The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) has unveiled stringent regulations aimed at eliminating age cheating in school sports. These new measures, introduced for the 2024 school games, require all student-athletes to present updated school identity cards containing critical details to ensure compliance with eligibility rules.
KSSSA Secretary General David Ngugi had previously raised concerns about age cheating, prompting the association to act decisively. In an official statement, KSSSA announced that school IDs must now include a student’s full name, admission details, class, date of birth, and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) year. Additionally, each ID must feature a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) number, a stamp overlapping the student’s photo, and the principal’s signature for authentication.
Transfer students will also face scrutiny under the new rules. Any athlete who has transferred schools must have their previous school and date of admission indicated on their ID. Furthermore, a maximum of only two players transferring from the same school will be eligible to compete for their new institution. The ID must clearly show the Certificate of Admission (C.O.A) and the date of transfer.
To curb further irregularities, KSSSA has ruled that students who sat for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and opted to repeat a year will not be eligible to participate. This decision underscores the association’s commitment to ensuring that all competitors are within the appropriate age brackets.
In addition to ID verification, schools must submit three certified group photos for team sports. These photos should capture all players in their school uniforms, alongside the school principal and coaching staff. The images must be certified on the back by the principal to prevent the use of ineligible players.
KSSSA has also standardized team compositions across various disciplines. Football and hockey teams will consist of 20 players each, while volleyball and basketball five-a-side teams will have 12 players. Basketball three-a-side teams will be limited to five players, while handball and netball teams can have 14 each. Rugby sevens will allow 12 players, whereas rugby 15s will have 25 slots. For racquet sports such as badminton, table tennis, and lawn tennis, schools can register six players per team. Swimming teams will consist of 15 athletes, while athletics teams will be determined based on event-specific requirements.
These measures signal a firm stance by KSSSA to uphold integrity and fairness in school sports, ensuring that competitions remain credible and transparent for all participants.
