Tournaments or traditional friendlies give better value?
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In recent times school cricket and rugby tournaments have brought with them a series of controversies with overage player being included on teams and certain schools withdrawing from competitions run by school sports bodies altogether. So is it wiser for schools to just stick to friendly and traditional matches when it comes to cricket and rugby?
 In tournaments the players are more exposed and get the chance to compete against other talented players across the island. But in friendlies they learn the value of competition. So both are equally important. - Dayan Padmasiri (Private sector employee) |
 Despite there being several traditional encounters and friendlies there is a growing contribution from rural schools and this is evident with regard to players like Akila Dhananjaya. So there should be tournaments that will identify the talent of players from these outstation areas. - Dilshan de Silva (Vice President of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association) |
 Friendly matches between schools are limited only to having fun, but players benefit more in tournaments because authorities can identify their talent and maybe earmark them for top clubs and the national team. - Gihan Somathilake (Private sector employee) |
 Everything is about competition these days and tournaments too about children going at it to win at any cost, so friendly matches would be better for schoolchildren. - M. Fernando (Housewife) |
 Tournaments are run by associations and as a result are more commercialized. But there is a need to improve and promote friendlies especially with regard to rugby in rural areas. - Mahesh Susantha (Banker) |
 There is a need to move from school league tournaments despite there being a lot of sponsorship and publicity in them. Instead more prominence should be given to school friendlies because after all the players are still in school and should be taught important values. - Niroshan Rambukwella (Private sector employee) |
 As a sportsman, tournaments are important and give you exposure. At the same time friendlies and traditional encounters promote the spirit of the sport, so both need to be played. - Perumal Paramanathan (Employed abroad) |
 Both are good because friendly matches improve player behaviour and tournaments build a competitive streak in players, which is not a bad thing. - Prashan Karunaratne (Private sector employee) |
 Friendly matches are better than tournaments because they build strong relationships and the right spirit. - Premasiri Ratnayake (Private sector employee) |
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 Sportsmen get their first motivation by playing in schools so it’s important to give them the right spirit by having friendly matches. Vishwanathan Paramanathan (Vice President of the Hockey Federation) |
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