that one coach/facilitator who made a difference. The one who inspired you, when others didn’t. The one who challenged you, when others wouldn’t. And most importantly, the one who believed in you, when you didn’t believe in yourself. We want to honour these coaches. We want to put them in the spotlight they deserve. We want you to tell us about the… Best. Coach. Ever.
Videos
Best Coach Ever: Carol Blunden
By: Courtney Russell of Heritage Collegiate
Stories
I went to St. Pauls in Gander back in the days when it was a high school. I played a number of sports in junior high and high school, but my favorite, by far, was wrestling. A lot of that had to do with the nature of the sport, and my teammates and friends that were also involved, but my coach also played a huge role in why I enjoyed wrestling so much, why I have such … Read More
Best Coach Ever: Gary Janks
Bob Richard of St. Paul’s intermediate
Contests & Promotions:
Keep up with the latest and greatest ways to win prizes and have fun with School Sports NL during our 50th Anniversary Celebrations.
Win $1000 with an SSNL Golden Ticket!
You won't find these wrapped around a chocolate bar, but if you're lucky, you'll find one in a package from our office! There are 5 Golden Tickets to be won and each will be drawn at random from our SSNL Member schools. Those receiving a Golden Ticket will instantly...
Win $500 worth of Equipment/Gear
Do you need to upgrade your school Jerseys? Or maybe you’d like to purchase equipment for a new sport/activity? Or MAYBE you’re just interested in refreshing your existing supplies?Well, do we have the contest for you?!Earn $500 in Skyline Athletics money to purchase...
